Imagine a 61-year-old man diagnosed with throat cancer. His prognosis was so dismal, doctors gave him a 5% chance to survive. He was unable to swallow; his weight dropped to 98 pounds. Within two months of utilizing mental visualization as a treatment technique, the tumor was gone. Later, he used the same visualization techniques for arthritis, and had the same success. Sound like a story for Ripley's Believe It Or Not? Well, believe it!
This is the famous case of radiologist, Dr. O. Carl Simonton which began a major shift in thinking regarding the importance of "psychology" and disease. Since the 17th Century, scientists have separated body and mind. Physical diseases were explained and treated independent of the mind. Today, scientists agree there is a body-mind connection. From Dr. Simonton to Dr. Dean Ornish (reversing heart disease), this body of research has reshaped the field of behavioral medicine - the mind-body connection.
Cancer, heart disease and other non-infectious illnesses are related to how we think and feel. Thoughts, moods and attitudes have a significant impact on which chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) are sent through the body. These hormones carry messages to the body's cells, using the same pathways as viruses. The amount of protective hormones (peptide) surrounding the cell, determines the ease in which the virus permeates the cell - to get sick. It's as if the body functions as a large communication network. How we choose to react to a given stressor, therefore, can and does affect our immune system.
Does attitude affect our health? Study after study clearly supports it does. As hard as it is to believe, we are what we think. An interesting study conducted by Dr. Deepak Chopra illustrated the power of beliefs. Patients were able to end their nausea when given a pill they thought relieved nausea - the pill was a nausea-inducing drug!
Suzanne Kobas's study looked at 200 business executives who were transferred to a new city. A high percentage of these men became ill after the move (because of the stress from change). The significant findings concerned the men who remained healthy. They all possessed a "hardy personality." Their attitudes and beliefs included a sense of control over the move, a commitment to their work, strong social support and regular exercise.
The quality of our life certainly appears linked to the quality of our attitude. Let's look at some ways to enhance our attitude:
Humor
Laughter is shown to reduce stress because it causes chemical changes in our body. When we laugh, stress hormones that decrease immune functioning are reduced. Laughter also increases production of antibodies that are shown to help fight tumors and viruses.
Friendships and Social Connection
As society continues to become more privatized, social networks and systems deteriorate. We are becoming more isolated, alienated and lonely. This fragmentation contributes to health problems and to heart disease in particular. Studies indicate that lonely and isolated people are at a 3-5 times greater risk of premature death, compared to those who have a sense of connection and community.
Spirituality and Prayer
In an attempt to reconnect, people are returning to religion and other ways to rejuvenate spirituality. Prayer appears to stimulate the bodies self-healing mechanism. The reason remains unclear, but evidence suggests that while negative thoughts suppress the immune system, positive ones stimulate it.
Living life with an attitude of gratitude begins in our mind. The way in which we appraise and react to everyday stressors affects our mental and physical health. Let's try to quiet our minds and bodies and open-up our hearts so we can experience a sense of inner joy and well being that exists in all of us.
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