| With the connection between our minds and our | | | | more interested in your mental and spiritual health |
| bodies increasingly supported by medical and | | | | anytime soon. Pills and procedures are far more |
| scientific research, the establishment is at last | | | | easily assessed, quantified, measured and a lot |
| catching up with what 'positive thinking' gurus like | | | | cheaper than actually spending real time with a |
| Louise Hay have been saying for years. What we | | | | patient. |
| think and believe about ourselves, the world | | | | As a result, Western medicine generally ends up |
| around us and our place in it can not only be a | | | | treating the symptoms of disease and illness |
| key factor in our health and healing outcomes but | | | | rather than the underlying problem, which often |
| may also be an underlying factor in the cause of | | | | means that the problem will either re-occur or |
| illness and injury. | | | | simply manifest in some other form. |
| A completely new medical field known as | | | | For those living in western societies at least, it |
| "Mind-body medicine" has emerged on the back of | | | | remains up to each of us to become more aware |
| mind body research. Focusing on the interactions | | | | not only of our bodies requirements; but also of |
| among the brain, mind, body, and behaviour, and | | | | our own emotional and mental health needs. By |
| the ways in which emotional, mental, social, | | | | being more alert for potential emotional and |
| spiritual, and behavioural factors can directly | | | | spiritual issues, we can deal with them or seek |
| affect health. | | | | appropriate help before they turn into something |
| An interesting feature of illnesses or disease with | | | | more serious or life threatening. |
| a metaphysical basis is that specific emotional | | | | A great way of starting to raise your |
| issues can often determine the location of disease | | | | self-awareness and start getting back in touch |
| or illness within the body. Experienced therapists | | | | with yourself is to set aside a small amount of |
| who work in this field have reported that once | | | | time each week. You will only need about 30 |
| they become aware of certain emotional or | | | | minutes but it is important that you will not be |
| spiritual issues, they began to anticipate the | | | | disturbed or distracted. Just sit quietly and just |
| possibility of an associated disease. | | | | STOP, allow your mind to wander. Gently |
| Even the very word dis-ease reveals an | | | | examine your innermost feelings, emotions, fears |
| underlying truth that dis-ease in the mind can lead | | | | and events over the past week. |
| to disease in the body. | | | | What you discover may be a revelation to you; |
| However, do not expect your doctor to now | | | | and that new understanding could make a huge |
| become all "touchy feely" or to be very much | | | | difference to your health and emotional well-being. |