THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONS ON HEALTH

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THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONS ON HEALTH

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This article is an excerpt from my course "PsychoNeuroRegulation - how through the mind affect the health"

THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONS ON HEALTH

The power of mind. The influence of emotions on health After introducing the concept of conditioning and the basic concepts on the anatomy and physiology of the nervous and immune systems as well as their mutual connections it is easier to understand how emotions impact the nervous system and, in consequence the immune system.

Read about PsychoNeuroImmunology - mind and science

When we are suffering from a long lasting decrease in mood, it is easier to develop a disease, for example contract an infection. Many of you have already noticed this. This correlation, has also been tested by numerous scientists. For example:

As early as the XIXth century, Von Dusch claimed that people who speak loudly and have a tendency towards workaholism ten to suffer from cardiovascular diseases more often. W. Osler, who observed hard working doctors was of the same opinion.

K and W Mellinger, in turn, thought that aggressive people tend to suffer from arterial hypertension and heart disorders more often.

F. Funbar had noticed that workaholics and people living under constant pressure of time are more likely to develop atherosclerosis, while Rosenman was convinced that this disease is caused by bad diet and stress, among other factors.

Read about psychosomatic medicine

The above mentioned claims suggest that those scientists had similar views on the possible psychological background of many diseases. There is however one question: how do emotions influence the body? This will be addressed in the further part of the lesson.

EXAMPLES OF THE INFLUENCE OF EMOTIONS ON HEALTH - LITERATURE

We often hear about cases of astonishing impact of the mind on the condition of health. Everyone knows stories about people turning grey within twenty four hours as a result of an exceptionally stressful event.

In newspapers, books and on the television,we can find examples of so-called miraculous healings in sacred places of many religions. It is worth studying closer a couple of astounding cases proving that mind controls the matter.

Read about placebo effect

In his book "Healing Visualizations: Creating Health Through Imagery", Gerald Epstein discusses a case of a man who was regularly (five times a week) treated for depression through psychoanalysis, without expected results. However, after only six sessions during which he was undergoing so-called healing visualisations with the help of a qualified woman, his depression was gone once and for all.

Vicent Peale in "The Power of Positive Thinking" tells a story of a young woman who was admitted to hospital with rheumatoid arthritis. After a physician replied negatively for her question whether she will be able to get married within next half-year, her ailments quickly disappeared and she was discharged in general good health. It turned out her father was forcing her into loveless marriage with man who was supposed to help him in business. RA was an escape from an unwanted wedding.

Other example is that of a woman who came to see a doctor with a strong rash. It turned out the disease was caused by a fight with her brother over the inheritance. After they reconciled, the eczema disappeared.

Another girl was suffering from fever and catarrh every time she quarrelled with someone. Gerard Loe, a healer from Ilionois, had a cyst surgically removed from his wrist. Despite that, another one grew in the same spot. He tried to get rid of it by autosuggestion., with no results. Eventually Loe realised that the cause of this disease was in his psyche. He freed himself of it with the help of visualisations. (source: Maurey Eugene, "Power of Though"t).

Read more about the power of imagination

Joseph Murphy in "The Power of Your Subconscious Mind" describes a case of a severely ill girl. Her worried father used to say he would give his hand for her well-being. One day he actually lost it and then his daughter got better. Apparently in her subconscious there existed a strong association between her good-health and her father's handicap.

The same author also documents his own case - the healing of severe skin illness. Classical medicine was unable to cure the disease. However Murphy was lucky enough to come across a priest who explained to him that often sickness are caused by unsolved psychological problems. He also told him that his subconscious is perfectly able to handle any disease. The writer thought over this new knowledge and created a prayer adjusted to his case and based on the faith in he power of subconscious. He was saying it three times every day. After three months he was cured.

Another time a member of Murphy's family was badly suffering from tuberculosis. His son, trying to rescue him, found a splinter, had it framed in gold and told his father it was coming from the cross that Jesus died on. Of course the relic was supposed to have astonishing healing properties. The older man was holding it on his chest everyday deeply believing it will help him. His expectations were fulfilled.

A woman named Bire was suffering from atrophy of the optic nerve, which was preventing her from seeing. She went on a pilgrimage to the place considered to be sacred and healing - Lourdes. She was cured (case described in medical archive of Health Office in Lourdes).

A pastor from Johannesburg was taken ill with pneumonia. He started treating himself by relaxation combined with visualizing his body as a picture of health. He was cured.

Read about hypnosis

In the magazine "Nautilus" from March 1917 we can find a story of a boy suffering from tuberculoma of the spinal cord. He was imagining himself in perfect health, repeating positive suggestions. The disease disappeared and he is currently a lecturer at Unity School of Christianity in Kansas City.

A fortune-teller foretold a woman she would die at the age of 43. It happened that she was undergoing a minor surgical procedure. Although the surgery was successful, she died for unexplained reasons. Apparently the negative suggestion had a big impact on her.

Read about the power of mind - curious case

Maksym Gorki, Describing in his book the scene of a murder of a wife by a jealous husband so strongly envisioned inculcation of the knife to the heart, that a thin red line appeared on his skin (according to his wife, Maria).

Flaubert, describing the arsenic poisoning of Madame Bovary, was so influenced by this history that he experienced nausea as he felt the taste of the poison in his mouth.

A SHORT LIST OF PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDERS

Cough and hiccup.
Pulmonary tuberculosis.
Da Costa's syndrome.
Cardiac dysrhythmia.
Supraventricular tachycardia.
Myocardial infraction.
Ischaemic heart disease.
Arterial hypertension.
Excess consumption of food.
Anorexia nervosa.
Bulimia nervosa.
Stomach and duodenal ulcers.
Constipation.
Diarrhoea.
Irritable bowel syndrome.
Ulcerative colitis.
Hyperthyroidism.
Diabetes mellitus.
Allergies. Nettle rash.
Itch.
Atopic dermatitis.
Headaches.
Insomnia.
Soft tissue rheumatism.
Pain in the spine.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Read about the power of mind - experiments

If you are interested in the topic of influence of your mind on your health, you may be interested in our online courses:
  • Healing mind or in cheaper versions of the course:
  • The basics of psychoneuroimmunology - how your mind affects your health
  • Mental techniques for health