THE EFFECT OF STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS ON RECOVERY

Transcription

1 THE EFFECT OF STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS ON RECOVERY Lynne Couchara WHAT IS CONSCIOUSNESS? Our experience of life is beyond the physical Significant mental portion, i.e. consciousness The state or quality of awareness Awareness of an external object or something within oneself There are various states of consciousness THE CONSCIOUS STATE What are you thinking about? What is your mind focused on? Whatever comes up reflects what is in your consciousness 1

2 THE CONSCIOUS STATE What are you thinking about? What is your mind focused on? Whatever comes up reflects what is in your consciousness THE CONSCIOUS STATE What are you thinking about? What is your mind focused on? Whatever comes up reflects what is in your consciousness THE CONSCIOUS STATE What are you thinking about? What is your mind focused on? Whatever comes up reflects what is in your consciousness 2

3 THE PRECONSCIOUS STATE What was your experience in the past? Holds information that may need to be recalled THE SUBCONSCIOUS STATE Holds information existing below awareness (beliefs, emotions, memories) Influences our actions and reactions (autopilot: habits and emotional reactions) THE SUBCONSCIOUS STATE Holds information existing below awareness (beliefs, emotions, memories) Influences our actions and reactions (autopilot: habits and emotional reactions) 3

4 THE UNCONSCIOUS STATE Beyond conscious awareness and control Many of our bodily systems are regulated unconsciously BRAIN WAVES Beta Hz Normal waking consciousness, heightened alertness, reasoning Alpha Hz Deep relaxation, day dreaming Theta Hz Meditation and light sleep Delta.5 4 Hz Deep, dreamless sleep ALTERING STATES OF CONSCIOUSNESS Moving from conscious to subconscious Daydreaming Relaxation techniques Meditation Hypnosis Repetitive or rhythmic activities (e.g. knitting, walking, chanting) 4

5 CONSCIOUSNESS AND RECOVERY Our states of consciousness can impact recovery A return to a normal state of health or strength Physical, mental and emotional recovery Stress reduction (autonomic nervous system) Sleep improvement Pain relief Recovery from injury or surgery AUTONOMIC NERVOUS SYSTEM One of our built in, largely unconscious systems Controls vital functions Psychological states The danger of chronic stress Stress reducing therapies and practices SLEEP All mammals sleep Sleep needs vary Sleep is important for our health 5

6 SLEEP All mammals sleep Sleep needs vary Sleep is important for our health SLEEP All mammals sleep Sleep needs vary Sleep is important for our health SLEEP All mammals sleep Sleep needs vary Sleep is important for our health 6

7 SLEEP Necessary for the brain to maintain and repair itself Restores immune, nervous, skeletal and muscular systems Key focus of research: sleep deprivation and disease National Sleep Foundation surveys show millions suffer lack of sleep Hypnosis, meditation and relaxation can help with sleep issues PAIN, INJURY, SURGERY Hypnosis Pain relief, recovery from injury and surgery Relaxation Lower fatigue, improve mood, maintain blood sugar, reduce pain, improve digestion Meditation Changes brain structure to enhance learning, memory and emotional regulation PLACEBO EFFECT Dr. Irving Kirsch Response Expectancy Theory Expectation can occur outside of conscious awareness Subliminal cues can set expectation Dr. Irving Kirsch Assistant Director Harvard Program in Placebo Studies 7

8 KAPTCHUK TJ, KIRSCH I, ET AL. NONCONSCIOUS ACTIVATION OF PLACEBO AND NOCEBO PAIN RESPONSES. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 2012;109(39): Heat administered to participant s arms Experiment 1: Pain related images shown simultaneously Results correlated with previously learned associations to images Average pain ratings 19 and 53 Experiment 2: Images shown too fast for conscious recognition Results were similar despite a lack of consciously recognizable cues Average pain ratings 25 and 44 KAPTCHUK TJ, KIRSCH I, ET AL. NONCONSCIOUS ACTIVATION OF PLACEBO AND NOCEBO PAIN RESPONSES. PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES. 2012;109(39): Health related responses triggered by imperceptible cues For pain and other conditions with significant placebo effects Further studies may show if findings apply to clinical setting E.g. Practitioner may exhibit subliminal cues that impact treatment outcome It is about finding out what is usually not paid attention to in medicine, the intangible that we often forget when we rely on good drugs and procedures. The placebo effect is a surrogate marker for everything that surrounds a pill. And that includes rituals, symbols, doctor patient encounters. Ted Kaptchuk Director Harvard Program in Placebo Studies 8

9 It s not what patients think will happen that influences outcomes, it s what the unconscious mind anticipates despite any conscious thoughts. Ted Kaptchuk Ted Kaptchuk Director Harvard Program in Placebo Studies UNDERLYING MECHANISMS? PLACEBO EFFECT Our bodies Our brains Placebo delivery method Physical surroundings Physician attitude Ted Kaptchuk Director Harvard Program in Placebo Studies HOW CAN THIS HELP YOU? Patient recovery Set patient expectations Patient practices Get yourself out of the way 9

10 The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness, call it Intuition or what you will, the solution comes to you and you don't know how or why. Albert Einstein THANK YOU 10