The Importance of Mind- Body Medicine in Women s Health Neha Sangwan, MD Lee Ballance, MD
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Mind-Body Medicine Long history of mind-body approaches through: Health Education Departments Under leadership of Dr. David Sobel Specific programs vary from facility to facility
Doctor Physical Mental Emotional Spiritual
History of Western Medicine Analysis and Observation Illness Primarily as Physical & Chemical Disorder Therefore Interventions Stress Pharmacology & Surgery
Given rise to several new names: Holistic Alternative Complementary Integrative Mind-Body New
Mind-Body Medicine--- Approach to both physical and psychological functioning called: SELF-CARE
WHY NOW? Increase in chronic illness, e.g. cancers, arthritis, diabetes, heart disease Earlier onset of chronic illnesses, e.g. chronic fatigue syndrome, fibromyalgia, multiple chemical food & environmental sensitivities, chronic pain
WHY NOW? Failure of Magic Bullets New information about ancient healing >200,000 articles on CAM in professional journals Money US HealthCare > 15% GNP
What is Mind-Body Medicine? Everything that happens to us psychologically has physiological effects AND Everything we do with our body (physically) affects our mind (psychology)
Continuous Conversation MIND BODY
Aspects of Self Care Self-awareness Relaxation Biofeedback Meditation Imagery Exercise Nutrition
Current Biomedical Model New Medicine CAM Therapies Drugs Surgery Psycho-social approaches Drugs & Surgery Therapies that require a professional & stimulate our capacity for self-healing Self Care
Autonomic Nervous System Sympathetic Fight or Flight Parasympathetic Relaxation Response
Understand Stress Fight or Flight Dominates Adrenaline Heart Rate Blood Pressure Breathing Rate Muscle Tension Intestinal Activity Sexual Function
The Relaxation Response balances our stress response --- by: Heart rate Blood pressure Breathing rate Relaxing muscles Digestion Blood flow to sexual organs
Stress in Life is Inevitable e.g.: In Nature The Antelope vs. The Lion
The Evolution of Women s Role in Society Homemakers/ child bearers Higher education Working outside the home Caring for elderly parents Divorce/ Single parenting
The Stress of Life In general, stress comes when fight or flight is prolonged beyond immediate reaction and/or repeated Alarm Adaptation Exhaustion - Hans Selye, 1956
Chronic Stress Emotional Physical Spiritual Job-related
A Recent World Health Organization study concluded: Depression is the leading cause of disability in the U.S. That s the BAD NEWS!
The Good News is We have learned over the past 40 years that the autonomic nervous system (ANS) is not truly automatic
Aspects of Self Care Self-awareness Relaxation Biofeedback Meditation Imagery Exercise Nutrition
Imagery
Visual Arts Claude Monet Water Lilies 1920
Imagery is The dominant language of the unconscious mind A vital source of information and inspiration The beat beneath the music
The Cerebral Hemispheres Left hemisphere concerned with analytic information Right hemisphere concerned with visual/intuitive information
Types of Imagery Feeling State Imagery Imagery that changes one s mood or emotional state in a very broad way End State Imagery Imagery that highlights concrete goals one is striving for Biologically Correct Imagery Imagery that focuses on what is actually occurring microscopically in the cells and organs of the body (Naparstek, 1904)
Active Imagery vs. Receptive Imagery Active Imagery The intentional use of specific images to communicate with the unconscious (to affect, change, or communicate intent) Receptive Imagery Occurs when images spontaneously arise from the unconscious
Hearing
Smell
Touch
Taste
Feeling
Imagery In the absence of competing stimuli your body does not know the difference between a real or imagined scenario The more senses you engage in an imagery experience the more intense the physiological response. Dossey, Keegan, Guzzetta, Holistic nursing a handbook for practice. (Maryland: Aspen publication, 2000), 539-579.
What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters, compared to what lies within us. (Ralph Waldo Emerson)
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