Sunday Musings - March 10, 2024
In 1961 Thomas Szasz published a book which was widely read. He argued there is no such thing as mental illness, only physical illness; that the idea of mental illness is a myth.
Anyone who has experienced severe depression, a reality which sharply deviates from a shared reality, anxiety, panic attacks or other states of mind which restrict or prevents one from functioning in the home and community knows that these are real conditions which one does not make a conspicuous decision to experience. Some of us will become addicted to alcohol, other drugs, food, sex power or other substances. Some will experience disabling post-traumatic stress syndrome. Some will find that some part of their mind compels them to overeat, addictively play video games or compulsively engage in some other activity to the point of not going to work or performing other daily responsibilities. Some will find that they quickly become overstimulated to the point of not being able to function. One could find examples of all the “mental “conditions which have been assigned a name or a code in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual complied and approved the American Psychiatric Association. The symptoms are real as are the inability to control or reduce them without medication, psychological help or other treatment which may reduce or even eliminate the symptoms.
Whatever we mean by emotional, mental, or psychological conditions they are real. Yet, at some level, Thomas Szasz might have been correct. Thoughts and feelings are the result of physical processes. Our body is an electrical system which is managed or controlled by many factors including genetics, malfunction of internal systems such as the thyroid, other chemical imbalances, environment factors, negative treatment by others (physical and psychological), positive treatment by others, mind altering drugs/chemicals, and factors which seem magical, or some believe are the result of divine interference.
We are just now on the verge of approaching an understanding of consciousness - having a way of talking about that part of the process of the human “mind”. We know we have thoughts which are undoubtedly the result of a physical process in our mind. Yet, the thoughts themselves are not something we can physically isolate, operate on or otherwise envision. We may be able to physically perform some procedures which eliminate, diminish, or change our thought process. Treating a dysfunctional thyroid condition can sometimes raise one mood and energy level. A patient of mine was diagnosed with an acute depression which was not responding to medication or talk therapy. Treating her adult hydrocephalus condition with surgery greatly reduced her depressive symptoms. For another patient removing a tumor which was hiding “in his brain” allowed him relief from crippling depression. Finding a way to treat a sleep disorder thus allowing the body to rest/recharge can have a dramatic effect on the ability to think clearly and otherwise function.
We health professionals too often miss or dismiss potential causes of “mental” symptoms.
When I see a new client, I want to know that a complete battery of blood work has been done and the results reviewed. I also want to know what other possible treatable conditions ben have explored. Could the person have a brain tumor? Does the person have an acute sleep disorder? Is the person living with severe chronic physical pain? I also want to know nutritional habits, physical habits, history of individual and family illness as well as the nuances of what the client/patient is experiencing. Additionally, I want to know if the client/patent has a sense of purpose or a reason to keep living. Are they feeling useless, lonely, isolated or “put out to pasture”. In recent Gallop research studies researchers are asking if individuals say they are “flourishing”.
My frequent diagnosis is “PBS” (pissed body syndrome). PBS is a healthy response to a lack of holistic health care or some other stressors.
We are all part of many constantly interacting systems - internal and external. When we ignore or are, for various reasons, unable to actively feed all parts of our internal system and play an active, healthy role in the system which comprises the family, the community, and the environment we will not function as we need and want to. Just as many factors can affect the grid which feeds energy to our home electrical system many factors affect our internal electrical system.
All parts of our body are physical at some level even if some, such as thoughts and feelings are not visible. What we call thoughts and feelings can affect how our body function – interna thoughts and feelings and those offered by another person. I suspect we humans, including health care professionals, need to be more respectful of systems; all which affects the operation of individual bodies as well as the family and community.
Perhaps as we learn to more effectively understand and communicate about the human mind, we will become less judgmental and more able to approach all behavior in a loving, scientific manner.
Written March 10, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
In 1961 Thomas Szasz published a book which was widely read. He argued there is no such thing as mental illness, only physical illness; that the idea of mental illness is a myth.
Anyone who has experienced severe depression, a reality which sharply deviates from a shared reality, anxiety, panic attacks or other states of mind which restrict or prevents one from functioning in the home and community knows that these are real conditions which one does not make a conspicuous decision to experience. Some of us will become addicted to alcohol, other drugs, food, sex power or other substances. Some will experience disabling post-traumatic stress syndrome. Some will find that some part of their mind compels them to overeat, addictively play video games or compulsively engage in some other activity to the point of not going to work or performing other daily responsibilities. Some will find that they quickly become overstimulated to the point of not being able to function. One could find examples of all the “mental “conditions which have been assigned a name or a code in the Diagnostic Statistical Manual complied and approved the American Psychiatric Association. The symptoms are real as are the inability to control or reduce them without medication, psychological help or other treatment which may reduce or even eliminate the symptoms.
Whatever we mean by emotional, mental, or psychological conditions they are real. Yet, at some level, Thomas Szasz might have been correct. Thoughts and feelings are the result of physical processes. Our body is an electrical system which is managed or controlled by many factors including genetics, malfunction of internal systems such as the thyroid, other chemical imbalances, environment factors, negative treatment by others (physical and psychological), positive treatment by others, mind altering drugs/chemicals, and factors which seem magical, or some believe are the result of divine interference.
We are just now on the verge of approaching an understanding of consciousness - having a way of talking about that part of the process of the human “mind”. We know we have thoughts which are undoubtedly the result of a physical process in our mind. Yet, the thoughts themselves are not something we can physically isolate, operate on or otherwise envision. We may be able to physically perform some procedures which eliminate, diminish, or change our thought process. Treating a dysfunctional thyroid condition can sometimes raise one mood and energy level. A patient of mine was diagnosed with an acute depression which was not responding to medication or talk therapy. Treating her adult hydrocephalus condition with surgery greatly reduced her depressive symptoms. For another patient removing a tumor which was hiding “in his brain” allowed him relief from crippling depression. Finding a way to treat a sleep disorder thus allowing the body to rest/recharge can have a dramatic effect on the ability to think clearly and otherwise function.
We health professionals too often miss or dismiss potential causes of “mental” symptoms.
When I see a new client, I want to know that a complete battery of blood work has been done and the results reviewed. I also want to know what other possible treatable conditions ben have explored. Could the person have a brain tumor? Does the person have an acute sleep disorder? Is the person living with severe chronic physical pain? I also want to know nutritional habits, physical habits, history of individual and family illness as well as the nuances of what the client/patient is experiencing. Additionally, I want to know if the client/patent has a sense of purpose or a reason to keep living. Are they feeling useless, lonely, isolated or “put out to pasture”. In recent Gallop research studies researchers are asking if individuals say they are “flourishing”.
My frequent diagnosis is “PBS” (pissed body syndrome). PBS is a healthy response to a lack of holistic health care or some other stressors.
We are all part of many constantly interacting systems - internal and external. When we ignore or are, for various reasons, unable to actively feed all parts of our internal system and play an active, healthy role in the system which comprises the family, the community, and the environment we will not function as we need and want to. Just as many factors can affect the grid which feeds energy to our home electrical system many factors affect our internal electrical system.
All parts of our body are physical at some level even if some, such as thoughts and feelings are not visible. What we call thoughts and feelings can affect how our body function – interna thoughts and feelings and those offered by another person. I suspect we humans, including health care professionals, need to be more respectful of systems; all which affects the operation of individual bodies as well as the family and community.
Perhaps as we learn to more effectively understand and communicate about the human mind, we will become less judgmental and more able to approach all behavior in a loving, scientific manner.
Written March 10, 2024
Jimmy F Pickett
coachpickett.org
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