MIND-AND-BODY CONNECTIONS AND THE THEORY OF DUALISM
“Only a healthy body can create a healthy mind.” – Turkish saying
One can easily say that the opposite of this aphorism is also true; ”only a healthy mind can create a healthy body.”
Our brain, as an anatomical organ creates our mind. The brain and the mind-and-body are closely and tightly connected to each other by countless nerve cells (neurons), numerous neuropeptides, chemical molecules, and electro-magnetic action potentials so that they can have continuous (24/7) two-way communications with each other. This is required for proper functioning of life giving, very complex organizations of multiple specialized organ systems.
It is unfortunate that since 17th century, medical scientists were blinded by the influence of the most prominent French philosopher and mathematician of the century, Rene Descartes and his theory of Mind-and-Body dualism. According to Descartes, the mind-and-body are made up of two different substances, each with a different but essential functional nature. The mind creates mental phenomenon of thoughts and ideas which are non-physical and can’t be seen and studied, like physical illnesses of organ systems. Therefore, the mind-and body should be separated from each other, and human illnesses should be divided into two separate categories: Mental (psychiatric) and Physical (medical) illnesses. Since mental illnesses can’t be seen and studied scientifically, they should be left to the care psychologist, churches, clergy and faith healers. Medical scientists should only concentrate on studying and curing organ illnesses.
This unfortunate misconception of western medicine continued for almost 300 years, which resulted in mental illnesses being neglected, while revolutionary advancements were achieved in the understanding and treatments of organ illnesses.
Yet, we all know from our personal experience that when we are physically ill, our state of mind is also affected; we feel worried, anxious, tense and depressed. If we suffer from a serious chronic illness, chronic depression and feeling helpless, it becomes permanent. Our body does not differentiate the cause of depression and reacts to depression, whether it is caused by mental or physical illnesses the same way, by producing plenty of stress hormones (cortisol, epinephrine, norepinephrine) to overcome stress. Chronic elevation of stress hormones, in the long run are harmful for the body.
On the other hand, people with chronic mental disturbances like generalized anxiety disorders (GAD), depression, post- traumatic stress disorders (PTSD) or more serious mental disorders like bipolar disorders or schizophrenia, are most prone to develop many physical illnesses such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension, ASHD or heart failure.
A recent and interesting study from South Korea involving 1,204 patients with GAD and/or chronic depression with many yearlong follow-ups, has revealed that these emotional disorders significantly increase the risks functional organ disturbances, asthma, chronic cough as well as the above-mentioned physical illnesses.
Therefore, many clinical studies have shown that every patient, regardless of their illnesses, whether be mental on/or physical, should be treated as a whole - with their body, as well as their state of mind, should be taken into the consideration. Treatments of physical illnesses with medication, when combined with “talk therapy” and ”behavior modification therapy” always give better results and require lesser dose of medications to treat illnesses.
