Alternatives In Mental Health

Some people believe that our brain becomes inactive when we sleep. If that were so then we should not have any dreams. Dreams are evidence that our mind remains active, even when we are asleep. This simply means that our mind is active 24 hours a day without any rest at all. Just imagine how our bodies would behave if we were to go through 24 hours of physical activity.

Although research may show that 30% of mental illness may occur without a trigger of stress, it also shows that a majority – 70% – of mental illnesses occur with stress. The research may have failed to look at the other 30%, mentally ill who may not be ‘acknowledging’ stress at a given moment. This gives us a pessimistic view of mental illnesses. We are made to believe that we can do nothing about them. We are also told that mental illnesses occur because of our genes, our upbringing, our personality, our temperament, our lifestyle and we can do nothing about them. Stress or no stress, we are told, if we have all these factors loaded in our personal history, we are prone to have a mental illness. Some psychiatrists adhere to this belief strongly. This belief is then put across authoritatively as the “gospel truth” of science. Naturally, this brings up a sense of low self-esteem and helplessness in the person who is suffering with the illness. We are then made to believe that medications are man-made answers to mental illness, which is a curse of nature.

Prayer, which was until recently considered unscientific, has now been shown to have beneficial effects on patients.1 Similarly, the current belief in psychiatry is that mental illnesses can be treated by medical professionals only and the person who is mentally ill has no control over their lives. The medical system works in a way in which the doctors themselves have limited choices other than prescribing drugs. The patient has no choices worth mentioning. From the legal perspective, a person who is mentally ill is considered not capable of taking any responsibility for their actions. This is one of the most unfortunate aspects of mental illnesses. People who are mentally ill also have a sense of responsibility in many areas of their lives.

The role of emotions in mental illnesses has been totally ignored by scientists. Yet researches do show that separation from mother,2 losses3 – including deaths,4 traumatic events, especially when they occur over the previous three months5 can trigger mental illnesses. What has been looked at is the history of such events in a person’s life. What is ignored is the emotional upheaval it causes in a person’s body and mind. Emotional expression ameliorates the effects of trauma.6 Repetitive upheavals in the body are simply not forgotten. Release of emotions by emotional expression explains the role of counselling and confession. We tend to believe, erroneously, that everything will settle with time. Things do settle with time – but not everything. It is these issues and their emotional effects, that cause mental illnesses and psychosomatic illnesses. It is obvious that whenever we undergo any emotional experience, our nervous and hormonal systems are shaken-up. The nervous system and the hormones together control the activities of various parts of the body. If the neurohormonal expression is allowed to go through completion, a physiological calmness occurs in the body. This has a scientific basis.7

For people who attend church regularly, a common experience is the sense of calmness on entering a church. Coupled with music, incense and sermons spoken in a low, soft tone, a sense of calmness dwells on the person. There is scientific evidence to suggest that going to church helps a person remain healthy.8 More interesting is the fact that there is little research to state that music or aromatherapy help to bring about mental health. Yet experience shows that they have a calming effect. Only recently have papers started to be published in scientific journals bridging the gap between spirituality and science.9 It has now been researched that people who are religious in orientation have a lower rate of strokes than those who are not religious.10

The whole area of mental illness is about losing a sense of freedom. When we find ourselves bound to emotional issues of our life, that we cannot rid ourselves of, we lose our freedom of thinking. This creates stress in our mind and our body bears the brunt of it. This loss of freedom brings up a sense of fear or a sense of helplessness. Both such feelings bring up a sense of insecurity. A person loses confidence in their own worth. Self-esteem becomes low. With lack of confidence and low self-esteem, comes poor decision-making. A person suffers with all these conditions when suffering with a mental illness. This changes the behaviour of the person. The behaviour is affected by the way the person feels and thinks. If the person feels fear for a long time, the chances of becoming phobic and paranoid increase. Withdrawal from social situations occurs. The family members observe the person to be unwell. Such a person is then asked to see a doctor. With the person’s self-esteem low, vulnerability increases. This does not mean however, that the person becomes totally irresponsible towards their own well-being. Many times the person wants to do ‘something’ to get better, but the health system has limited resources to offer much in terms of growth of the person, except medication. When a mentally ill person goes to seek help – confidence, self-esteem and sense of freedom are already lost. Instead of helping the person become independent, there is a tendency to make the person dependent on medication.

Medication plays its role in controlling the condition or state of illness. It does nothing to improve the quality of life permanently. To improve their quality of life, the person needs to take responsibility for their own well-being. This is encouraged in some of the organisations, which are being run by the sufferers themselves. GROW is an example of such an organisation. Are there any alternatives to medication in mental conditions? A doctor can only prescribe drugs to “control” the mental condition. The current trend in some other parts of the world is to encourage people suffering with mental illnesses to take responsibility for their own well-being, along with medication. Psychotherapy11 and self-help is encouraged. The usage of medication in such situations is minimised or eliminated.

In psychiatry, we know that the suicide rate among physicians is higher than in the general population and psychiatrists are at a greater risk among physicians, than other specialists.12 Research shows that psychotherapy is more economical than medication alone in treating mental illness.13 Conditions like schizophrenia are also being treated without medication in some parts of the world.14 It is also a known fact that the more positive the attitude we have, the more balanced are the chemicals in our body.15 This would be more acceptable for those who see the positive role of religion on mental health. Some authors have suggested that the medicine of the future is going to be “prayer and Prozac.”16 Mental health is a preventative activity. Do we need to suffer first before we take steps to deal with it? If we could only assume responsibility for our own mental health, we may not have to suffer. The best medicine in this case is certainly prevention.

We live in a free society. The freedom to suffer is also one kind of freedom. We also have the freedom to look for answers to minimise our suffering.

REFERENCES

ASTIN, J.A., (2000) Prayer, Other Forms of ‘Distant Healing’ seem to have Positive Effects. Medscape. Annals of Internal Medicine 132: P.903-910.

HARRIS T., BROWN G. W., BIFULCO A., (1986) Loss of Parent in Childhood and Adult Psychiatric Disorder: The Role of Lack of Adequate Parental Care. Psychological Medicine 16: P.641-659.

BROWN G. W., HARRIS T., (1978) Social Origins of Depression. Tavistock, London.

BIRTCHNELL J., (1970) Depression in Relation to Early and Recent Parent Death. British Journal of Psychiatry 116: P.299-306.

BROWN G. W., BIRLEY J. L. T., (1968) Crises and Life Changes and the onset of Schizophrenia. Journal of Health and Social Behaviour 9: P.203-214.

KELLER, S.E., SHIFLETT, S.C., SCHLIEFER, S.J. & BARTLETT, J.A. (1994) Stress, Immunity and Health. Handbook of Human Stress & Immunity. San Diego: Academic. P.217-244.

CHADHA, P. K., (2000) Drugless Psychiatry – Physiological Basis of Clinical Experiences. Paper presented in 6th Conference – Innovations in Psychiatry, London, April 2000.

COMSTOCK, G.W., PARTIDGE, K.B., (1972) Church Attendance and Health. Journal of Chronic Diseases 225: P.665-72.

SLOAN, R.P., BAGIELLA E., POWELL T., (1999) Religion, Spirituality and Medicine. Lancet 353: P.664-67.

KOENIG, H.G., (1997) Is Religion Good for your Health? Haworth Pastoral Press, N.Y.

POMERANTZ, J.M. (1999). Focused Psychotherapy as an Alternative to Long Term Medication. Drug Benefit Trends 11 (7) : P.2, 5.

KAPLAN, H.I., SADOCK., B.J., (1998) Synopsis of Psychiatry – 8th Edition – B.I. Waverly Pvt. Ltd., New Delhi. P.865.

TALLEY P. F., STRUPP, H. H., BUTLER S. S., (1994) Psychotherapy Research and Practice, Harper Collins: London.

McKENZIE, C.D., & WRIGHT, L.S., (1996) Delayed Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders from Infancy – The Two Trauma Mechanism. Harwood Academic.

MOON, A. M., (2000) Positive Psychology Halved Depression in Kids. Clinical Psychiatry News. 28 (5):

Art Workshops for Women (young and not so Young!!)

The Madhavi Kapur Foundation has announced a a series of

Art Workshops For Women (young and not so young!!)

by Susan Bullough-Khare

Aim of these art workshops is to:

1. Explore personal and creative development

2. Increase self confidence and improve self esteem

3. Provide a vehicle and environment for social

interaction

4. Give insight and hands on experience of the

therapeutic value of art

5. Provide experience with a variety of art materials and

art appreciation for relaxation, self development,

communication.

6. Offer an opportunity to explore concerns and

difficulties in a safe, supportive atmosphere.

The workshops are designed to give a variety of

experiences to individuals no matter what their previous

experience of art or group work.

During workshops participants may create work on themes

such as fear, sadness, joy, etc, always focusing on the

process and not the product. This work is then the vehicle

for talking and communicating about important personal

experiences and concerns.

Duration of workshops:

Tuesdays 5th,12th,19th & 26th August and 2nd September

2008, from 10 am to 2 pm.

Fee:

(inclusive of all art materials, tuition, light snack & tea.)

- Rs. 2500 for all 5 sessions –

Whenever possible a trained counselor will be present to

give additional input

Venue : Flat no.515,Building A9 ,Eden Gardens, Nagar Road, pune 411014 Pune 411 001

Registration : Contact –Megha at 9860363278

and send in your registration at the earliest as we are limiting the number of participants.

                ******************************************************************************

‘The Educational Value of Art’ –

for those working with children or youth;

teachers, counselors, social workers, etc

Designed and facilitated by Susan Bullough-Khare

Through this workshop, participants will

have the opportunity to explore a range of art materials,

consider the work of some artists and reflect on the various

ways that art can benefit their students.

Only when we have worked with art materials ourselves

can we be wholly effective in working with others.

Undertaking creative work on themes such as anger, regret,

guilt and love can give us an opportunity to voice the

unsaid. Art releases and expresses in a contained and

manageable way.

It can provide a valuable bridge of communication between,

student and student and also between students and teacher.

Through these art workshops the participants will be

introduced to a range of materials and methodologies.

While building up confidence, by focusing on process and

not product, they will also have a personal experience of

the creative process.

Previous experience and knowledge of art is irrelevant.

However it is vital to have personal experience with art

materials and the exercises before facilitating such work

with others.

We need to inspire ourselves and undergo our own journey

in order to become more empathetic, accepting, congruent

and fruitful with those with whom we work and live.

Duration of workshops:

8th and 9th August, 2008, 2 pm to 6 pm on both days.

Fee: (inclusive of all art materials, tuition, light snack & tea.)

- Rs. 900 per participant

- Rs.1600 for 2 participants from one school

- Rs. 2100 for 3 participants from one school

          ********************************************************************

Workshops are designed and facilitated by Susan Bullough-Khare

Susan received her educational training in England where, in addition to teaching, she also worked as an Occupational Therapist in a psychiatric unit, including drama in locked wards, and a House Parent in a residential home for emotionally disturbed children.

For over twenty years she was resident in Ireland where, in addition to raising two sons and running a small holding, she was director of the Inter-cultural Education Programme for the Kerry Education Centre. She also worked as a freelance consultantspecialising in Arts and

Inter- cultural Education and ran classes for girls with special needs.

She conducted art education projects for several arts festivals in Ireland including the Dublin Millennium and the Cibeal in Kerry. She has given presentations and mounted exhibitions of her work for conferences in Ireland, England, Scotland, the Netherlands, Portugal and India.

In 2007 Susan attended and was a guest speaker at a seminar on ‘Best Practice in Anti-Racism Training’ in Dublin, Ireland. Most recently (June 2008) Susan  participated in a project at the South Bank Centre, London, called “The Art and Craft of Saving the World” e xploring ecology, climate change and environment through artistic encounters, exchange and participation through art and craft.

Susan conducts career development workshops for teachers on numerous aspects including creative education, classroom display and discipline management. She provides creative self exploration and ex-pression workshops for women, teachers, parents, youth and minority groups.

Susan has been travelling in India regularly since January 1988 and has grass-roots experience of the work of artists and crafts-people in many different States. She has used her arts and inter-cultural education programmes to develop exchange projects between schools in India, Ireland and England.

These interactions over a long period of time have given her a valuable perspective of India and her experience, inside and outside the classroom, enables her to empathise with teachers and parents and, through her workshops, provide personal experience of the creative process.

She has attended courses with BAAT (British Association of Art Therapist) including the ‘Foundation Course in Art Therapy’ and includes aspects of art therapy in her workshops.

Susan regularly facilitates workshops on the therapeutic value of art for NGOs, including those working with alternative mental health treatments. She has worked with traveller, gypsy and refugee children, youth from deprived areas in Dublin and India, peace and reconciliation projects, de-addiction centres, social work student exchange programmes and groups from minority communities.

She also works as a photographer and has produced education packs using her own photography as an educational tool. Her photographs have appeared in many books, magazines and exhibitions on India and Indian culture.

For enquiries or further information on Susan’s workshops please email – s.bulloughkhare@gmail…

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The Possible Science Behind ?comfort Food?

Do the words “comfort food” mean anything to you? There’s a very good chance they do, regardless of how you were brought up. The fact is, sometimes life just puts so much pressure that your mind starts to seek out ways to take focus away from the stress and anxiety of modern life. There are numerous ways to achieve this effect, though it would cause a lot of stress to list all the possible methods. However, in a pinch, occupying your taste buds is pretty equivalent to occupying the mind. In other words, “comfort food” can often be the easiest, most convenient means of stress relief.

Take a second to think about that possibility. Modern society seems hard-wired to make sure people are going to feel upset at one point or another. Stress and anxiety are facets of modern life that you can’t get rid of, no matter how hard you try. Of course, with life being as fast-paced as it is, taking an hour or two our of your busy day for stress relief is unfeasible. In some cases, it might not even be a practical option! So naturally, the body adjusts and the mind finds an acceptable alternative way to relieve all that stress. For the sake of maintaining mental health, of course. More often not, the simplest alternative is to grab a candy bar and start munching.

Apparently, there’s more to eating “comfort food” than initially thought, as science is starting to discover some information on this field. It is safe to say that moods can be dictated by the chemicals that control the central nervous system. It is also medically sound to say that certain activities and foods cause the body to release some biochemical compounds that affect the mood. Exercise and chocolate, for example, both cause the body to produce larger numbers of endorphins. Endorphins, as some people have so eloquently put it, “make people feel happy.” However, pressed for time as most people tend to be in modern civilization, exercise isn’t really an option at all times. So that leaves the easier, more readily available alternative.

Mental health experts also believe that “comfort food” can also be linked to memories, and not merely their potential psychoactive effects. There is anecdotal evidence that suggests that some people take comfort in certain foods due to a link to a positive experience or loved one from the past. The positive memories can sometimes be enough to trigger the central nervous system to produce a variety of chemicals that have positive effects on mood and performance. A man who has a thing for eating blueberry cheesecakes may be subconsciously associating said food with a positive figure from his childhood, like a close relative who liked to make blueberry cheesecakes.

In an evolutionary sense, “comfort food” also makes sense, it would seem. Most “comfort food” tends to be of the high-energy sort, typically foods that give the body a sudden energy boost. The tendency of people to eat high-energy foods during moments of stress and anxiety related to the natural survival instinct. During times of stress, performance is compromised and anything that can alleviate that problem could prove critical to survival in a natural environment. Now, just take the words “natural environment” and replace them with “corporate workplace” and you’ve got a perfectly apt comparison. The quick boost of energy from comfort foods – whether it happens to be dark chocolate or a greasy cheeseburger – could be what the mind needs to stay sharp.

It would appear that the science behind “comfort food” is more complex than initially believed. Still, despite the risks of obesity, people will still turn to food as a quick source of relief. Even if it could cost them dearly when they pick the wrong weight loss pill to compensate for their eating binges. Why? Because good food is so damn hard to turn down.

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