Attitude and Well-being: Warning, Philosophical Discussion

[GregoryJoseph]

Another question, sir. I know you are a proponent of holistic healing, and I was wondering what percentage of illnesses do you feel are self-perpetuated? That is, if the mindset and the "vibes" a patient was giving off were more positive their illness would lessen, if not disappear?

Again, many thanks.

[Dr Steve]

Another question, sir. I know you are a proponent of holistic healing, and I was wondering what percentage of illnesses do you feel are self-perpetuated? That is, if the mindset and the "vibes" a patient was giving off were more positive their illness would lessen, if not disappear?

Again, many thanks.


That's a tough one, "gregory" :smile:, and the question lends itself to philosophical discussion. A friend in the medical profession once estimated that 90% of the people we see in the office with acute illnesses would get better if they never came to the doctor. It's the other 10% that make us valuable. Then of course, there are the chronic illnesses; most of those would get worse without medical attention (diabetes, cardiovascular disease, etc).

You can't separate mind from body, though. Consider the "placebo effect", a well-recognized effect; people tend to have positive results when they THINK they're taking a medication, even when it's a "sugar pill" (placebo). The placebo effect is so powerful that we have to subtract it out from every single study we do (the so-called double-blind, placebo-controlled study, which is considered the most powerful kind of evidence in medicine). The placebo effect is simply the mind's affect on the body...when it thinks it should get better, sometimes it does. The anti-placebo effect also works...if you think you won't get better, sometimes you really won't. So attitude definitely makes a difference.

Why do you ask?

[GregoryJoseph]

I asked merely because I've long believed the mind-body connection is far more powerful than most people realize, and I wondered what the perspective was from someone such as yourself in the medical field.

I know several people who are the textbook definitions of hypochondriacs and they're always ill.

Thanks for such an honest answer. Admitting that 90% of your patients should just stay away from you takes guts!

[Dr Steve]

I asked merely because I've long believed the mind-body connection is far more powerful than most people realize, and I wondered what the perspective was from someone such as yourself in the medical field.

I know several people who are the textbook definitions of hypochondriacs and they're always ill.

Thanks for such an honest answer. Admitting that 90% of your patients should just stay away from you takes guts!


well, I did say that MY FRIEND said that 90% of acute illness... :smile: what he meant was the colds, acute allergies, "sinus infections" (that are really viruses), etc., that we see would do just as well with OTC meds or no intervention at all...at least they'd "get better" on their own. I still think we can do a lot in those circumstances to make people more comfortable while their body does all the major work, but that's a matter of opinion.

[GregoryJoseph]

I also know that when I concentrate on little things like breathing properly and exercising regularly I feel stronger and healthier, both mentally and physically. I studied Tai Chi for awhile and never felt so amazingly alive and yet at peace. I sometimes think the prevalent attitude of Western medicine is to treat everything with medication, and I'm glad to see you have a far more open interpretation as to what helping those who are ill really is.

[Dr Steve]

I also know that when I concentrate on little things like breathing properly and exercising regularly I feel stronger and healthier, both mentally and physically. I studied Tai Chi for awhile and never felt so amazingly alive and yet at peace. I sometimes think the prevalent attitude of Western medicine is to treat everything with medication, and I'm glad to see you have a far more open interpretation as to what helping those who are ill really is.

yeah, let me admit to something that will make me sound a little fruity...I DVR this show called "INHALE" on..er...well...the "Oxygen Channel". Ha! It's a guy named Steve Ross and he does...er...well...yoga. But he plays cool music and he's funny and some of the chicks are hot (though the pit-sweat on a few of them is gross).

Anyway, when I actually take the time out to do the routine, it is FREAKING AMAZING. First, I never knew that yoga was a cardio workout...by the end of it I'm sweating like a pig and my heart is pounding! Then the "big relax" happens at the last 5 minutes and I had my first and only out of body experience doing this stuff. Secondly, when I do it, I feel better for days afterward; more energy, better outlook, sense of well-being, etc. It may just be endorphins (morphine-like molecules made by the body), but whatever it is, it rules.

So mind and body ARE inseperable; unless you are having an out of body experience.

[Sinestro]

I don't know what channel I was watching, but I think it was a belly dancing or yoga instructional workout show. And it was relaxing just watching the women do their thing.