Unit 2

1)      The body creates a series of natural body proteins called neuropeptides; and by using our mind through mental imagery, for example, we can produce these proteins which would in turn alter our physiology. The conclusion, “A mental event can lead to a physical event.” These studies were very important to the field of health and wellness because it opened the doors for inner healing. If one can learn to change their inner negativity into positive, they could transform their body into a healthier one.

2)      The 1998 Schnall study focused on two groups of mid-level managers working under high stress: one group was identified as suffering from “job strain” and the other was not. The first group had developed feelings of helplessness, powerlessness, and mental stress which eventually lead to physical symptoms of chronic hypertension and an enlarged heart. The second group, whose individuals did not cultivate the same negative feelings, found their inner strength to control their rising stress levels and did not develop physical symptoms related to the stress of their job. This research is important to me as every job in life is stressful, whether it is being a mother, a wife, a student, or a medical assistant. Life is not easy, so it is important to learn to deal with stress rather than letting affect my daily life. Learning to pull myself up when life seems to have me down will be beneficial, and it is an important lesson to pass on to my children.

3)      Different avenues to healing must be available at any time in order to continue one’s healing, no matter how much their needs change or not. The five  characteristics of Aesclepian Healing are:

ⁱ⁾         Holistic: this encompasses the four aspects of human life which are psychospiritual, biological, interpersonal, and worldly.

ⁱⁱ⁾        Evolutionary: this was the encouragement of individuals to evolve and grow our knowledge, resources, and capacities in order to ascend into a new level of existence.

ⁱⁱⁱ⁾      Intentional: this means that we can be healed by carrying the intention for everything we do and say so that we own our life and lifestyle in hopes that we can attain the goals and priorities we set out for ourselves.

^iv)       Person-centered: Aesclepian healing was person-centered which meant that healing was based on each individual; tailored to their individual needs.

v)      Dynamic: It was understood that healing had to be a dynamic process because each person’s needs are susceptible to change. Different avenues to healing must be available at any time in order to continue one’s healing, no matter how much their needs change or not.

4)      Transpersonal psychology integrates both personal psychology and psychiatry, then adds higher aspects of human experience which transcend the ordinary; experiences that include those around them. Transpersonal Psychology might loosely be called the psychology of spirituality and of those areas of the human mind which search for higher meanings in life, and which move beyond the limited boundaries of the ego to access an enhanced capacity for wisdom, creativity, unconditional love and compassion. It honors the existence of transpersonal experiences, and is concerned with their meaning for the individual and with their effect upon behavior. This is an important aspect of being a medical assistant because a medical assistant should be aware of how a patient is doing spiritually as well as physically, as one greatly affects the other.

 

 

5)      The research revealed that prayer and religious involvement yields healthier patient outcome versus patients not involved in religious practices. Such outcomes were the healing of disease and restored. This information is critical for health and wellness professionals when dealing with religious persons and seeing a tremendous positive outcome in their health. If they are dealing with negative individuals who do not hold a higher awareness in their life, giving them help to become more spiritually educated could be the push they need to help heal them. Being dependent on Western medicine and healing only caters to the biological functions of the human, so if one is educated on the other aspects of holistic healing, the faster one can get onto the road to recovery in all aspects of health.