Learn Osteopathy Techniques & How It Affects Body & Mind

Definition and History of the Mind:

For many it difficult to understand the mind without considering the physical brain. The mind is an emotional thought carrying being that can interpret the brain and communicate to the body, either consciously or unconsciously. The mind can imagine, memorise, store knowledge, have free-will and have self-knowledge allowing for the ability to empathise and formulise behaviour and identity within a human being.

Historically, Sigmuind Freud was concerned with the nature of the subconscious mind. He believed the conscious mind was “sane” and only rational at times. Still, he felt that the powers of the mind that concerned motivated men and women were mostly unconscious to both. Freud’s theories are either directly or indirectly concerned with the nature of the unconscious mind. He didn’t invent the notion of the unconscious; others before him had suggested that even the supposedly ‘sane’ human mind was conscious and rational only at times, and even then at possibly only one level. Yet Freud went further, suggesting that the powers motivating men and women are mainly and normally unconscious. From his work a topographical model of the mind was developed. The tip of the mind was the conscious part and the unconscious was the cauldron. Here he described the features of mind’s structure and function. In this model the conscious mind is seen as the tip of the iceberg, with the unconscious mind a repository of a ‘cauldron’ of primitive wishes and impulse kept at bay and mediated by the preconscious area (Sigmund Freud’s Theories). In his model, Freud breaks down the iceberg into three distinct parts: the id, the ego, and the superego. Here the id, is the part of the iceberg completely within the unconscious and is driven by one’s libido and also including one’s sexual instinct. Whereas, the ego is found in both the unconscious and conscious mind. This can gain a sense of purpose from gaining from the overall desires of the id. Finally, the superego which is found in the unconscious and conscious mind, ensures that a person`s conscious actions are entwined with the social standards and norms (Summers 2014).

The brain, body and mind are all intermingled together within the life span of the individual. Knowing this allows a intrinsic psychological natural based phenomena to occur which encompasses unique human characteristics (Wilkinson 2014). Separate from the human mind, the brain is an organ that still has many secrets. Its complexity has yet to be truly understood by humans. In fact a new field of study called ‘Educational Neuroscience’ or ‘Neuro- Education’ seeks to establish the recognizable links between the brain and the mind according to Tokuhama in (Sousa 2014).

Educational Neuroscience or Neuro Education is:

“ the emerging field of mind, brain and education brings together natural, life, neuro and social sciences from which the major guiding principles are derived. The most prominent among these disciplines are education, neuroscience and psychology. Sub fields of education ( ie pedology, special educations and gifted students) , neuro science ( cognitive neuroscience, neuorethics, neuorosceince, neuoropsychitry, developmental neuorsciences and paediatrics) and psychology ( developmental psychology and neuropsychology) comprise the major foundations of mind, brain and education”

-Tokuhama –Espinosa, 2008 in (Tokuhama-Espinosa 2015)

The human mind incorporates the human`s ability to have imagination, memory, knowledge, free-will and self-knowledge. It can detect spiritual knowledge and is capable of introspective examination for contemporary discussion (Holscher 2016). There is an interdisciplinary communication between the brain, the mind and a human`s behaviour. There is a growing literature basis that notes of threats such as competitive threats and resource scarcity can affects one`s empathy (Chang, Krosch et al. 2016).

A person`s mental status is concerned with their theory of mind (TOM). People need to understand other peoples` mental states and to be able to have successful social interactions to reflect empathy. Empathy and theory of mind (TOM) allow separation of cognitive and affective routes to understanding others (Kanske, Böckler et al. 2015). Sciences of religion have focused attention on concepts of mind, soul and spirit which have been assessed across cultures worldwide. Experiments’ have been done by American, Brazilian, and Indonesian undergraduate participants regarding a character's soul, mind, or spirit whilst being potentially transferred to another character's body. Results of this research indicated that soul, spirit, and mind were linked but culturally understood depending on the different countries and their people’s perceptions and religions. Effectively the understanding of these parts of human relate to identity (Roazzi, Nyhof et al. 2013).

How the Mind can help the Body:

Reality is objective. The world has a rational structure. Correct reason represents this rational structure. Abstract meanings, imagination and reason have a body and mind connection (Johnson 2013). From a trial of 1323 abstracts and 112 papers assessed on the effects of mind-body interventions (MBI) on sleep found that 60 % of all assessed benefited on at least one sleep outcome. From the mind-body interventions assessed, 13 out of 23 studies using meditation, 21 from 30 using movement MBI, and 14 from 25 using relaxation, found one or more improvement in sleep. Therefore, mind- body interventions should be used as interventions for sleep management (Neuendorf, Wahbeh et al. 2015). Although future research on the mechanisms of the entire body and brain`s path physiology may help improve treatments for chronic stress, anxiety, and emotion disorders (Jerath and Crawford 2015). The afore mentioned Freud spoke of the ‘self’ which is located in the mind when he said:

“ the ego is ultimately derived from bodily sensations chiefly by those springing from the surface of the body”

– Freud in (Aron and Anderson 2015)

He believed that humans drives resulted from bodily demands for work placed upon one`s mind (Aron and Anderson 2015). A study in California where an individual allowed for a matrix of 96 microscopic electrodes be implanted in his brain to record the activity of about 100 nerve cells at the same time allowed for researchers to figure out the human`s individual intentions. Hence, his intension to move and use his body can possibly be understood and this proves that there is a connection from the mind`s intensions towards the body (Pruszynski and Diedrichsen 2015). Another study on medical students to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and initial effectiveness of an augmented, four-week stress management and a workshop of self-care for medical students discovered that a mind–body skills workshop specifically adapted for medical students is effective and feasible for reducing stress. It also increases mindfulness (Greeson, Toohey et al. 2015). Other evidence suggests a link between aa human physical and mental wellness. Those with severe states of mental illness are more likely to commit suicide as well as a higher rate of physical illness. Drug use and over indulging in alcohol are chief amongst the major health concerns in the 21st Century.

By intervening early into physical problems it reduces the reduced mortality that now exists. However, more is needed to co-ordinate between physical and mental health services especially in the western part of the world as there is quite a lot of rigidity between these different services. There may be a stigma with mental health services still in the west or it may be that physicians are not that skilled at recognizing the signs of mental health illness. Interestingly, socially these models of diseases fail to show variation across world’s cultures. Industrialised countries explain this phenomena arising from psychological, medical or social causative factors whereas traditional societies may have supra-natural or natural justifications. Yet, mind and body are not exclusively seen as intrinsic bedfellows in privileged areas (Saunders 2017). However, some cultures recognise a mind-body connection and so treatments happen holistically. Psycho-educational programmes about physical health among mentally ill patients is also required in the future (Bhugra and Ventriglio 2017).