Posted by Fi on February 25, 2002, at 16:25:27
In reply to Re: Broaden your argument Old School » trouble, posted by Dinah on February 25, 2002, at 13:50:42
Its enormously complex, I think. There can certainly be profound effects on mood which appear to be purely physical, for example as a symptom of various physical illnesses.
On the other hand, we all react to stress/threat/loss with an emotional and physical reaction (who hasnt slept badly when worried?), and sometimes that can tip over into an abnormal reaction. And be helped by counselling/therapy- as well as medication in some cases. Outside events can lead to emotional reactions that can lead to changes in the brain.
Just to make it even more complicated, its entirely normal to react to an illness which has a big negative consequence on your life with an emotional reaction. Someone housebound with crippling arthritis is likely to feel angry or depressed, for example. So if the problem limiting you is a mental/psychological one, you have a double whammy.
I think the crucial point of all this is to be clear that people vary enormously; for some, anti-depressants will help as a physical treatment for what are experienced very much as physical symptoms. Others will experience it purely as a psychological reaction to a stress, and find psychological treatments both the most meaningful and helpful. And everything in between.
Therapists and neurologists need to be respectful of this range, and those of us who are patients/clients also need to respect that other peoples' experiences are different and as valid as ours.Fi
poster:Fi
thread:18721
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20020223/msgs/18894.html