Oleg I. Reznik, M.D.   Board Certified Family Physician

Assistant Professor at OHSU  Department of Family Medicine

Mental Disorders

Anxiety

The etymology of the word anxiety means to choke, to suffocate, and “twisted rope”.  It shares its origin with words anger and anguish all of which, though denoting different emotional states, can be perceived as suffocating, suffocating life in us. Anxiety imprisons us. From the point of view of mind-body medicine, anxiety arises in our relationship to time, specifically to the future, while shame and guilt always relate to the past.  Anxiety is about something that is not happening right now but might happen in the future. It is seen as a weed, its root being the belief that we can control or modify the future. A large number of mental exercises exist for treatment of anxiety. Once mental tranquility is reached, treatment is finalized by changing the underlying beliefs (again by means of mental exercises) that have given birth to this distressing emotion. Thus we destroy the weeds and their roots giving ourselves the possibility of greater freedom.

 

Depression

Being depressed is akin to bearing a heavy burden that drains our energy leaving us lifeless in the end, figuratively and sometimes physically.  While there are countless reasons for this feeing, from the point of view of mind-body medicine, it is usually connected with anger and guilt. It may sometimes be seen, as my teacher used to say, as “an inverted pride about wickedness”.  It is a feelings of self-importance that can lead us to feel sorry for ourselves, to feel angry about something that someone or ourselves did or didn’t do for us; to regret having missed an opportunity. Many people are not aware why they feel depressed and this can be explored, discovered, and repaired with mental imagery exercises. In this work the practitioner does not tell or suggest to the patient why he is depressed and what he should do.  Instead, the patient is guided through the process where he discovers for himself the reasons, and finds his own unique way toward healing.

 

Schizophrenia

People with schizophrenia and other forms of psychosis are sometimes called insane. While today this term it politically incorrect it provides an important clue to the issue deeply involved in this condition. Etymologically, in-sane literally means unclean (as in un-sanitary). This came from a recognition of a fact many sentries ago that an afflicted person feels unclean inside. On the outside this is usually reflected by the lack of self care. This feeling of uncleanliness may be related to a variety of issues. Here again, an inverted sense of self-importance plays a role. Being polar opposite of the typical narcissist who spends a great deal of time dressing himself and making sure that he looks well, a schizophrenic will often abandon all attempts at maintaining neatness. These two opposites are the two sides of the same coin. Mind-body work offers mental exercises that, once the participants gains enough trust to attempt them, can help him gain control over the disturbing thoughts, hallucinations, and emotions. In the next step the participant is lead through a process of belief change which can bring further and more lasting relief from the symptoms. With mind-body work it is possible to decrease, and sometimes eliminate the need for medications.

Bipolar

In mind-body medicine a bipolar disorder is seen as a disorder of proportion and measure. All people go through natural mood cycles but those in whom these cycles lead to great mood changes are labeled as having a bipolar disorder. Moods swing out of proportion and without a measure. The approach of mind-body medicine in this case is a specific set of mental exercises designed to teach the participant how to recognize and contain these changes. Proportion and moderation is learned by diligent mental (and sometimes physical) training. It is a mental skill that can be developed and may help to decrease the amount of medication.