An Odd Result of Serendipitous Soul-searching

Subtitled:  Neurotransmitters Plus Environmental Structures
by Edwin L. Young, PhD
October 15, 2009

It took so much difficult, brutal, soul-searching to begin to get an objective glimpse of myself.  That soul searching has accounted for more than a small bit of my writings, especially on intimate relationships and the female gender.  The lion's share of source of material for my writings, however, is my work reforming institutions and my psychotherapy practice.  My most important dictum was to critically examine my work and to consider my successes, far more so than my failures, from both their short-term and long-term outcomes.  Often what seemed like a success in the short-term, upon reflection, began to be seen as having shortcomings or even serious flaws.  Early on, I even had to learn that my self-concept, and my identity in the eyes of others, had its serious flaws, and was in need of serious change, as well.  I do not know where I got the ability to do that kind of gut wrenching, soul-searching but I am ever so thankful for it. 

            During one of these gut-wrenching, soul-searchings, I recall an amazing transformation that came when I was examining my deep depression episodes, from teen years through to around age forty-eight.  I was studying neurotransmitters at the same time.  I suddenly saw that when I decommissioned goal orientation, a process that involved the 1 left frontal-orbital cortex, my brain metabolism shifted to the 2 right, occipital cortex.  1 is associated with dopamine and 2 with an excess of serotonin and an absence of endorphins (associated with pleasure from physical, goal oriented behavior and also with relaxation.  Paradoxical, right!).  I realized that, when I dwelled, morbidly, on negative past memories, I decommissioned 1 and shifted to 2, thereby causing me to slip into a lethargic, psychosomatically induced sensitivity to pain and discomfort, and to being stuck in a depressed mood.  Not so ironically, this state of affairs makes one vulnerable to actual illnesses and is a primary cause of eventual Alzheimer's.  Interestingly enough, 1 is associated with an enhanced immune system and 2 with the reverse.  Wow, what an amazing collection of benefits results from goal-orientation.  It is as though body is saying, "If you stop being goal-oriented, except when it is time for sleep, I (my body) will kill you.  No goals, you get sick and die!” 

            Thus Natural Systems proclaims that a structured environment (like the one I implemented in a juvenile correctional institution), that engages the person in meaningful, mutually supportive, community oriented roles and goals, causes a shift to the frontal-orbital cortex and positive feeling and ego states and a normalization of serotonin, the latter putting an end to impulsivity.  Positive, community oriented, roles and goals results in a massive reduction in conflicts and aggression and a dramatic increase in cooperation and a tendency to mediate and negotiate peacefully when conflicts do arise.  When this state of being of an institution is in place, or when a person has thusly structured their own environment, there no longer is any need for psychotropic medications (i.e. tranquilizers) and there are much fewer illnesses, period! 

            So, psychiatry, eat shit and die!  LOL

            You know, I am an old guy now and I go to bed at 10:00 PM or slightly later.  I relax and avoid 'trying' to go to sleep, and then routinely awaken at around 3:30 or 4 AM, the curse of the elderly.  I take a piss, drink a little water or juice, fiddle on the computer for about thirty minutes, and then, once again lie down and relax and retire into a profound, non-goal-oriented (not even the goal of trying to go to sleep) sleep until between 7:00 and 9:00 AM.  I try to follow my own Natural Systems philosophy.  I think my hypothesis, naturally enough, is that my Natural Systems philosophy and methods are actually the cause of all of the beneficial results recounted above.

Amen!