The Body-Brain-World Connection
by Edwin L. Young, PhD
March 6, 2010

Let us say that there is an emotional gradient from black depression to pessimistic and the blahs to the blues to sad to ennui or bored and listless moving from the 1 to 5 end of the scale below.  Next, the gradient goes from a 6 of feeling merely well or OK to 7 engaged in activity to 8 content and somewhat optimistic to 9 cheerful and thoroughly involved and then all the way up to a 10 of extremely enthusiastic and eager.

Now, let us say that 1 represents a total lack of activity in the frontal cortex and 5 is minimal and infrequent, intermittent activity there while 6 to 8 represent degrees of increasingly greater frontal cortex activity corresponding to observed or reported preferred, motivated, goal orientation while 10 represents intense, sustained, high frontal cortex activity over a long period.

I would predict that descending from 5 to1 a person would have increasingly more severe psychogenic illnesses[1] such as heart problems, ulcers, skin disorders, obesity, diabetes and such; more psychosomatic illnesses[2] such as allergies, impotence, digestive disorders; as well as a tendency to fall ill to serious diseases such as colds, flu and cancer.  In addition, when depressed or plagued with other negative emotions, these can be exacerbated by diseased physiological processes[3].

On the other hand, while a 10 has a feeling of extreme well being and omnipotence, such intensity wears the body’s organs and immune system[4] down making it prone to sudden attacks of catastrophic illnesses[5].  Yet, 7 through 9 are accompanied by greater overall health.

At the same time, from 5 to 1 a person is increasingly likely to become addicted to and to abuse substances, even prescribed medications.  Yet, again, as 10 is approached, a person is increasingly more like to have to rely on uppers and sleep medication or to resort to downers and alcohol in order to relax.

I must caution the reader that reports on causes and treatments of emotional problem presented by modern psychiatry and psychology have been warped by the commercial interests of these professions and the research departments studying such problems within the last half century, particularly within the last few decades.[6]

Learning the art of moderation is essential for a physically healthy life.  Pursuing preferred goals keeps the frontal cortex active.  The benefits are often even greater when one engages in these goals and activities with an amicable group.  Generating laughter with one another while engaged in these activities is an extra bonus to the body.  Pursuing a relaxing or non-competitive, non-cerebral recreational activity decommissions the frontal cortex.  This is especially true for taking naps and a good night’s sleep.  A good night’s sleep comes easier after such vigorous, satisfying activities are over and one winds down.  This kind of ‘calling it a day’ gives the body parts and immune system a chance to repair and for rejuvenation. 

In a similar fashion, one’s worldview can go from extremely negative to Pollyanna positive.  One can go from dwelling on extremely depressing memories to extremely, possibly embellished memories.  The moderate position would be realistic acknowledgement and learning from the negative memories, yet healthy and satisfying memories of good times and successes.

A person can focus on the minutia of their surrounding and inner self; can focus on a broader and constructive awareness of one’s social context and even broader focus on aspects of the culture that are positive and those that require remediation.  A person can merely critically dwell on their personality and behavioral trends or engage in positive, corrective agendas for self-improvement. 

A person can let himself or herself be trapped in an environment full of very painful stimuli or make a decision make major changes or moves.  A person can teach himself or herself to adjust to the unavoidable discomforts on the one and on the other to make the relative minor adjustments to living conditions that can make life more pleasant. 

A major psychological re-orientation to life can come from re-evaluating the negative myths, taboos, and encumbrances with respect to how to conduct oneself that one was taught as a child.  Take stock all of the ‘have-to’, ‘can’t’, ‘must or shouldn’t be’, and all of the many ‘oughts and ought nots’ and try to determine if there really is any merit to them.  In all cultures, most of what is taught to children about life, how you should live it, and belief systems are a mere arbitrary products of social evolution.  Get a globe of the earth and point to any inhabited spot on it and you will find that at each of them children are being taught different mandates, prohibitions, and beliefs.  Review what has been taught at any of the ages past and you will, likewise, find differences that nevertheless are taught as absolute and universal for all time.  Are they all right?  Are those you were taught right just because they happened be customary to your pinpoint on the face of the earth.  When faced with social and moral mandates and prohibitions and the negative repercussions can come from disobedience or nonconformity, one can always ask “So what?”, “What difference does it make?” and “What do they matter in larger, longer-term scheme of existence?”

Another major psychological re-orientation to life can come from taking stock of how one tends to envision one’s future and what you envision versus what you passively accept as your inevitable future.  Reassessing one’s short and long-term goals can bring a welcome epiphany.  On the other hand, envisioning new goals will be ineffectual without plotting plans, paths, and strategies for their realization.  It is especially important to take into consideration time factors.  A pitfall to be avoided is to think one has a fixed identity, can only play a narrow range of roles, or that one is condemned to the ruts of long established habits.  If you try out new identities and roles within your, or a, group, you may find that this is a highly effective way to make positive behavioral and emotional changes.  In addition and very importantly, it is more than helpful to step back, review this process, and try to view it from different perspectives.  When a goal and plan has been decided upon, simply consider it as an experiment and subsequent reevaluation may likely result in massive revision.  Taking stock of external barriers and personal limitations is also important but one should not shy away from attempting to overcome, surmount, or deviate, even if that may mean looking awkward and foolish.  Remember “So what?” and “What difference does it make?”

After you envision a new goal, you will most like foreshadow, in your imagination, what accomplishing the goal will look like and feel like.  Inevitably, the realization will not be exactly like the foreshadowing of it.  When there is disappointment over this, it may signal that you either must revise your inner criteria for fulfillment or your goal, plan, or strategy.  It will rarely signal that you should quit, give up, or surrender.  If you invest in the process, in the doing of it more than the final product, you can easily pick yourself up and begin again with your revision.  Eventually you will master this new life style you are attempting and, just as the whole process is becoming second nature, you will find that you are now prepared to move up to higher criteria for fulfillment, more idealistic visions, yet more realistic goal, and your transcendence will probably turn out to be more beneficial to all.

And now, we are back to the first paragraph.  In my opinion, almost all of the emotional and behavioral problems cited in the beginning are a product of cultural disorders.  Of course, only a few individuals with, or without, such disorders are capable of addressing this larger issue.  However, for those of us who are able, we must begin a massive re-evaluation of our culture and the structures and systems of our culture.  We must begin the arduous challenge of analyzing how these structures and systems have evolved to the contemporary stage in which they sustain or perpetuate each other.  We must further try to determine the extent to which they are the ultimate cause of the ills of individuals and the broader ills of the populace and the still broader damage they are causing to the natural environment.  Standing up to, speaking out against, and acting in such a way to bring about extensive, methodical, systematic change in our culture will have two major benefits.  This engagement may not bring about immediate health to you or your world.  Nevertheless, one major benefit will be that such courageous, selfless, magnanimous action will surely give you a sense of bonding with your fellow humans and our natural world.  Another major benefit will be that it will also give you a sense of empowerment that most probably will improve your health.