Conference paper
THE NEW FUNCTIONAL IDENTITY: A BODY THAT THINKS, A MIND THAT FEELS - FRONTIERS AND UNEXPLORED TERRITORIES OF THE "BODY AND MIND ZONE"
Maria Grazia Spurio
; Queens College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
Abstract
For a long time, terms like "mind" and "emotion" have rarely been taken into account, not even mentioned in the medical texts.
The latest scientific researches, including the studies of Candace Pert, on the contrary, have emphasized that the entire body thinks,
because every single cell hears, and feels emotions. The international researcher has discovered the endocrines and a vast number of
neuropeptides, that work as an "information network" that interconnects the entire body, the "psychic" molecules are transmitted and
travel, communicating information as in a circular and recursive body - mind mechanism. This is a sort of body and mind functional
identity, which is different in each person, because each person is a unique universe, and the body is the place where mind and body
meet in a unique and unrepeatable alchemy. So, if it is true that only in the body the secret of its potential for development and
transformation is well hidden, it is also true that this secret is unique for each of us. Then, the strategic therapy becomes 'tailormade',
and the knowledge of the body component is essential to unlock behavior patterns and planning new ones, in order to improve
relationships and the quality of life, and enhance the sense of well-being. People are not as simple containers which merely record
external incitements, on the contrary, they are able to evaluate and weigh what happens around. Depending on the meaning
attributed to each stimulus, a stress response of different magnitude and duration is activated, this can be considered functional or
dysfunctional. Many recent studies, in fact, states that there is a significant correlation between the coping strategy chosen and the
onset of a disease. According to the theory of ‘psychogenic tumor’, for example, anyone can potentially develop cancer, but only
those who do not have the psychological strength to resist disease get sick. No matter what is the theoretical framework and the
conclusion adopted, we go towards a consensus of considering body and mind as a part of a unique and complex functional identity.
As a consequence of this completely new approach on how to consider the wellbeing and health, researchers suggest that the goal of
a satisfactory physical and mental balance can be achieved through a transversal approach to the various disciplines
(psychotherapy, surgical, nutritionist, medical aesthetics and medicine in general). According to this bio-psycho-social approach,
each person should be approached in his entirety, bodily and psychological; each individual should be ‘hosted’ in a sort of ‘Body
and Mind ' zone, where the entire body is able to think.
Keywords
functional identity; body-mind; strategic therapy; body and mind; coping
Hrčak ID:
264912
URI
Publication date:
30.8.2016.
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