(((BNLsMOM)))
I'll try to put together a coherent response, if I understand what you're trying to say...
First thing I'll say:
I believe that the human organism works towards healing naturally. Our bodies are designed to repair themselves, and we see this in small ways every day. If dirt gets in our eyes, our eyes will start to water. If we get cut, the blood will start to clot, etc. All physical responses to being harmed, that our bodies put into action w/o any direction from our conscious mind.
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Or like in Quantum theory, are we changed by the observations of ourselves, our p-docs and our T-docs? In that case, do we choose our mental illness or is it thrust upon up by our observers?
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We are changed by being observed, but ultimately what we view as 'reality' is created within our own mind. I sometimes think that therapy works *because* our pain is observed and T offers what we need to heal (receiving compassion). Just by having our pain witnessed, it can be very healing. That said, we don't have to accept the observations of others. A person in a state of grief could be convinced they have clinical depression, or the person could believe they are just grieving and that the depression will pass. The state of mind of the 'patient' *does* impact the ability of the 'patient' to heal.
The placebo effect is probably the best example of how the state of mind can physically impact the state of the physical body.
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I wonder if the attempt to filter is the ego's attempt at self- preservation. The things you do not want to get through that are getting through are things that hurt the ego, and so you perceive them as negative. Conversely, if you enjoy a certain feeling or thought, those things are feeding your ego. (not in a conceited, big-headed way. I suppose the word soothing would be more accurate here.)
I think if we can find a way for the soul and the self (ego) to co-exist, we might have a cure for mental illness. (!?!)
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I think the filter of the ego is there to teach us lessons. (This is the area the moves away from science to personal philosophy.) I can look at almost any event in my life and find within it a lesson. A lesson that teaches me about myself and about what it is like to be a human being. It is through experience that we learn the most, so it makes sense that the ego would direct us to particular situations where we can learn. The problem comes when people get stuck in a learning cycle and keep repeating the same lessons over and over again.
IMHO, the single thing that most of us need to heal is love. Love for ourselves being the most important and difficult to achieve. If we value who we are, then our bodies/spirit/mind is more likely to *want* to heal. We will be more willing to accept loving help from friends, professionals, and family members. We will be more forgiving of ourselves, and be more open to learning if any situation is approached from a place of loving acceptance.
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Is it possible to slow down the chemical processes so that the self and the soul can exist without conflict? Is that what meds are for? And if we and our observers decide the meds are working, do they begin to work?
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I think the soul and the ego existing w/o conflict is called enlightenment in spiritual circles. Yes, it is possible. I'm not sure about the role of meds, but I can tell you that by quieting the ego, it is possible to get in touch with deeper aspects of ourselves and of the moment that we are actually living in.
So much of our mental chatter is often about the past or the future. We worry about what we did do, or what we are going to have to do, but very little attention is given to what is happening *right NOW*. Echkart Tolle gives a great explanation in his book "The Power of Now".
Scientific studies have shown that the average person, when looking at a picture, only sees about 20% of what is in the picture. This is because we have pre-conceived notions in our mind (ego) about what to expect, or because our minds are not fully present. When you start to think of these things, you realize how much the ego impacts our ideas of reality. If we are only seeing 20%, on average, of what is conscentually 'real', then what would happen if we swung our view to consider other things in the picture?
Now I'm not sure if I'm making any sense or not.
You post some very interesting questions, BNLsMOM...thank you for getting my mental juices flowing!