THE HOLISTIC MIND

and the holistic approach to mental health

For 15 years I worked in a pupil referral unit with pupils who, for a variety of reasons, were unable to maintain a place in mainstream school. When we had our first Ofsted in  May 2000, the Ofsted inspectors referred to the pupils as "youngsters with mental health problems". Needless to say when this was quoted in the report in the local paper the pupils were not very pleased, to say the least!

In many ways this was a turning point for me in my understanding of the human mind. My keen interest in these disadvantaged young people has always led me to "find out more". What causes some people to be unable to cope with "the norm" as we see it?

What I discovered was that mental health is connected to:-

* Nutritional status linked to poor eating habits

* Past hurts and current related emotional issues

* Forgiveness of self and others

* Self knowledge and understanding why we behave the way we do

* Spirituality and the realisation that we are interlinked with everything around us

Mental health problems can display themselves in many different ways:

* Emotional outbursts, ranging from anger to hysteria

* Depression, ranging from deep clinical depression to mood swings

* Paranoia, and a distorted view of reality

* Fear, ranging from irrational fear to anxiety

* physical illness of all types, indicating dis-ease in the body

These of course are only a few of the symptoms of mental health problems. Most of us have experienced at least one of the above if only in a mild form, but many people today will experience one or more of these types of symptoms in a mild or more severe form. When the symptoms manifest as a physical illness, it is difficult, at this stage, to identify the true cause of the illness and to see how the mental health of the person might be adversely affecting their physical condition.

The Holistic Approach to mental health issues is paramount to holistic healing. This is a perfect example of body, mind and spirit being inextricably linked.

The work done by Brandon Bays - as explained in her book The Journeydemonstrates only too well how the deep rooted need for forgiveness can cause terminal illness. After her own amazing healing experience, Brandon Bays has devised a system of dealing with these deep seated emotional issues (which she calls a Journey process) and has seen some miraculous results both in the form of improved health and wellness, and also in relationships between families and even within nations.

Gary Craig in his work as a healer, has devised an amazing system called The Emotional Freedom Technique that works by tapping the meridians whilst saying positive affirmations. Check out his web site for more information and numerous testimonials for all types of emotional and physical issues.

'What we think and what we eat - combined together, make what we are physically and mentally'