1. Aaron Chapin HW420: Creating Wellness: Psychological and Spiritual Aspects of Healing Assignment Unit 5 Professor Cindy Fouhy June 21, 2011

2. Benefits of Mental Fitness Promotes mental health by the development of a higher consciousness Promotes Wellness Prolongs Life* A better ability to cope with stress Prevent the on-set of relapse of mental illness ** * (Ball, 2002) **(Canadian, 2011)

3. Main Points Mental Focus and spirituality have become alternative support for millions of people worldwide. The media has an affect on the substantiative nature of the alternative movement that starts with keeping mental and spiritual healing in the public eye By completing exercises of mental stimulus we can improve our mental health

4. Study 1Qi-Gong – Mental Focus to Reduce Multiple Symptoms In this study a 58-year-old male patient practiced qigong 4 or more hours per day during intensive training, and approximately 1 to 2 hours daily thereafter. A total of 10 sessions of external qi healing were performed by a qigong master afterwards. The patient suffered from a series of chronic conditions, including high prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels, atrial septal defect, asthma, allergies, multiple injuries following an automobile accident, high blood pressure, and edema in the legs. The results were that the patient discontinued all medications (8 in total) and lost 35 pounds; his blood pressure dropped from 220/110 with medication to 120/75 without medication (in 2 weeks); pulse rate dropped from 88 beats per minute resting to 68 beats per minute in the mornings and 55 bpm in the evening; the edema in his legs went away; symptoms of asthma or allergies disappeared; the PSA level dropped from 11 to 4 (normal), all without any medications. Chen, 2004

5. Study 2Spiritual Transcendence as a Predictor of Psychosocial Outcome From an Outpatient Substance Abuse Program Using three criteria to understand the development and use of spirituality focus in regards to healing subjects called the Spiritual Transcendence Scale involved participants in which 57 were men and 16 women, ages 19 to 66, who were given a 240-item questionnaire. This questionnaire contained a 56 question self-report instrument is designed to assess psychological symptom patterns, a 60 question coping resources strategy identifying resources currently available to individuals for managing stress including spirituality factors, a Bradburn Affect Balance Scale. A 20-item true–false scale captures the dimensions of Positive Affect and Negative Affect. Before beginning the treatment program, all clients met with a spiritual counselor for a 20-40- minute interview, which was designed to evaluate the level of impairment and the suitability of each client. Within 1 week of the program’s conclusion, ratings were obtained from counselors on the outcome questionnaire. Thirty-five clients received two counselor ratings, and 21 received only a single rating. Counselor ratings were aggregated to create a composite score. After being interviewed, clients completed the NEO–PI–R, the CRI, the BSI, a demographic questionnaire, and the STS. The program itself lasted 8 weeks. Clients attended it 5 days a week, 6 to 8 hr/day. The outcome was a positive spirituality helps alcoholics shift from a narcissistic focus to an acknowledgment of the larger dimensions of spirituality in their lives. Piedmont, 2004

6. Study 3Self Healing on Cancer The objective of this study was to determine the impact of a 20-week contemplative self-healing program among breast and gynecologic cancer survivors. Assessments were performed at the first session and at 20 weeks, including: Quality of Life, FACIT-G, FACIT subscales, anxiety, and depression (HADS). Biologic markers of immune function were obtained. A 20-week program was implemented: the initial 8 weeks addressed open-mindfulness, social-emotional self-care, visualization, and deep breathing followed by 12 weeks of exposing stress-reactive habits and developing self-healing insights. Daily practice involved CD-guided meditation and manual contemplations. Sixty-eight women were enrolled, and 46 completed the program. Participants had significant within-patient changes on, improving by a mean of 6.4 points. The participants reported improvement in emotional and functional and social, mental health status. Significant improvement in maximum AM cortisol and a reduction in resting heart rate at 20 weeks. These findings suggest a contemplative self-healing program can be effective in significantly improving QOL and reducing distress and disability among female breast and gynecologic cancer survivors. Loizzo et al, 2010

7. Improving Mental Fitness Subtle Mind: Instructions Find a Quiet Place to Sit Close Your Eyes Concentrate on your breathe Notice your minds visions but don’t hold on to them Calm your mind until your thoughts cease to be rampant and intentional thoughts replace reactive ones Use your new found intentional thoughts to notice the connectivity of all things in life

8. Improving Mental FitnessLoving Kindness Instructions Find a Quiet Place to Sit Close Your Eyes Concentrate on your breathe Think of a love one Hold them close in your mind Give loving kindness toward yourself and that loved one Feel nothing but peace and love Picture someone who is ill and suffering Breathe in and absorb their suffering Release the suffering from your loved one Experience happiness and love

9. Main Points Mental Focus is a concept of healing that has been expressed a great deal and proven a little. Through studies, journals and articles we may keep the idea of mental and spiritual healing in the public eye By completing exercises of mental stimulus we can improve our mental health

10. References Ball, K; Berch DB, Helmers KF, et al. (2002). "Effects of cognitive training interventions with older adults: a randomized controlled trial". JAMA 288 (18): 2271–81. doi:10.1001/jama.288.18.2271. PMC 2916176. PMID 12425704. Chen, KW and Turner, FD.TheJournal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine. February 2004, 10(1): 159-162. doi:10.1089/107555304322849075. Canadian Mental health Association (2011) Benefits of Good Mental Health. http://www.cmha.ca/bins/content_page.asp?cid=2-267-1320&lang=1 Dacher, ES (2006) Integral health: The path to Human Flourishing. Basic Health Publications Inc. Laguna beach, CA Lebmann JW; Benson, H. Non pharmacologic therapy of blood pressure. General Hospital Psychiatry. 1982;4:27-32 Loizzo, J. J., Peterson, J. C., Charlson, M. E., Wolf, E. J., Altemus, M., Briggs, W. M., & ... Caputo, T. A. (2010). THE EFFECT OF A CONTEMPLATIVE SELF-HEALING PROGRAM ON QUALITY OF LIFE IN WOMEN WITH BREAST AND GYNECOLOGIC CANCERS. Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine, 16(3), 30-37. Retrieved from EBSCOhost. Piedmont, R. L. (2004). Spiritual Transcendence as a Predictor of Psychosocial Outcome From an Outpatient Substance Abuse Program. Psychology of Addictive Behaviors, 18(3), 213-222. doi:10.1037/0893-164X.18.3.213