Psychological factors are important in people with every health problem, whether it is heart disease, arthritis, fatigue, headaches, depression or other symptoms commonly found in people with yeast-related problems. It is well documented that these factors weaken the immune system. For example, studies I've read in medical journals show that T-lymphocytes (the cells that protect people from viral and other infections) were significantly reduced following the death of a spouse or a child, making the person more susceptible to infection.
On a more positive note, the observations of the late Norman Cousins show that the immune system can be strengthened and recovery from many illnesses accelerated by laughter and other psychological nutrients.
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| The Yeast Candida Albicans Causes |
During the 1980s, I visited Mr. Cousins in his office at UCLA. During our fascinating conversations, he told me of his work with groups of patients with arthritis, cancer and other chronic, disabling and painful illnesses. He said, "I always tell them jokes. After the third joke I've seen them laughing so hard they have to hold their sides. Then when my session is complete I ask, 'How many of you are still hurting as much as you were when you walked into this room? No hands are raised."
Surgeon, writer and lecturer Bernie Siegel, who published a number of books about the importance of psychological support, stresses the important link between mind and body. He urges people with chronic diseases to learn to have fun. Specific suggestions included reading humorous books and going to light, entertaining movies. He also urges people to play games and tell jokes to their friends. He suggests you can have fun with coloring books and do anything else that will bring out the child inside you. .
In his book, Maximum Immunity, published more than a decade ago, Michael A. Weiner, Ph.D., described a study carried out on cadets at West Point to see how psychological factors influenced their susceptibility to infectious mononucleosis.
"Cadets were selected at the beginning of the study who were free of the antibody for the Epstein-Barr virus ... During their stay at the academy, some of the young men developed the Epstein-Barr virus antibody; but only some of these actually developed mononucleosis. The others remained symptom-free, indicating that they had better resistance. The cadets who became sick with infectious mononucleosis were generally found to have experienced greater academic pressure and to have shown poorer academic performance than the resistant group of cadets."
Weiner cited another study of a group of students in which "it was found that failure, social isolation and unresolved role crisis was often associated with respiratory infections. The more serious the sickness, the more likely it was that stressful situations had occurred during the preceding year."
In his 1998 book, Power Healing, Dr. Leo Galland discussed "the four pillars of healing." These pillars include diet, exercise, the environment and getting rid of internal toxins that play a part in making people sick. His fourth pillar focuses on interpersonal relationships and how they can help people get well.
I especially liked his discussion of the qualities of a caring doctor that he said all competent physicians must possess. These include the ability to listen, willingness to acknowledge patients' ideas and feelings about their illnesses, ability to show empathy and willingness to offer encouragement, hope and assurance.
When people write or call me seeking a physician, here's one of the first questions I ask: "Is your personal health professional kind and caring?" If the answer is "Yes," I say, "She is the best person to help you, even if she knows little about yeast-related disorders."
More than a decade ago, the late Dr. Norman Vincent Peale, a wonderful minister and dynamic speaker, wrote a fascinating book, Imaging. In the book, he emphasizes that reaching a goal, such as regaining your health, takes more than simply thinking about it. Dr. Peale recommends visualizing the successful outcome of your desire or seeing it very specifically and with tremendous intensity in your mind's eye.
A wonderful example of "imaging" is Venus Williams, who won Wimbledon, the world's most prestigious tennis tournament, at the age of 20. When Williams was 10 years old, she and her father went to Florida to see the world-famous tennis champion Chris Evert. Williams put her hands on the Wimbledon trophy. From that day forward, she began to imagine herself as a champion and began to take the many steps needed to achieve her goal.
Here's a related story that most everyone in the world is familiar with: As a young child, Tiger Woods and his father began to visualize the day when he would win all the prestigious championships and be acclaimed the best golfer on the planet. His vision of where he wanted to be, plus hard work, enabled him to achieve his goal.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT GROUPS
Why are support groups needed? From the phone calls and letters I've received, I've found that people with yeast-related problems, food and chemical sensitivities and other chronic health problems like to talk to others with similar problems.
Many communities have support groups formed by people interested in nutrition, mental illness and preventive medicine. A few communities have support groups for people interested in yeast-related disorders.
Yet, patients often experience difficulty in locating a group. If that's your situation, you may want to start your own group. Here are suggestions:
- Cheek with the health editor of your newspaper and/or the public relations director of your hospital.
- Advertise in local papers. That way you can see if others in your area would like to join such a group.
- Do networking. Ask the staff of your local health food store or pharmacy to help you. Many stores have bulletin boards where you can post notices.
- Pass the word around to church or social groups.
- If you know empathetic physicians, nutritionists or other professionals, ask them to help you spread the word.
- Once you get a group of 10 or 12 people, set a time and place for a meeting.
- At the meeting, select a group leader, secretary and treasurer, and organize your next meeting.
- Decide as a group the type of help/discussion you want at each meeting.
- Ask a knowledgeable professional to speak to your group.
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| The Yeast Candida Albicans Causes |
Psychological stress can play a part in making you more susceptible illnesses of many types, and psychological support can help you get well. In talking to patients about this kind of support, I like to use the term "psychological vitamins" Here are some of them:
- You need caring, empathetic people to encourage you, work with you and help you. Included, of course, would be your spouse or companion who lives with you, or a relative or best friend. It could also include a professional who understands your illness and works to help you. Support groups consisting of people who are experiencing similar problems can also help.
- You need to be noticed, praised and encouraged. You need smiles, touching, holding, patting and petting. Physical contact stimulates the release of endorphins, a chemical that lessens anxiety and pain.