Topic: Psyche and soma - From harmony to discord.
Psyche and soma- from harmony to discord "the captivating enigma that asks how subjective mental states are connected to our objective physical biology and the effect of balance or imbalance between them on an individual.
There is little if any justification for regarding mind and body as separate entities, they function as a unit in health and disease. Although a disorder may be primarily physical or primarily psychological, it is always a disorder of the whole- not just of the body or psyche.
Research has shown that mental and emotional processes are implicated both in good health and in most physical disease. The boundaries of this field are virtually limitless. As Ader and cohen [1984] have put it "As a result of research in psychosomatic and behavioral medicine, it has become clear that there is probably no major organ system or [physical] homeostatic defense mechanism that is not subject to the influence of interaction between psychological and physiological events-.
A patient who believes a treatment in going to be effective has a much better chance of showing improvement than does one who in neutral or pessimistic- even when the treatment in subsequently shown to have no direct or relevant physiological effects. This reaction has become known as the placebo effect.
It was quoted by Daphne Howland of Bewell.com saying that "Belief is one of the most powerful healing tools we have in our therapeutic arsenal."".
Thus the fundamental intimacy of the mind and body is perhaps nowhere better documented than in health and disease.
This essay shall outline the psychosocial influence on biological health and disease in general, specifying, where possible, mechanisms involved.
The medical profession's survival and prosperity from ancient times is to a large extent a demonstration of the power of "faith- in healing.
Comprehensive approach to the study of human psychology normal or abnormal must have different perspectives in an effort to better explain the complex phenomena.
Soma is used as a replacement for LSD, Opium or Speed which are commonly used now. ... Soma puts the person into a void of all feeling. ... Much like soma now, users take the drug and worship Ford even more. ... In Brave New World, soma defines the way society is scrutinized daily. ... Unlike the soma now, once the effects wear off no side effects are felt. ...
Soma is a "euphoric, narcotic, a holiday from reality." Soma is a perfect pleasure drug. ... Some people are destroyed by Soma, for example John the Savage commits suicide almost immediately after taking soma. ... Soma causes the population to be happy with their fate. Soma also causes a physical dependence, rather than mental, for example when a frequent user of soma, runs out they become sick. ...
The use of Soma, which is a drug, would never be made legal in society. Soma puts people into a state of euphoria where you feel the ultimate high. ... It is impossible to have a "bad trip" from taking soma. ... "Soma has similar effects of ecstasy and acid combined." ... Also, soma would never be made legal, for a number of different reasons. ...
Society teaches one to take a gram of soma, the drug with no after affect, to get rid of problems or worries. When people choose soma instead of dealing with problems, it promotes emotional stability throughout the nation. ... One is supposed to take soma instead of feeling bad or upset about anything, which can distract the mind from other, more important matters. ... Worrying about history or what is to come just creates emotion, and so one should simply take soma. Soma is the key to their stability through unfeeling and placidity. ...
He points out that happiness derives from consuming mass-produced goods, sport, immoral sex, "the feelies", and a supposedly perfect pleasure-drug, soma. ... Living in a soma induced bliss-like state would truly be the ultimate utopia, but every day would just be another drug induced, artificial high. ... Although this is in part due to soma. ... Lenina has problems which when she runs out of soma, she gets sick. ...
Intimate relations between populace have now been eliminated. Soma was another development created by the citizens of Brave New World to let them evade, and forget their emotions. ... Soma permitted people to go into a "daze" whenever they wanted to escape their surroundings. "Soma may make you lose a few years in time but it is a bit of what our ancestors used to call eternity." ...
The group teaches its policies through hypnopaedia, social predestination, and a drug called soma, which keeps the population satisfied with their lives. ... Soma is the drug given to all the inhabitants of the world state. ... Soma is used by everyone, and can be seen to symbolize the indifference of the people from their own humanity. ...
Lastly, Soma proves that one has no control over their mind. Soma is a drug used in the novel to keep the populous content. Whenever one feels any emotion other than happiness, such as anger of jealousy, they take soma and go on "Soma holidays" where it takes on similar effects of a drug overdose without the fatalities associated with it. ... When one is feeling sad, they have been conditioned by use of hypnopedia to take the happy drug, called Soma. ...
While Soma is clearly a drug it is not seen as one. ... They see the substances that they use as part of their daily lives, much the same as the Soma. The use of Soma by the entire society is similar to today's debate on legalizing drugs. ... They cannot live without their Soma rations. ... Bad days never exist on Soma. ...