E-Health Info

Minding the body

A Calgary Health Region clinic is helping patients like Laurel Barney unlock their natural potential for healing

Aug. 22, 2007

ROB WALKER
Apple Magazine

Laurel Barney knew things were getting better when she started laughing again.

For 10 years, the woman’s sense of humour seemed to disappear, the result of eight operations on her back and the drugs she took to dull the ensuing pain.

“I really didn’t know which was worse: the pain from surgery or the stupor I was in because of the drugs. All I know is that I was not myself. My memory deteriorated, my sense of humour left me, I felt numb, and I would fall asleep at the dinner table.”

The cloud started to lift for Barney when she hooked up with the new Clinic for Mind-Body Medicine at Rockyview General Hospital. After attending the clinic for several weeks, she started to feel much better. “Now I have my sense of humour back. My husband and all my friends say they cannot believe how much better I am.”

Barney’s journey to better health and a higher quality of life has not been an easy one, nor is it entirely over. But her experience illustrates how mind-body medicine may be able to help patients who are less than satisfied with conventional medical treatments, especially those who want to stop using drugs to control pain.

What is mind-body medicine?

Mind-body medicine involves the use of therapies that encourage the experiential connection between mind and body – the interaction of thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations, says Dr.Don Bakal, a clinical health psychologist, who helped found the clinic earlier this year with strong support from the Calgary Health Region. “The body has a natural potential for healing – and the human mind has the potential to unlock and activate internal healing processes,” he says.

Dr. Bakal, professor emeritus at the University of Calgary and an adjunct professor in the university’s Department of Medicine, works with a small team, including a psychiatrist, internal medicine specialist, geriatric psychiatrist and nursing support. These health specialists come together to help individuals with chronic illness manage their condition and restore wellness.

Patients are covered under medicare but have to have a referral from a family doctor or specialist. Mind-body clinics are gaining in popularity in health centres across North America. The Region sees the clinic as a component of its range of wellness services.

“It fits with our wellness focus: the integration of mind, body and spirit and the recognition of the whole person,” says Carol Gray,Vice-President, Northeast Community Portfolio. “We’ve had a lot of interest from patients who have had difficulty with diagnoses where traditional ways of treating them have not been successful for a variety of reasons.”

A major element of the clinic’s philosophy is its stand against medications, particularly narcotics. “We have taken a unique stand on not using medications,” says psychiatrist and mind-body medicine team member Dr. Patrick Coll. “Participants are required to minimize, if not completely discontinue the use of anti-depressants, pain killers, sleeping pills, and medications for anxiety,” he explains.

Some are admitted to Rockyview for a four-to-six week period for drug withdrawal. “The consistent use of drugs to relax, improve mood, induce sleep and ease pain undermines people’s ability to control their own health,” he says. “They can become frantic if the medication is not available. At the mind-body clinic, they learn they have the inner resources, through bodily awareness, to heal themselves without medications.”

Dr. Coll believes the human body has the potential to heal through the activation of an “internal pharmacy.” Healthy bodies produce analgesics, anti-depressant drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, sleep-inducing drugs, immune system strengthening drugs and gastrointestinal normalizing drugs, he says. “We can awaken this inner pharmacy by paying attention to bodily sensations of well-being.”

In Calgary, clinic staff find themselves dealing with physical symptoms that defy explanation and management from conventional medical practice and procedures. Conditions dealt with include anxiety, depression, arthritis and chronic pain.

The causes are viewed in mind-body terms rather than purely “mental” or “physical” terms. As patients practice mind-body strategies and acquire an integrated mind-body and spiritual self, their illness, condition and quality of life improves. They describe themselves as more at ease, accepting of self and others, and happier. Less preoccupied with the past and the future, they begin to recognize inner peace and experience the present more fully.

Unlocking the internal healing process

Dr. Bakal and his colleagues believe people have the potential to unlock or release internal healing processes through somatic, or body awareness, which involves patients learning total awareness of themselves, with their bodily sensations at the core of the therapy.

“The bodily self is primary and occupies a place in consciousness that equals awareness of thoughts, feelings and behaviours,” he says. This therapy has the benefit of enabling patients to access the healing processes within themselves rather than relying on health professionals and powerful medications.

Treatments are tailored to the individual and explore the patient’s own framework for understanding their illness, as well as their ideas, fears and expectations about it.

Dr. Bakal believes most people live in their heads and think of their body as a separate being. His therapy encourages them to re-think their illness and health as part of their personal bodily experience. He uses the term “psychobiological,” which means the union of mind, brain and body, to describe his approach.

“Individuals with chronic physical symptoms often feel that their symptoms are foreign to their overall being,” says Dr. Bakal. “They describe their condition as ‘it,’ as in, ‘I wish it would go away,’ or, ‘I wish it would end.’ In our mind-body world, ‘it’ is part of who we are and must be experienced as such,” he says. “The way patients talk about themselves and their relationship with their body needs to change if they are to successfully manage the condition.”

Patients are encouraged to relax with biofeedback, gentle breathing, massage, yoga, meditation, and shiatsu and spa mud treatments, which are not offered at the clinic itself. There are also adjunct programs in outdoor adventure, sailing and other recreation.

Further, Dr. Bakal observes that patients with medically unexplained symptoms have often experienced trauma as a child or as an adult and need an opportunity to understand the link between the past and present-day bodily sensations of tension, pain and suffering.

Unlike conventional medicine, mind-body medicine allows a significant place for a patient’s spiritual perspective. Personal spirituality is encouraged by Dr. Bakal as a means of achieving inner peace, solace and harmony with the body. It is through consideration of the biological, psychological and spiritual dimensions of the whole person that healing and wellness will emerge, he says. Healers in traditional societies have always interwoven healing and spiritual practices, adds Dr. Bakal. “Our aim is to
respect and support the individual’s beliefs and choices, whatever they may be.”

Thinking differently

Barney came to the clinic in April seeking relief from her back pain. Dr. Bakal helped her by coaching her to think differently about her pain and to use the various mind-body techniques to cope with it. A few months later, Barney is continuing to use breath work and meditation to help control the pain and is looking into restorative yoga for further help. With the assistance of clinic staff, Barney has also been able to wean herself off drugs, and says that despite significant pain, she has no desire to use medication. “I could not believe how easy it was to entirely give up narcotics,” she says. “I feel really positive about the kind of support I’m getting. They are incredible people.”

From Barney’s perspective, one of the important things that she is learning from Dr.Bakal is how to let go. “My life has completely changed. I had a job I loved, I travelled a lot to go deep sea fishing, scuba diving and experience other cultures. I can’t even hold a fishing rod in my hand anymore. Please don’t think that I am complaining, because I am not. I have wonderful memories but that life is over and I am now moving on,” she says.

“I am a perfectionist and when I do a job I do it first class. Dr. Bakal says that I am a driven woman. I wouldn’t have friends over because maybe the house wasn’t to the standard that I thought it should be to have people in. I am learning that what and who we are on the inside counts far more than the outward appearance. I used to subscribe to the philosophy in the book Dress for Success. Now I know that isn’t what it’s all about.
“I am also learning how important forgiveness is in order to heal your soul. Staying angry at people or events from your past is harmful to your body/health, a major waste of energy and all too consuming,” Barney adds.

“Thinking about all of this has just made me wonder if this is my spiritual journey – which I think will be never ending. If I can let go of all that has been negative in my life, forgive people who I have perceived have hurt me, continue to learn and have an open mind, maybe this is indeed my spiritual path. Who knows?”

Barney sees she still has a long way to go.

“It is scary, intriguing, thought-provoking and challenging. Life is all about choices and I have chosen to follow this path. I believe anything worth having is worth working for,” she says. For MacPhee, the clinic’s teaching enabled her to recover from breast surgery recently without any post-operative medications. “I know how to relax and take my mind off it,” she reflects. “Bakal has been a godsend.”

Rob Walker, owner of the Yoga Studio South, writes about health issues. This story originally appeared in the Sept. 2005 issue of Apple.

Related Feature Minding the Body Is it all in my head?	E-Health Info Minding the body A Calgary Health Region clinic is helping patients like Laurel Barney unlock their natural potential for healing Aug. 22, 2007 ROB WALKER Apple Magazine Laurel Barney knew things were getting better when she started laughing again. For 10 years, the woman’s sense of humour seemed to disappear, the result of eight operations on her back and the drugs she took to dull the ensuing pain. “I really didn’t know which was worse: the pain from surgery or the stupor I was in because of the drugs. All I know is that I was not myself. My memory deteriorated, my sense of humour left me, I felt numb, and I would fall asleep at the dinner table.” The cloud started to lift for Barney when she hooked up with the new Clinic for Mind-Body Medicine at Rockyview General Hospital. After attending the clinic for several weeks, she started to feel much better. “Now I have my sense of humour back. My husband and all my friends say they cannot believe how much better I am.” Barney’s journey to better health and a higher quality of life has not been an easy one, nor is it entirely over. But her experience illustrates how mind-body medicine may be able to help patients who are less than satisfied with conventional medical treatments, especially those who want to stop using drugs to control pain. What is mind-body medicine? Mind-body medicine involves the use of therapies that encourage the experiential connection between mind and body – the interaction of thoughts, feelings and bodily sensations, says Dr.Don Bakal, a clinical health psychologist, who helped found the clinic earlier this year with strong support from the Calgary Health Region. “The body has a natural potential for healing – and the human mind has the potential to unlock and activate internal healing processes,” he says. Dr. Bakal, professor emeritus at the University of Calgary and an adjunct professor in the university’s Department of Medicine, works with a small team, including a psychiatrist, internal medicine specialist, geriatric psychiatrist and nursing support. These health specialists come together to help individuals with chronic illness manage their condition and restore wellness. Patients are covered under medicare but have to have a referral from a family doctor or specialist. Mind-body clinics are gaining in popularity in health centres across North America. The Region sees the clinic as a component of its range of wellness services. “It fits with our wellness focus: the integration of mind, body and spirit and the recognition of the whole person,” says Carol Gray,Vice-President, Northeast Community Portfolio. “We’ve had a lot of interest from patients who have had difficulty with diagnoses where traditional ways of treating them have not been successful for a variety of reasons.” A major element of the clinic’s philosophy is its stand against medications, particularly narcotics. “We have taken a unique stand on not using medications,” says psychiatrist and mind-body medicine team member Dr. Patrick Coll. “Participants are required to minimize, if not completely discontinue the use of anti-depressants, pain killers, sleeping pills, and medications for anxiety,” he explains. Some are admitted to Rockyview for a four-to-six week period for drug withdrawal. “The consistent use of drugs to relax, improve mood, induce sleep and ease pain undermines people’s ability to control their own health,” he says. “They can become frantic if the medication is not available. At the mind-body clinic, they learn they have the inner resources, through bodily awareness, to heal themselves without medications.” Dr. Coll believes the human body has the potential to heal through the activation of an “internal pharmacy.” Healthy bodies produce analgesics, anti-depressant drugs, anti-anxiety drugs, sleep-inducing drugs, immune system strengthening drugs and gastrointestinal normalizing drugs, he says. “We can awaken this inner pharmacy by paying attention to bodily sensations of well-being.” In Calgary, clinic staff find themselves dealing with physical symptoms that defy explanation and management from conventional medical practice and procedures. Conditions dealt with include anxiety, depression, arthritis and chronic pain. The causes are viewed in mind-body terms rather than purely “mental” or “physical” terms. As patients practice mind-body strategies and acquire an integrated mind-body and spiritual self, their illness, condition and quality of life improves. They describe themselves as more at ease, accepting of self and others, and happier. Less preoccupied with the past and the future, they begin to recognize inner peace and experience the present more fully. Unlocking the internal healing process Dr. Bakal and his colleagues believe people have the potential to unlock or release internal healing processes through somatic, or body awareness, which involves patients learning total awareness of themselves, with their bodily sensations at the core of the therapy. “The bodily self is primary and occupies a place in consciousness that equals awareness of thoughts, feelings and behaviours,” he says. This therapy has the benefit of enabling patients to access the healing processes within themselves rather than relying on health professionals and powerful medications. Treatments are tailored to the individual and explore the patient’s own framework for understanding their illness, as well as their ideas, fears and expectations about it. Dr. Bakal believes most people live in their heads and think of their body as a separate being. His therapy encourages them to re-think their illness and health as part of their personal bodily experience. He uses the term “psychobiological,” which means the union of mind, brain and body, to describe his approach. “Individuals with chronic physical symptoms often feel that their symptoms are foreign to their overall being,” says Dr. Bakal. “They describe their condition as ‘it,’ as in, ‘I wish it would go away,’ or, ‘I wish it would end.’ In our mind-body world, ‘it’ is part of who we are and must be experienced as such,” he says. “The way patients talk about themselves and their relationship with their body needs to change if they are to successfully manage the condition.” Patients are encouraged to relax with biofeedback, gentle breathing, massage, yoga, meditation, and shiatsu and spa mud treatments, which are not offered at the clinic itself. There are also adjunct programs in outdoor adventure, sailing and other recreation. Further, Dr. Bakal observes that patients with medically unexplained symptoms have often experienced trauma as a child or as an adult and need an opportunity to understand the link between the past and present-day bodily sensations of tension, pain and suffering. Unlike conventional medicine, mind-body medicine allows a significant place for a patient’s spiritual perspective. Personal spirituality is encouraged by Dr. Bakal as a means of achieving inner peace, solace and harmony with the body. It is through consideration of the biological, psychological and spiritual dimensions of the whole person that healing and wellness will emerge, he says. Healers in traditional societies have always interwoven healing and spiritual practices, adds Dr. Bakal. “Our aim is to respect and support the individual’s beliefs and choices, whatever they may be.” Thinking differently Barney came to the clinic in April seeking relief from her back pain. Dr. Bakal helped her by coaching her to think differently about her pain and to use the various mind-body techniques to cope with it. A few months later, Barney is continuing to use breath work and meditation to help control the pain and is looking into restorative yoga for further help. With the assistance of clinic staff, Barney has also been able to wean herself off drugs, and says that despite significant pain, she has no desire to use medication. “I could not believe how easy it was to entirely give up narcotics,” she says. “I feel really positive about the kind of support I’m getting. They are incredible people.” From Barney’s perspective, one of the important things that she is learning from Dr.Bakal is how to let go. “My life has completely changed. I had a job I loved, I travelled a lot to go deep sea fishing, scuba diving and experience other cultures. I can’t even hold a fishing rod in my hand anymore. Please don’t think that I am complaining, because I am not. I have wonderful memories but that life is over and I am now moving on,” she says. “I am a perfectionist and when I do a job I do it first class. Dr. Bakal says that I am a driven woman. I wouldn’t have friends over because maybe the house wasn’t to the standard that I thought it should be to have people in. I am learning that what and who we are on the inside counts far more than the outward appearance. I used to subscribe to the philosophy in the book Dress for Success. Now I know that isn’t what it’s all about. “I am also learning how important forgiveness is in order to heal your soul. Staying angry at people or events from your past is harmful to your body/health, a major waste of energy and all too consuming,” Barney adds. “Thinking about all of this has just made me wonder if this is my spiritual journey – which I think will be never ending. If I can let go of all that has been negative in my life, forgive people who I have perceived have hurt me, continue to learn and have an open mind, maybe this is indeed my spiritual path. Who knows?” Barney sees she still has a long way to go. “It is scary, intriguing, thought-provoking and challenging. Life is all about choices and I have chosen to follow this path. I believe anything worth having is worth working for,” she says. For MacPhee, the clinic’s teaching enabled her to recover from breast surgery recently without any post-operative medications. “I know how to relax and take my mind off it,” she reflects. “Bakal has been a godsend.” Rob Walker, owner of the Yoga Studio South, writes about health issues. This story originally appeared in the Sept. 2005 issue of Apple.	Mind-Body Medicine Calgary’s Clinic for Mind-Body Medicine helps patients dealing with a number of conditions, including: - Anxiety/depression - Arthritis - Back pain - Chest pain - Chronic fatigue - Diffuse bodily pain - Dizziness - Gastrointestinal symptoms - Headache/migraine - Insomnia - Shortness of breath - Tinnitus Contact Holy Cross Ambulatory Centre, Rockyview General Hospital (403) 943-8662
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