The Mind-Body-God Connection
How I Found Healing,
A New Way of Looking at Disease
Darlene D. Hall, R.N.
Copyright © 2010 by Darlene D. Hall
Mind-Body-God Connection
How I Found Healing, A New Way of Looking at Disease
by Darlene D. Hall
Printed in the United States of America
ISBN 9781619961074
All rights reserved solely by the author. The author guarantees all contents are original and do not infringe upon the legal rights of any other person or work. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without the permission of the author. The views expressed in this book are not necessarily those of the publisher.
Unless otherwise indicated, Bible quotations are taken from The King James Version of the Bible; and The New International Version (NIV) of the Bible. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2010 by Biblica, Inc.
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Acknowledgements
I would like to acknowledge those who have impacted my life prior to writing and during the writing process. To each of you I am eternally appreciative.
Claudette, my mentor and one of my close friends, I am thankful for your unceasing prayers and the spiritual gifts that God has given you. Thank you for your insights and the faithful words, “Go forward.” From the inception of this book, you prayed for its success as if it was yours, thank you.
My other close friends, and sisters in Christ—Carol, Melissa (sister), and Marguerita, thanks for your love and support. Alric, my best male friend, I’m thanking you for your support and listening ear. Carmina, Anna, Lydia, and Judy, my wonderful friends and church members: Carmina who would text me just to say, “Darlene I’m praying for you”; Anna, one of our first ladies, a woman who is always vigilant in prayer; Lydia and Judy for her gentle words of encouragement and support. Lynn, my colleague, sister in Christ, and friend, thanks for your support and invaluable help.
I wish to acknowledge Charles, for his scientific insights into the brain and his willingness to share his vast knowledge; Phyllis, my teacher and friend, an educator who has mastered the art of teaching and desires to see her pupils excel; and Julie, my editor, thanks for making sure that I dotted my i’s and crossed my t’s. Your words of encouragement meant more to me than you will ever know. I appreciate your hard work, attention to detail, and for taking on this project.
Special thanks to my parents, Joann and Roy, who although divorced, are bonded in their love and support for me—parents who showed that they could make lemonade when given lemons. I’m proud of your accomplishments. My beautiful sister Rosalyn, an aspiring writer, and my handsome brothers Roy Jr., Rodney, and Robert Jr.—all of whom have their own stories to tell, I love you.
My greatest acknowledgement goes to God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, for They have made me whole.
Disclaimer
The information presented in this book is based on the author’s research and personal experiences. Names and locations of individuals have been changed. This book is not intended to be a substitute for any professional consultation. As with any medical condition, please seek professional help.
Contact Information
Darlene D. Hall
http://www.madewhole.com
Introduction
The year was 1860, and if you wanted to travel, it was by horse and buggy, railroad, or ship; there were no cars at that time. Eadweard Muybridge, a photographer who later gained fame as the father of motion pictures, was a passenger traveling by stagecoach. On a business trip, he had left San Francisco and was headed to Missouri on his way to Europe. En route there was a horrible accident. The driver of the stagecoach lost control, and as the coach went speeding into the ditch, Muybridge went flying out, headfirst into a tree. Needless to say, he took some much-needed time to recuperate. However, he emerged from his recovery a totally different man.
Prior to the accident he was a kindhearted, good-natured, mild-mannered gentleman, but afterward he was cold, distant, and considered to be somewhat eccentric. He also began dressing very oddly. Friends said that his behavior was weird and that he had lost all interest in social activities. Prior to the accident he was neat and clean and carried himself with dignity, but after, he found bathing to be of little importance. Muybridge had undergone a personality makeover, but even in this condition he excelled in photography and went on to make major contributions with his pioneering work.
Due to his revolutionary techniques, his popularity was increasing, and while being applauded in one area, he fell into disgrace in another. Muybridge, now married and the father of a little boy, became suspicious and convinced himself that his wife was having an affair and that this child was a product of this presumed relationship. Taking matters into his hands, he mounted his horse, rode into the town where the suspected gentleman worked, and—in full view of bystanders—pulled out his six-shooter and shot the man dead. His highly publicized trial ended in his acquittal: not guilty due to reason of insanity resulting from a carriage accident (Keltner, 2009; “Eadweard Muybridge,” n.d.).
What went wrong? What part of his brain caused such a dramatic shift in his personality? Where was the injury? It was not until recently that science has been able to pinpoint with precision structures within the brain which result in behavioral changes and to actually see the brain in action. In fact we have learned more about the brain in the last few decades than in all previous years combined, thanks to the advent of technology such as PET (positron emission tomography) scans, MRIs (magnetic resonance imaging), and now functional MRI scans.
The brain is an awe-inspiring mystery, and scientists feel that they have only touched the tip of the iceberg. Over the course of this book, we will go deep into the structures of the brain and explore its intricate workings. And we can’t forget the rest of the body. Brain and body are an inseparable team. We will look at the intimate workings of their relationship and see how they react upon each other.
Here are some of the topics this book will cover:
We will look at the various functions of the brain, how this three-pound structure—which has the consistency of cottage cheese and tofu, and would shake like Jell-O if not for the hard skull—is able to perform infinite feats.
We will look at neurotransmission and hormonal regulation, and we’ll see how poor lifestyle choices can short-circuit the brain and lead to chemical imbalances.
Have you ever thought about your thoughts? Where do they come from? Well, we are going to fire up the old gray matter and take a look. You might be surprised to know that your thoughts are hanging out on what looks like a tree. We’ll reveal how toxic thoughts of bitterness, anger, resentment, and an unforgiving spirit can lead not only to psychological and emotional issues but to diseases such as coronary heart disease and some forms of cancer, as well as lay the foundation for many other diseases.
Are you stressed? Well, join the masses. Today, more than ever, many of us are stressed out! Up to 90% of all visits to the doctor are stress related. We will see how stress impacts not only our emotional state, but also the health of the body. We will take a look behind the scenes and see the chemistry of stress.
Are you one of the 121 million people worldwide suffering from depression? Research shows that depression is due to an imbalance in neurochemistry. Can the brain be brought back into balance? We will take a look.
Addictions are at epidemic proportions, the newest being sexual and internet addictions. These are forms of emotional hijacking. Why are we driven to certain behaviors? We will look at the neurochemistry involved that reinforces not only these behaviors but many more.
We all have a story to tell and I must tell you mine, how—from