We talk about stress making us sick as if it is obvious. But how did we get to accepting this as common knowledge? I recently underwent hypnosis therapy for sleep and anxiety problems, and found it to be very helpful. This fits with a book I recently read, "The Cure Within" by Anne Harrington.

Harrington discusses the history of healing the body from changing the mind .The first such treatments were based in religion, such as the "miracles" from holy water, faith healing and exorcising demons. This led to Mesmer's power of suggestion and healers hypnotized subjects in the 19th century. Sigmund Freud believed that many illness were actually hysteria and originated from repressed childhood traumas. Psychotherapy became fairly commonplace in the 20th century and many people were diagnosed with "neurasthenia." Another popular belief was the power of positive thinking. The diagnosis of shell -shock., which morphed into post traumatic stress disorder, came from the psychiatric casualties of wars.

In the 1970's "stress" became the catchword for psychological and many physical illnesses, with Hans Seyle's categorization of Type A personalities. Some of the concepts connected to quantum physics began to be applied to health issues, Norman Cousins wrote about healing with laughter, and Eastern philosophies and Yoga began to come into favor. The Beatles helped to popularize the Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and transcendental meditation. Apparently John Lennon wrote "Sexy Sadie" about him as he became disenchanted with his powers when he stayed at his ashram. Even so, the Beach Boys toured with the Maharishi and he spoke at  the Woodstock festival in August, 1969.

Doctors continued to utilize some of the aspects of meditation, which was written about in "The Relaxation Response," and Bill Moyers' 1993 television series on China brought qigong, acupuncture and herbal treatments into favor. Still, using medications eventually became easier and considered to be cheaper as managed care dominated health insurance. Doctors today often admit many benefits and relief of painful symptoms may be more from the placebo effect, which leads us back to where we began.

Yello
Bostich

Standing at the machine every day for all my life
I'm used to do it and I need it
It's the only thing I want
It's just a rush, push, cash

(chorus)

Standing at the machine every day for all my life
I'm used to do it and I need it
It's the only thing I want
It's just a rush, push, cash

Rush, push, rush, push, rush, push, rush, push
Standing at the machine every day for all my life
I'm used to do it and I need it
It's the only thing I want



Fleetwood Mac
Hypnotized

It's the same kind of story
That seems to come down from long ago
Two friends having coffee together
When something flies by their window
It might be out on that lawn
Which is wide, at least half of a playing field
Because there's no explaining what your imagination
Can make you see and feel

Seems like a dream
(They) got me hypnotized

Now it's not a meaningless question
To ask if they've been and gone
I remember a talk about North
Carolina and a strange, strange pond
You see the sides were like glass
In the thick of a forest without a road
And if any man's ever made that land
Then I think it would've showed

Seems like a dream
(They) got me hypnotized

They say there's a place down in Mexico
Where a man can fly over mountains and hills
And he don't need an airplane or some kind of engine
And he never will
Now you know it's a meaningless question
To ask if those stories are right
'Cause what matters most if the feeling
You get when you're hypnotized

Seems like a dream
(They) got me hypnotized



Traffic
Heaven is in Your Mind

You ride on the swing in and out of the bars
Capturing moments of life in a jar
Playing with children, acting as stars
Guiding your vision to heaven and heaven is in your mind
Take extra care not to lose what you feel
The apple you're eating is simple and real
Water the flowers that grow at your heel
guiding your vision to heaven and heaven is in your mind



The Beatles
Sexy Sadie

Sexy Sadie what have you done.
You made a fool of everyone.
You made a fool of everyone.
Sexy Sadie ooh what have you done.
Sexy Sadie you broke the rules.
You layed it down for all to see.
You layed it down for all to see.
Sexy Sadie oooh you broke the rules.
One sunny day the world was waiting for a lover.
She came along to turn on everyone.
Sexy Sadie is the greatest of them all.
Sexy Sadie how did you know.
The world was waiting just for you.
The world was waiting just for you.
Sexy Sadie oooh how did you know.
Sexy Sadie you'll get yours yet.
However big you think you are.
However big you think you are.
Sexy Sadie oooh you'll get yours yet.
We gave her everything we owned just to sit at her table
Just a smile would lighten everything
Sexy Sadie she's the latest and the greatest of them all.
She made a fool of everyone
Sexy Sadie
However big you think you are
Sexy Sadie.

(this has footage of the Maharishi's ashram.)


The Beatles
Within You Without You

"We were talking...
about the space between us all
and the people
who hide themselves behind a wall
of illusion
never glimpse the truth
when it's far too late...
when they pass away.....

We were talking about the love we all could share
when we find it...
to try our best to hold it there
(with our love)
With our love we could save the world,
If they only knew.......

Try to realise its all within yourself
no one else can make you change,
And to see you're really only very small
and life goes on within you
and without you.

*

We were talking
about the love thats gone so cold
And the people
who gain the world and lose their soul
they dont know
they cant see..
Are you one of them?...

When you've seen beyond yourself
then you may find peace of mind is waiting there
And the time will come when you see
we're all one and life goes on within you and without you."

(This has a few bars of  the wonderful "Tomorrow Never Knows.")


Here is Danielle Dax's version of  the Beatles' "Tomorrow Never Knows."


 
The Smith's
 Still Ill

I decree today that life
Is simply taking and not giving
England is mine - it owes me a living
But ask me why, and I'll spit in your eye
Oh, ask me why, and I'll spit in your eye
But we cannot cling to the old dreams anymore
No, we cannot cling to those dreams
Does the body rule the mind
Or does the mind rule the body ?
I dunno...
Under the iron bridge we kissed
And although I ended up with sore lips
It just wasn't like the old days anymore
No, it wasn't like those days
Am I still ill ?
Am I still ill ?

Does the body rule the mind
Or does the mind rule the body ?
I dunno...
Ask me why, and I'll die
Oh, ask me why, and I'll die
And if you must, go to work - tomorrow
Well, if I were you I really wouldn't bother
For there are brighter sides to life
And I should know, because I've seen them
But not very often
Under the iron bridge we kissed
And although I ended up with sore lips
It just wasn't like the old days anymore
No, it wasn't like those days
Am I still ill ?
Oh, am I still ill ?




It's all in your head...............