the speaking tree - A Psychotherapeutic Approach To Anti-ageing
Pulkit Sharma
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The goal of psychotherapy is to enable a person to understand his mind, resolve conflicts, set realistic aims and pursue them with undivided attention. Anti-ageing is where we aspire to slow down or reverse the processes of ageing. This cannot be executed by simply eating special diets and supplements, using technological assistance or doing rigorous exercise. It requires a unified response from our system. Our mind is rational and illogical, progressive and regressive, optimistic and pessimistic. It is therefore by nature incapable of a unified response. Hence we often aspire much and yet achieve little. To anti-age, we need to deal with negative forces and infuse positivity.The first negative force is the tendency to create illusions and chase them. There is a huge difference between goals and illusions. While goals are anchored in reality, illusions derive from ego and its wishful fantasies. When people wish to slow down their ageing, they have a fantasy that they should forever remain in their youthful 20s.This fantasy is far removed from reality. We know that our body is basically matter and has a shelf life. If we seek to undo this fact we will end up in defeat and pain. Therefore, for anti-ageing motives, we need to set a realistic goal. Setting a realistic goal increases its likelihood of being achieved manifold. Therefore, we should aspire to be physically fit, emotionally vivacious, forever learning and evolving with each year of our life.
The second negative force is the predisposition to function in a conditioned manner. By the time we reach young adulthood we develop certain habits and personality patterns that we stick to for the rest of our lives. These habits and personality patterns restrict the range of things we can do and the variety of ways in which we can be. Although we find this conditioning extremely comfortable and self-defining it is our biggest enemy. Our mind and body stagnates and decays quickly if we do not provide it with variety. In a recent research published in European Journal of Experimental Biology, a group of people over 70 years of age suffering from mild cognitive impairment were placed on a new threemonth physical and brain activity schedule. It was found that there was a marked improvement in their cognitive impair ment and physical functioning.This shows that our mind and body have the capacity to rejuvenate and heal provided we break free from conditioning.Therefore, anti-ageing hopes can be realised if one remains interested in listening to, trying and practising something new.
The third negative force is the tendency to think pessimistically.Life is full of painful experiences that are beyond our control but we can choose how we respond to these events.Often, we do not realise this and we react reflexively to these painful experiences. As a result we end up being pessimistic about ourselves, in close interpersonal relationships and the world.
Recently, the American Psychological Association published a report highlighting that every thought and emotion sends a message to our immune system and this message can either enhance or impair it.Positive thoughts and emotions boost the immune system while negativity impairs it. A strong immune system goes a long way in fighting ageing. Therefore, to strengthen our immune system we need to be optimistic, keep a positive mental attitude and patience even in the face of life's toughest challenges. When we think of staying young forever, our focus rests on the body. However, understanding and changing our mental attitudes is one of the most important weapons to defeat ageing.(The writer is a clinical psychologist.)
Post your comments at speakingtree.in The Speaking Tree is also available as an 8 page newspaper every Sunday for Rs 3. Book your copy of The Speaking Tree with your newspaper vendor or SMS STREE to 58888.
The second negative force is the predisposition to function in a conditioned manner. By the time we reach young adulthood we develop certain habits and personality patterns that we stick to for the rest of our lives. These habits and personality patterns restrict the range of things we can do and the variety of ways in which we can be. Although we find this conditioning extremely comfortable and self-defining it is our biggest enemy. Our mind and body stagnates and decays quickly if we do not provide it with variety. In a recent research published in European Journal of Experimental Biology, a group of people over 70 years of age suffering from mild cognitive impairment were placed on a new threemonth physical and brain activity schedule. It was found that there was a marked improvement in their cognitive impair ment and physical functioning.This shows that our mind and body have the capacity to rejuvenate and heal provided we break free from conditioning.Therefore, anti-ageing hopes can be realised if one remains interested in listening to, trying and practising something new.
The third negative force is the tendency to think pessimistically.Life is full of painful experiences that are beyond our control but we can choose how we respond to these events.Often, we do not realise this and we react reflexively to these painful experiences. As a result we end up being pessimistic about ourselves, in close interpersonal relationships and the world.
Recently, the American Psychological Association published a report highlighting that every thought and emotion sends a message to our immune system and this message can either enhance or impair it.Positive thoughts and emotions boost the immune system while negativity impairs it. A strong immune system goes a long way in fighting ageing. Therefore, to strengthen our immune system we need to be optimistic, keep a positive mental attitude and patience even in the face of life's toughest challenges. When we think of staying young forever, our focus rests on the body. However, understanding and changing our mental attitudes is one of the most important weapons to defeat ageing.(The writer is a clinical psychologist.)
Post your comments at speakingtree.in The Speaking Tree is also available as an 8 page newspaper every Sunday for Rs 3. Book your copy of The Speaking Tree with your newspaper vendor or SMS STREE to 58888.
