Onthe Mind THESTATEOFTHEMIND ADDRESS - …€¦ · · 2010-10-18Onthe Mind THESTATEOFTHEMIND...
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On the Mind THE STATE OF THE MIND ADDRESS By Dr.Duncan Bowen, Ph.D. When it comes to the state of our minds, we are not in very good shape. We have become numb, anesthetized and entranced by our environment, food and behaviors. As they age, the majority of people appear to be going downhill. The news isn't all bad, however. of our minds is not in very good shape. We have become numb, anesthetized, and entranced by our environ- ment, food and behaviors. Back in 1958, scientists believed that our brain would deteriorate throughout our life- time and there was nothing we could do about it. New research indicates something quite different. True, the brain does go downhill as we get older, but the statement that we can do noth- ing about it is untrue! If we move out of the helplessness model and into the proactive model, we can enhance our lives. Did you notice we began this article talking about the mind and then mentioned the brain? I 20 www.NationaIHealthReview.net view them as two different enti- ties. The brain is the structure or gray matter that sits within our skull. I view the mind as sitting within the brain. Your brain is the computer and the mind is the software you installed in it. As the brain grows and develops from infancy, we are consciously and unconsciously programming our mind. It's being done by our parents, teachers, friends, lV, govern- ment, etc. Much of the program- ming was beyond our control in our younger years. As adults, we can be active and proactive in choosing where we focus our attention, making good choices about our state of mind and brain functioning. Research studies how our brain responds to enriched environments, as opposed to standard and impoverished environments. It was found that the cortex, the gray matter of our brain, grows and becomes thicker when we are in an enriched environment. Children will show changes in their brains in just four months if they are placed in an enriched environ- ment. An elderly person also shows increases in cortical thickness, although it may take a little longer. So, how do we enrich our environment? Think of your brain as a road map. Are you going down the same streets, doing the same routines, and engaging in the o Learn More! Learn More! Read "Boost Your Brain Health" online at www.NationaIHealthReview.net same behaviors every day? We all get dressed the same way every day, groom ourselves the same every day and generally eat the same menu each week. Change your routine! Get your programmed mind off autopilot! Take on a problem solv- ing project. Learning to play a musical instrument actually opens up a new area in your brain. Reduce stress on all levels and resolve emotional conflicts, Stress and conflict will deplete vital chemicals and hormones. Tackle mental health issues such as sadness and depres- sion. Women and men over 45 should have their hormone Change your routine! Get your programmed mind off autopilot! levels checked. Start an exercise program. Seek the assistance of a counselor if you feel your relationships need improvement. Your brain's potential is unlimited! Give it a workout! '" 21 Dr. DUNcan Bowen is a mental health thera- pist with more than 25 years of experience 111 treating addicitions. sexual health. mind! body issues and maximizing potential. For more itiformatiofl, call The Adult & Child Counseling &- Psychiatric Center in Satellite Beach visit lVwlv,dul1canbowenphd.com. or mil (321) 779-9838 National Health Review / 2010
Transcript of Onthe Mind THESTATEOFTHEMIND ADDRESS - …€¦ · · 2010-10-18Onthe Mind THESTATEOFTHEMIND...
On the Mind
THE STATE OF THE MIND ADDRESSBy Dr.Duncan Bowen, Ph.D.
When it comes to the state of ourminds, we are not in very goodshape. We have become numb,anesthetized and entrancedby our environment, foodand behaviors.
As they age, the majority ofpeople appear to be goingdownhill. The news isn't all bad,however. of our minds is notin very good shape. We havebecome numb, anesthetized,and entranced by our environ-ment, food and behaviors.
Back in 1958, scientistsbelieved that our brain woulddeteriorate throughout our life-time and there was nothing wecould do about it. New researchindicates something quitedifferent. True, the brain does godownhill as we get older, but thestatement that we can do noth-ing about it is untrue! If we moveout of the helplessness modeland into the proactive model, wecan enhance our lives.
Did you notice we began thisarticle talking about the mindand then mentioned the brain? I
20 www.NationaIHealthReview.net
view them as two different enti-ties. The brain is the structure orgray matter that sits within ourskull. I view the mind as sittingwithin the brain. Your brain is thecomputer and the mind is thesoftware you installed in it.
As the brain grows anddevelops from infancy, we areconsciously and unconsciouslyprogramming our mind. It'sbeing done by our parents,teachers, friends, lV, govern-ment, etc. Much of the program-ming was beyond our control inour younger years. As adults,we can be active and proactivein choosing where we focus ourattention, making good choicesabout our state of mind andbrain functioning.
Research studies how ourbrain responds to enrichedenvironments, as opposed to
standard and impoverishedenvironments. It was found thatthe cortex, the gray matter ofour brain, grows and becomesthicker when we are in anenriched environment. Childrenwill show changes in their brainsin just four months if they areplaced in an enriched environ-ment. An elderly person alsoshows increases in corticalthickness, although it may takea little longer. So, how do weenrich our environment?
Think of your brain as a roadmap. Are you going down thesame streets, doing the sameroutines, and engaging in the
o Learn More!Learn More! Read"Boost Your Brain Health" onlineat www.NationaIHealthReview.net
same behaviorsevery day? Weall get dressedthe same wayevery day, groomourselves thesame every dayand generallyeat the same menu each week.Change your routine! Get yourprogrammed mind off autopilot!
Take on a problem solv-ing project. Learning to playa musical instrument actuallyopens up a new area in yourbrain. Reduce stress on all levelsand resolve emotional conflicts,Stress and conflict will depletevital chemicals and hormones.Tackle mental health issuessuch as sadness and depres-sion. Women and men over45 should have their hormone
Change yourroutine!Get yourprogrammedmind offautopilot!
levels checked.Start an exerciseprogram. Seekthe assistanceof a counselorif you feel yourrelationships needimprovement.
Your brain's potential isunlimited! Give it a workout! '"
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Dr. DUNcan Bowen is a mental health thera-pist with more than 25 years of experience111 treating addicitions. sexual health. mind!body issues and maximizing potential. Formore itiformatiofl, call The Adult & ChildCounseling &- Psychiatric Center in SatelliteBeach visit lVwlv,dul1canbowenphd.com. ormil (321) 779-9838
National Health Review / 2010
