The mind-body connection: Psychological interventions that help people with multiple sclerosis

Part 2 of a two-part series

By DR. MIKE GROPPER
Psychological interventions that help people with multiple sclerosis (Illustrative) (photo credit: SHARON KILDAY/TNS)
Psychological interventions that help people with multiple sclerosis (Illustrative)
(photo credit: SHARON KILDAY/TNS)
In the first part of this article (The Jerusalem Post Magazine, November 3), I spoke about Prof. George Jelinek’s Overcoming MS 7-Step Recovery Program, a holistic approach using diet and lifestyle modification to help people with multiple sclerosis achieve better health outcomes.
Jelinek, an Australian medical doctor and professor of emergency medicine, was diagnosed with MS in 1999, and became determined to find a method to help people with the disease.
He developed the OMS 7-Step Recovery Program, consisting of medication plus a lifestyle-centered approach to MS management, including specific dietary recommendations such as eliminating meat and dairy, adequate omega-3 consumption, vitamin D supplementation, exercise, meditation, and stress management.
Evidence-based research conducted by Jelinek and colleagues strongly supports the link between changing lifestyle factors and improving MS outcomes (Neurology Research International, 2013).
In Part 1, I spoke about Linda, who was diagnosed with MS, attended one of Jelinek’s retreats in Australia, and successfully followed his program to achieve dramatic improvements in her health. The focus of this article is to describe one specific aspect of lifestyle change: the psychological interventions that Jelinek found to be a vital component of his program.
For Linda, following the practical elements of the OMS 7-Step Recovery Program were clear. “Once I got the hang of the dietary changes, started dietary supplementation and eventually exercising, those elements became second nature.” However, the emotional healing element felt much less obvious to her.
Linda recalled the shock she experienced when she first learned she had MS. “For me, working out ways to cope emotionally with my diagnosis was a key step. I went through feelings of shock, denial, anger, sadness, and eventually acceptance and later gratitude.
“Early on I realized that I needed to address many emotional aspects of my life which had until then been ignored. What’s more, I realized that until these aspects were addressed, optimal healing would not occur.”
Linda sought counseling from a psychotherapist to address issues that she had been suppressing for a long time. These were deep and personal issues, including losing her mother when she was six years old.
Researchers have found that stressful life events may play a significant role in the manifestation of MS, as well as relapses and exacerbation of symptoms.
“For me, the trigger was the end of a seven-year relationship almost eight weeks earlier,” Linda stated. “Because of my psychology background and an understanding of the mind-body connection, I realized that an imbalance physically was likely to be a manifestation of imbalances in the rest of my life, and I needed to understand why I got this illness, and why now?” Jelinek shared thoughts about the timing of the MS manifestation in his life.
“Yes, I am strongly of the view that unresolved emotional conflict aggravates or precipitates illnesses such as MS, and I underwent considerable psychology counseling early in the illness and over the years, as well as keeping a diary and meditating.... I mention a lot of this in my book” (personal communication to Linda in November 2017).
Jelinek wrote about the use of meditation and mindfulness to relax the body and expedite healing. Linda used mindfulness and meditation regularly. She told me that she always had a sense that she would get better. Through her meditation practice, she was able to connect with a deep peace and strength from within, and she also used a lot of self-talk, and understanding from the field of psychoneuroimmunology that our thoughts can shape our physiology.
She also told me that she made up a mantra, which she repeated in her mind hundreds of times a day over many years: “Every cell in my body is healing every minute of every day.” This eventually became a reality.
Once she regained strength, Linda began keeping a daily journal, which she felt was very cathartic. By writing down her inner thoughts, she realized the depth of her emotions and the gratitude she felt even during those darkest times. “For example, I remember feeling so grateful the first time I was able to breathe without being in pain.”
Though it may sound counterintuitive, Linda explained that this gratitude came from focusing on the tiny improvements in her health on a day-to-day basis rather than dwelling on the pain, discomfort, debilitation and fear surrounding it all.
She also created a “friends inventory” which focused on differentiating between the people in her life who drained her energy versus those that replenished it. In this way, she was able to make brave decisions to let go of, or work on, relationships that were detrimental to her health.
Social support was another vital element in the healing process. Through “the loving support of my family and friends, who gave me permission to follow my own path and supported me every step along the way,” Linda felt free to express her fears, anxieties and worries with supportive family, friends and therapists, the latter when she did not want to burden her loved ones.
“Having a community of people you can share your experiences with and feel supported by is vital for everyone and particularly those of us with a chronic illness,” she said.
Overcoming MS has helped many people around the world like Linda live healthy and active lives. What we learn from this is that mind and body are not separate entities, but are part of a whole, playing a part in our health in more powerful ways than many have previously imagined. The role that our emotions play in causing disease, as well as in the healing process, has been overlooked for too long.
The writer is a marital, child and adult cognitive-behavioral psychotherapist with offices in Jerusalem and Ra’anana. www.facebook.com/drmikegropper; drmikegropper@gmail.com


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