Integrative Psychiatry:
Ten Steps to Wellness

THE PROBLEM:

Did you know that each year more than 75 million Americans suffer from a common psychiatric illness such as depression or an anxiety disorder? More than 40 million Americans seek help for emotional or mental distress each year. That leaves 35 to 40 million Americans distressed or afflicted with mental illness who do not seek help for treatable problems. I am glad you are choosing to take care of yourself or assist a loved one!

THE SOLUTION:

I have spent nearly two decades and over 28,000 hours in one-on-one care with troubled people from all walks of life. I believe I can help you find your path to wellness. "Integrative Psychiatry" is medical treatment that includes the body (western medicine and "alternative" medicine), the mind (psychiatry), and the spirit (faith). There is no prescription for faith; rather, integrative psychiatry makes use of whatever faith you possess in expediting your recovery. My new book, Medicine, Mind and Meaning, provides examples of the power of integrative psychiatry while providing you with resources for taking charge of your treatment. You can take control of your emotional health. Here are some suggestions for doing just that.

STEP #1:
Your distress may be due to an unrecognized illness.

I have seen many individuals flounder in their attempts to heal as a result of lacking a necessary diagnosis or carrying a wrong diagnosis. Here are some statistics for the number of people in the United States afflicted with common psychiatric disorders:

• Depression (18.8 million people)
• Panic Disorder (2.4 million people)
• Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (3.3 million people)
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (5.2 million people)
• Social Phobia (5.3 million people)
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder (4 million people)
• Attention Deficit Disorder (8 million people)
• Addictive Illness (18 million people)
• Eating Disorder (11 million people)

Consider whether you might have an unrecognized illness. You can do this yourself because all psychiatric diagnoses are made on the basis of clinical history -- that is, your own story -- and not a medical test. If you have enough information about common disorders, you can evaluate whether you might have a disorder requiring treatment. Visit my website http://www.medicinemindandmeaning.com or the appendices of Medicine, Mind and Meaning for descriptions of common disorders. Begin to determine where your story fits.

STEP #2:
You might have more than one medical diagnosis.

Consider the possibility that you may have more than one diagnosis and are being suboptimally treated if you are only being treated for one disorder. Many examples of this problem can be found in the stories in Medicine, Mind and Meaning. Some disorders which frequently coexist are:

• Obsessive compulsive disorder and major depression
• Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and addictive illness
• Panic disorder and agoraphobia

Sometimes your second diagnosis will not become apparent until the first one is correctly identified and addressed.

STEP #3:
Pursue appropriate treatment for your medical diagnoses.

Different disorders require different medicines and therapeutic interventions. Information on this can be found on my website and in Medicine, Mind and Meaning. If you feel that you may have a psychiatric illness, pursue evaluation and treatment. Sometimes internists or primary care doctors can correctly diagnose and treat your problem. Ask your doctor about this. At other times, mental health professionals (usually psychiatrists) need to be consulted.

STEP #4:
Consider your nature and your life choices.

Often people suffer as a result of a mismatch between their in-born natures and what they are pushing themselves to do. Consider whether you might be doing this. In Medicine, Mind and Meaning I tell the story of two ladies who came to me as graduate school students. One was in dental school and the other was in an elementary education program. Both were clinically depressed and failing academically. Upon resolution of their depressions, I found each woman to be ill-suited biologically to her career choice. Their journeys to finding better fits are described in my book, but the upshot is that the dental student is now an accountant; the elementary education student is now a neonatal care nurse. Both are doing very well! Consider whether you are suited to the path you are pursuing. Seek help in answering this question if you are not sure about it.

STEP #5:
Honor your feelings and inner wisdom.

Once you have adequately considered diagnostic and right fit issues, it is time to focus on your core feelings and what they have to teach you about your life. Your deep wisdom is brilliant but cannot be adequately accessed and understood until the mindset distortions and worries characteristic of therapeutic disorders have been identified and addressed. An extensive feelings vocabulary that can aid you in finding your emotional self, can be found in the body section of Medicine, Mind and Meaning.

STEP #6:
Read and listen to the stories of others.

One of the best ways to find ourselves is to look for a piece of our own story in the tales of others. Allow yourself time to read and listen to others describe their experiences of challenge, hurt, pain and triumph. Pay attention to the bits that resonate with your own experience. Be gentle and accepting of yourself in this process. You can learn much about your own needs and potential if you approach this exercise with compassion and humility.

STEP #7:
Identify the mindset challenges that bind you.

Consider whether during your growing up years you learned and took on beliefs about yourself and the universe that cause you pain or difficulty. Some examples could be: "I am a failure," "Everyone is out to get me," or "All men/women are untrustworthy."

STEP #8:
Make use of affirmations/psychotherapy.

Consider the use of affirmations and/or psychotherapy to address your mindset challenges. You can create affirmations as a specific response to what you struggle with. For example, an affirmation to address "I am a failure" is "My best is good enough." Use the affirmation like a mantra -- say it many times a day whether you believe it or not. In time, you will rewrite your negative internal script. Pursue therapy or counseling if you need help in identifying and addressing your mindset challenges. You may well be blind to some aspects of your difficulty.

STEP #9:
Nurture hope.

In some way, we each create a piece of our own destiny. The more we nurture faith in what is possible, the more we are able to achieve. Our outlook affects our vulnerability and our healing potential. Surround yourself with positive messages and people who believe in you and your amazing potential. You deserve to live a life of joy and peace. Cultivate involvements that support that vision.

STEP #10:
Ask for help.

We all need help at times. We are interdependent creatures who need one another. Ask for help whenever you find yourself stuck, confused or overwhelmed. There are so many wonderful healers in our world. Search for those that touch you. You are welcome to get in touch with me if you want my input. I can be reached via the "Ask Dr. Wood" feature on my website. My book, Medicine, Mind and Meaning: A Psychiatrist's Guide to Treating the Body, Mind and Spirit, is a great resource as well. Ask for it at your library, local bookstore, or favorite online bookseller.

I believe in your infinite potential and in what you can accomplish. You can take charge of your emotional health. My hopes and prayers go with you.

Dr. Wood has served on the faculty of University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, the executive committee of the Institute of Pennsylvania Hospital and has most recently been appointed Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of Arizona Program in Integrative Medicine. With a concentration in neurobiology and behavior, Wood graduated cum laude from Cornell University with a B.A. in biology. She earned her M.D. at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. She currently lives in Tucson with her husband and four children.

Medicine, Mind and Meaning:
A Psychiatrist's Guide to Treating the Body, Mind and Spirit
by Eve A. Wood, MD
Published by In One Press
(ISBN 0-9741083-0-8, 347 pages, hard cover, $21.95)
Available through this site or directly from the publisher:
http://www.medicinemindandmeaning.com

When Dr. Eve Wood began her practice nearly two decades ago, she opened her door to the one-on-one care of troubled individuals from all walks of life. During that time she discovered a universal truth: body, mind and spiritual well-being must work together to effectively heal.

In Medicine, Mind and Meaning, Dr. Wood carefully illustrates how this integrated approach can make even the most troubled among us, healthier, happier and wiser. While offering tips, tools and resources, she teaches by telling her patients' stories.

Medicine, Mind and Meaning is a step-by-step guide that lays out an integrative approach to healing that combines traditional psychiatric practices and universal spiritual principles. By teaching people where to go for what sort of help, the book serves to build bridges between disciplines. Dr. Wood's lessons are taught through sharing real stories from nearly two decades of her clinical practice.

AWARDS:

• Finalist: 2005 Benjamin Franklin Award: "Best New Voice (Non-Fiction)"
• Finalist:  Nautilus 2005 Book Award: "Psychology/Self-Help"
• Finalist: Nautilus 2005 Book Award: "Small Press" -- honorary category
• Finalist: ForeWord Magazine 2005 Book of the Year Award: "Health"
• Finalist: ForeWord Magazine 2005 Book of the Year Award: "Mind/Body/Spirit"
• Finalist: ForeWord Magazine 2005 Book of the Year Award: "Psychology"
• Finalist: ForeWord Magazine 2005 Book of the Year Award: "Self-Help"
• Honorable Mention: 2005 Writer's Digest International Award: "Inspirational"

ENDORSEMENTS:

"I have seldom been so moved by a book. This is the only healing model that makes sense."
- C. Everett Koop, MD, former U.S. Surgeon General

"Eve Wood's book is an excellent resource to assist on your journey to healing. Don't struggle unnecessarily and lose your way. Read the wisdom contained here and find the way to your desired destination."
- Bernie Siegel, MD, author of Love, Medicine and Miracles

"This book is awesome - a wonderful addition to this world. It offers welcome relief, hope and healing to all who suffer from ADD, depression, anxiety, addictive illness or even general malaise."
- Edward M. Hallowell, MD, Harvard Medical School, author of Driven to Distraction and Human Moments

"Eve Wood is one of those much needed voices building the long awaited bridge between psychology and the realm of the sacred. . .This is an important book that should not be missed."
- Rabbi Mordechai Gafni, author of Mystery of Love and Soul Prints

"This is a heartfelt book by a clinician of uncommon skill and empathy. It is a unique combination of deep caring born of the desire to relieve suffering and of practical advice. It expressed how care-giving in this age of modern medicine can still attend to the complete human being in all his glorious aspects."
- Gregory Fricchione, MD, Associate Professor of Psychiatry Harvard Medical School

"You only get wisdom this good from your grandmother at the kitchen table. Dr. Wood offers us a road map for our own psycho-spiritual evolution."
- Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, Congregation Emanu-El, author of Invisible Lines of Connection.
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Copyright ©2005 by Eve A. Wood, MD. All Rights Reserved. Please feel free to duplicate and distribute this file, as long as the article is not altered and this copyright notice is intact. Thank you.