True Psychology: The Return of an Elixir

One three week spanned weight lifting intervention has shown to reduce symptoms of PTSD in participants. 

Further, one paper postulates that this is due to enhanced mind-body connection during the act and also defining PTSD and symptoms as related to a mind-body disconnect. Another paper highlights the more resilient nature of trauma survivors post intervention due to this enhanced mind-body connection, which was regarded as a “felt sense” that left survivors “healthier, more empowered, and connected.” 

Muscle building involves the increase of testosterone levels over time, though not a variable studied or tested to be an improving factor in reduction of PTSD symptoms. 

When you lift, as trauma is weakened in the body, as it flees and as memories of severe unaddressed conflicts fade subconsciously, you can feel liberated, feeling your muscles giving new strength, able to withstand the hurts and wounds of the past with mighty force, a body made new, a body that is greater and more resilient in the face of ever recurring experiences related to events of the past though now equipped with a mighty arm, supported by musculature, a mighty body, a powerful force in the face of fears that draw one away from life and from being in the body. Just as a stronger body gives security and calm to those who surround him, it gives that same security and calm to he who possesses it. 

References  

Whitworth, J. W., Nosrat, S., SantaBarbara, N. J., & Ciccolo, J. T. (2019).Feasibility of resistance exercise for posttraumatic stress and anxiety symptoms: A randomized controlled pilot study.Journal of Traumatic Stress, 32(6), 977–984. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22464  

Vigue, D., Rooney, M., Nowakowski-Sims, E., & Woods, S. (2023).Trauma informed weight lifting: Considerations for coaches, trainers and gym environments. Frontiers in Psychology, 14, Article 1224594. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2023.1224594

Nowakowski-Sims, E., Rooney, M., Vigue, D., & Woods, S. (2023). A grounded theory of weight lifting as a healing strategy for trauma. Mental Health and Physical Activity, 25, 1–6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mhpa.2023.100521&nbsp

If God speaks to you through his Spirit, we may respond in the Spirit in prayer. When we perceive spiritual phenomena spiritually or mentally, we can only respond spiritually or mentally. However, when the truth strikes us in conversation, we may respond in conversation. And if in more material, physical, and concrete ways, then we may respond with more material, concrete, and physical ways. Though, not by Spirit first and in response in conversation or material and concrete ways. For did not Isaiah ask for a fire to appear if what he heard from God were true? And apart from this he did not act but waited. So, spirituality must be in line with the ways of the Bible and according to the rules of mankind for thought and wellness, lest you be discredited, hospitalized, or imprisoned. 

Oftentimes we would like to erect a situation and criticize either publicly or directly and in private. However, the best way to approach correction and rebuke is to generalize the flaw or evil observed and to write and speak concerning it as an issue for all to see and address rather than maintaining a position in an isolated situation. When we do this, it means we are not targeting a person, but a flaw and an evil, thereby accomplishing our goal of ending its continuation and effects while maintaining one’s dignity, safety, compassion, and appropriateness. 

For example, you know someone who is using mental health to take away your freedoms. Rather than making this an issue between you and the individual, we ought to bring the topic of abusive weaponization of mental health into the light of the public eye and those we are near to and with whom we are well acquainted. Writing and speaking about how mental health ought not to be used abusively to take away freedoms, we can share our perspective in generalities that this is wrong and that what we ought to do is support each other in compassion, in calm, and in fearless support of freedoms. 

The way in which psychology is mapped is that there is record of all that is spoken and said, even subjectively observed. This is simply fuel for abuse at later a date, for the records are made official, especially for those possessing degrees and not offering therapy or services as a life coach. 

Think. Why document everything as if one were in a court of law? Because you are in one! 

The framework of psychology and its mapping for clients is filled with opportunities and chances to hurt, to hold captive, and to take away freedom. What would psychology be without note taking, without records? 

It would be true, objective, and it would no longer enslave, enchain, and shackle its disciples. 

If your logic relies on spiritual gift or any form of intuition, it is flawed, even natural human intuition based merely on feelings. Conscience is not one of these but is the moral sense we have within the context of logical choices and thinking devoid of intuitions.

Psychology at its best in terms of relationships involves a respect of persons that is radical. Not only respecting their bodies but also others’ emotional lives and sensitivities. When this respect is absent, respect towards the inner world of another, through listening, reflecting, asking questions, and even at times acting in positive ways in response to the pain discerned by the listener, not only does morality collapse but also any form of healthy relationship dynamics, even if the other is not harmed, for the relationship is. 

Practice freedom now, yet without gratifying base pleasures as lust and in food only or at all, but be free! What happens when you are free to do anything right now? What joy! What love! What freshness! What life there is in all things! 

It is very difficult to constrain another in your own moral rules, however, it is very easy to make known the hurts you feel and experience. 

When one is hurt, experiences pain, expressing this, it is a sign within psychology for adjustment, justice, and change. 

Abuse is often seen as the evil by psychology's definition, and many philosopher psychologists are in no capacity afraid of the word evil and its existence in society. However, psychology is not religion, it is about the health of the mind and of the body, for the body contains the brain and the brain affects the mind. However, when we are hurt, this is an attack on our health, bringing morality into the sphere of psychology where my experience of pain must be taken seriously when expressed. 

Psychology is an adventure, or at least ought to be, not only into the self, but into life, exploring nature, its vastness, the human body in its ability to exercise, gain strength, and deny itself baser pleasures, relationships, what's allowed, what is not allowed, it is ultimately an exploration of humanity, its ways, its cultures, its peoples, its loves, its hates, its flourishing. 

Psychology is an adventure and freedom is its foundation.

Psychology ought to be as a pillow, upon which we can rest our heads, to rest and to sleep, not in tense rigor due to rules and oppressive laws, self-judgement due to symptoms and diagnostic frenzy, but rather as an aid, a comfort, a companion on a journey ahead: an adventure of freedom! 

It is taking a bike ride across the nation rather than being stressed about the particularities of our days that bring us stress. It is the sky amidst enclosures, it is the wind that soars amidst roaring waves beneath, it is the tree that stands firm in the ground with leaves that travel as free as a bird. It is you when you see beyond your circumstances and elevated above them flying through the journey that life can be as an eagle, pursuing your dreams as a lion, running across fields as a free horse, and leaping even as a frog for fun.