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Description
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For 40 years, laboratories at the Harvard Medical School have systematically studied mind body interactions. The research established that when a person engages in a repetitive prayer, word, sound or phrase and when intrusive thoughts are passively disregarded, a specific set of physiologic changes ensue. These changes -decreased metabolism, heart rate, blood pressure and rate of breathing- are the opposite of those induced by stress, and have been labeled the relaxation response. Surveys indicate that over 60% of visits to health care professionals are for conditions caused or exacerbated by stress and that the relaxation response is an effective therapy for stress-related conditions.
Many people who elicit the relaxation response also note increased spirituality. Spirituality is expressed as experiencing the presence of a power, a force, an energy or what was perceived of as God, and this presence is close to the person. This finding opened the door to questions about the healing effects of spirituality and to the creation of this course over 11 years ago. It was one of the first to relate medicine with spirituality and healing.
We will focus on those facets of resiliency comprised of the relaxation response, cognitive restructuring, social attachment, and positive expectations, as well as belief and spirituality. All of these factors contribute to the power of resiliency in mitigating the stressors brought on by our rapidly changing society.
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Category
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More details (event webpage):
cme.med.harvard.edu
Apply for event:
Link
Event language:
English
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