A while back I wrote a book entitled “pSyHRINK Fit a Psychiatrist’s guide to Life Fitness.” I had several goals in mind as I began the book. Some of the goals were to encourage people to consider new ways of thinking about health and illness. I hoped to share a glimpse into the expanding science of the brain. I also hoped to remove some of the stigma associated with mental illness. I attempted to elucidate the interconnectedness of the many factors that affect health. It is my observation that much in medical teaching and medical practice remains compartmentalized, but that is not consistent with our knowledge of how things really work.
Among my qualifications for this challenge is my lifelong interest in human behavior. People have always fascinated me. That interest led me to choose psychiatry as my medical specialty. I began my career in psychiatry several decades ago and continue to have some involvement. Psychiatry has given me the wonderful opportunity to meet people from all walks of life. One of the frustrating things for me is that there isn’t enough time or resources to experience so many of the intriguing parts of life. However as a psychiatrist I have been able to experience the world through the eyes of my patients. As a result of this, I have seen things (vicariously) and learned things that I otherwise would have missed. I have worked with patients from all walks of life including rich, poor, homeless, professional athletes, couch potatoes, academics, doctors, lawyers, and royalty (just one so far). That has given me a wonderful opportunity to consider the “human condition.”
Along the way I’ve had many wonderful teachers. I am in their debt. Also, I bring to the table my own somewhat unusual life history. For many doctors their first real job is as a physician. For various reasons I had many jobs prior to becoming a physician. The partial list of past occupations includes: zookeeper, candy cook, missionary, dam builder, truck driver, homebuilder, and welfare fraud investigator. I also threw a few newspapers, mowed many lawns, and shoveled way too much snow. These endeavors motivated me to continue my education and also gave me a view of the struggles that people have in these different arenas. Along the way I’ve had the opportunity to learn about people from different cultures and from different parts of the world, I consider that to be a great blessing.
Also, I should acknowledge my bias at the outset – in my heart and soul I believe that each individual life, certainly including yours and mine, is a great gift. I believe each life has profound significance and potential. And I believe when all is said and done the success of any one life is not measured by outward things such as money, power, and possessions, but by inward things such as depth of character, courage, integrity, compassion, kindness, and charity. I recognize that these inward characteristics reflect deeply private struggles and strivings within one’s own soul.
It is my contention that to be truly fit for life (or “Life Fit”) requires fitness in several large and interacting domains. Those domains include the biologic, the psychologic, the social, and the spiritual realms of life.
Over the years I have spent some time exercising in gyms. And often I will see people who possess impressive and enviable physical prowess. My hope is that there is more to their health than just their ability to run for hours on a treadmill or lift large amounts of weight. Being truly healthy requires a balance of those four realms including physical health, psychological health, social well being, and spiritual well being. I’m hopeful that those of you who take the time to read these blogs will find them interesting, challenging, stimulating and evocative. And I would welcome kind feedback.
My email is [email protected]
Thank you for taking a minute or two to read through this
(BTW – The book I referred to is available at Amazon and Barnes and Noble)