This book is all about the mind-body connection and illness. While some medical professionals argue that the root of illness is purely physical, the authors posit that many illnesses are actually onset from psychological problems. The authors do not deny modern medicine, do not suggest that therapy can cure all illness, or claim that all diseases are mental. Rather, they emphasize that the mind has an incredible power over the body that few doctors pay attention to. After waiting in a room for an hour, patients are rushed into medical offices where they are lucky to get ten or fifteen minutes with a doctor. Pressed for time, the doctor focuses on surface level symptoms and ailments; there is no time to get to know the patient and understand what underlying psychological factors may be influencing their current state. Countless examples throughout the book illustrate how personal live events have impact on health. From spouses dying within days of each other to people getting heart attacks when their parents got heart attacks to bodily changes after stressful events, the evidence is clear that the mind plays a role in the body. Next time you aren't feeling well, ask yourself what has changed lately in your life, what is stressing you out, what your family history is, what may be triggering you, and what that particular day signifies to you. The answers may surprise you.
