Yoga as a Treatment Approach for Psychological Disorders--Allison Kenney

 

Yoga as a Treatment Approach for Psychological Disorders

CSOCS 3452 Yoga: Theory, Culture and Practice

Professor Laura Douglass 

by Allison Kenney

 

           

            Yoga is becoming  much more widely practiced and understood for its physical benefits throughout the country. As yoga gains popularity scientists are further researching its benefits to the human body. Yoga has been seen to cure diseases such as diabetes, asthma and heart disease. It is considered an option as a complement to treatment for cancer patients, or those recovering survivors of cancer. While typically considered a practice to achieve greater physical strength and health, especially from the western perspective, yoga is now gaining popularity as a possible option in the treatment of psychological disorders, as a result of its therapeutic success.  From 1996 to 2006 diagnosed cases of mental disorder rose by about 60% among adults ages 18-64 (Novotney, 2010). This significant rise in mental disease is alarming and calls for an exploration of new treatment approaches and alternative healing practices. Yoga provides a much less toxic approach to healing than the traditional route of talk therapy with medication. In a nation where overmedication is abundant, we must look to natural alternatives to heal. Including yoga as a component of treatment has become a feasible option for a wide array of mental disorders. This is partly because of the recent, but delayed, acknowledgement of yoga’s power on the mind. Yoga is being acknowledged for its meditative and healing qualities in the treatment of patients with eating disorders, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, etc.

GABA levels

            According to a study at McLean hospital, yoga increases GABA levels in the brain. GABA is a neurotransmitter which inhibits nerve transmission in the brain crucial in the role of calming nervous activity. It controls the release of dopamine, epinephrine and norepiphrine. Low levels of GABA are associated with depression and mental disease (Streeter, 2007). Two groups of study participants were asked to participate in different activities—one group read for sixty minutes and the other group participated in yoga for sixty minutes. The participants GABA levels were monitored using MRI technology both before and after their participation in the given activity. Those who participated in the yoga practice for an hour showed a 27% (average) increase in GABA levels. (Streeter, 2007). This study supports the theory that yoga could provide relief to patients struggling with anxiety, depression, self-harm, etc. From a Western perspective, finding scientific proof to support this theory is practically essential to the integration of yoga in a medical setting. Findings like these help “demonstrate the psychotherapeutic value of Yogic practices” (Bhusan,1994). Yoga’s direct positive effect on the brain’s chemistry is clear evidence of its potential for healing those suffering with mental disorder, anxiety, and depression.

Eating Disorders and Yoga

            Women make up 90-95% of the population of Americans with eating disorders (Boudette, 2006) . In a society where media places so much value on external appearance of the body, the body becomes an entity separate from the mind. “This is not surprising given societal prejudice in favor of lean, muscular bodies, and social sanctions against bodies that fall short of this ideal.” (Berman, 2000) There are cultural expectations placed upon the woman whose body  does not fit the expectations of society, and she finds herself constantly wanting to  change herself rather than working internally towards accepting and loving herself. This attitude of wanting to change and improve the body produces a perception of the body as an object, something separate from the self that desires to change it. Lester talks about this “Cartesian duality of mind and body which infuses Western culture and is continually produced and socially embodied in its institutions.” (Lester, 1997). Restricting food intake (disordered eating), bingeing and purging are common behaviors used by women to alter their bodies to fit the expectations placed upon them by society.  This culturally ingrained split often  leads to the development of eating disorders .

Practice as Therapeutic Intervention

            Through asanas (poses) and pranayama (breathing) the student is engaged in the practice and learns to focus on internal sensations of the body. Women with eating disorders become so disconnected with their bodies and their internal feelings, explaining how  they ignore natural internal signals such as hunger. The goal of integrating yoga as a therapeutic practice for patients with eating disorders is that they become more aware of the feeling of their body rather than the appearance. The word Yoga means “union”, (Dittman, 2008) and the ultimate goal is that through this newfound awareness the body can start to become one with the mind. Firstly, recognizing the sensations of the body, and then respecting those sensations, rather than pushing the body is opposite of the normal tendency of a person with an eating disorder, which allows them to nurture a new relationship with the body through the practice of yoga

            Robin Boudette explains the multitude of common goals in recovery that can be met through the practice of yoga: “I help identify goals in recovery that may transfer to taking a yoga class, such as: cultivating self-acceptance, respecting personal boundaries, challenging resistance, or tolerating discomfort.” (Boudette, 169). By identifying these goals, yoga teachers can modify the practice of yoga to specifically accommodate their patient’s treatment objectives. This being said, many yoga classes are not suitable for patients with eating disorders. Classes that bring too much focus to the physical aspect of yoga and less on the meditative aspect can actually be counterproductive in the treatment of a patient. “People with eating disorders suffer from a form of addiction, and their orientation is toward perfection.” (Berman, 2000). This tendency towards perfection may at first complicate the yogic practice of a patient suffering from an eating disorder. Patients with eating disorders may also find that relaxation provokes a feeling of anxiety because they feel that they are losing control. Yoga is about being content with where one is within the present moment, not pushing oneself harder to achieve. “..Early recognition of forcing vs. releasing into a posture is fostered. This recognition begins a process of listening to the body rather than willfully molding it into an external or internal image.” (Berman, 2000).

            Through asanas and pranayama the student is engaged in the practice and learns to focus on internal sensations of the body. Traditional treatment for eating disorders arguably focuses too much on the mind, and neglects the body which is so fundamental to the disease itself.  Women with eating disorders become so disconnected with their bodies and their internal feelings, explaining how  they ignore natural internal signals such as hunger. The goal of integrating yoga as a therapeutic practice for patients with eating disorders is that they become more aware of the feeling of their body rather than the appearance. Through this newfound awareness the body can start to become one with the mind. “postural yoga uses the body as a vehicle for self-discovery, through observation and attention.” (Dittman, 2008).  Firstly, recognizing the sensations of the body, and then respecting those sensations, rather than pushing the body is opposite of the normal tendency of a person with an eating disorder, which allows them to nurture a new relationship with the body through the practice of yoga.   As Swami Satyananda says : “yoga is a science of consciousness.” (Satyananda Saraswati, 1980) this consciousness is essential to overcoming this separation of mind and body, which is at the root of most eating disorders.

Yoga in the treatment of PTSD

            Yoga has also been very successfully used as a component of therapy for sufferers of Post-traumatic stress disorder. This disorder is caused by some kind of traumatic event. The sufferer experiences debilitating flashbacks and memories of the event(s). People who experience PTSD are often veterans of war, survivors of abuse, etc. (Wills, 2007).  Post-traumatic stress disorder is an extreme disconnection. Sufferers generally experience disassociation. Using yoga is a means of focusing internally on the sensations of the body, taking away the focus on flashbacks and anxiety, as well as keeping the person in the present moment. Practicing yoga also allows some PTSD patients to experience relaxation,  a sensation not easily experienced by those affected by PTSD.  Van Der Kolk as quoted by Denise Wills says “The memory of the trauma is imprinted on the human organism. I don’t think you can overcome it unless you learn to have a friendly relationship with your body.” (Wills, 2007) Much like yoga’s therapeutic uses for eating disorder treatment, the goal is to re-establish a connection with the body that is based on a healthy foundation of biofeedback.

            Ritu Sharma (as quoted by Amy Novotney) explains, "When people experience trauma, they may experience not only a sense of emotional disregulation, but also a feeling of being physically immobilized," (Novotney, 2009 ) it is this very physical aspect of PTSD that suggests traditional talk therapy may not be enough to help . Yoga could very well act as this link to connect traditional therapy with a more physical approach to treatment.  Multiple studies have been performed on the effects of yoga on patients affected by PTSD with similar results of reported improvement in quality of life and lessened occurrences of symptoms. (Wills, 2007).

            While these patients need a connection of mind and body, the treatment that is designed for these disorders must meet these needs. By addressing only the mind and the psychology, the therapist and patient only address one facet of the issue.

Conclusion

            While yoga is not a “fix” for any mental disease, it is a beneficial therapeutic component for many. It is partly due to the fact that the idea of “fixing” and “curing” is not something necessarily believed in a Yogic perspective. From a Yogic perspective you are as you are and there is no curing, fixing, or changing necessary. It is practiced with the belief that everything you need is already inside of you. This contradiction in Eastern and Western perspectives can be frustrating to a patient suffering from mental disease practicing yoga. As Americans there is an expected solution to a problem.  However the continual practice of yoga allows a shift in this culturally inherent perspective. Yoga works in synchrony with the body in ways that traditional psychotherapy does not address. Richard Gevirtz, PhD as quoted by Novotney says “Psychologists have painted themselves in the corner by only doing talk therapy. There's much more that can be accomplished if you integrate it with other sorts of modalities, such as biofeedback, relaxation training or yoga.” (Novotney, 2009) Traditional psychotherapy reflect a very western approach, where the “mind” is viewed as the problem, and thus it is the sole focus of therapy. Perhaps yoga’s therapeutic success is due to the inclusion of both the body and mind, which fundamentally exists as one at the root of most mental disease.

 

References

            Berman, Marcie. "Yoga and Eating Disorders." Yoga World: International Newsletter for Yoga Teachers & Students Oct-dec.15 (2000): 8-10. Alternative Health Watch. Web.

           

            Boudette, Robin. "Question& Answer: Yoga In The Treatment of Disordered Eating and Body Image Disturbance." Eating Disorders 14.2 (2006): 167-70. Routledge, 2006. Web. 1 May 2012.

            Brown, Richard P. "Sudarshan Kriya Yogic Breathing in the Treatment of Stress, Anxiety, and Depression: Part II--Clinical Application and Guidelines." The Journal of Alternative and Complementary Medicine 11 (2005): 711-17.

            Dittmann, Katherine Anne, "Body awareness, eating attitudes, and spiritual beliefs of women practicing yoga" (2008). Master's Theses. Paper 3515. http://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/etd_theses/3515

            Lester, Rebecca J. The (dis)embodied Self in Anorexia Nervosa. Thesis. University of California at San Diego, 1997. Elsevier Science, 1997. Web.

            Majchrzak, Tammy L. "Yoga for Mental Health." Positive Health (2007): 42-44. Print.

            Novotney, Amy. "Yoga as a Practice Tool." Yoga as a Practice Tool. APA, Nov. 2009. Web. 11 May 2012. <http://www.apa.org/monitor/2009/11/yoga.aspx>.

            Streeter, Cc. Yoga Asana Sessions Increase Brain GABA Levels: A Pilot Study. Rep. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 13 May 2007. Web. 26 Apr. 2012. <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17532734?dopt=Abstract>. Web.

            Satyananda, Saraswati. Yoga, from Shore to Shore: A Collection of Lectures. Monghyr, India: Bihar School of Yoga, 1980. Print.

            Wills, Denise K. "Heal Life's Traumas." Editorial. Yoga Journal June 2007: 41-44. EBSCO. Web. 2 May 2012.