It's Not You. It's Only Your Brain

Read a book, watch a film, talk to a person about a mental problem and you probably will learn that whatever ails you emotionally is due to something amiss with your brain.  That is true whether you express concern about your personal functioning or interpersonal relationships.  And because it is a brain malfunction, you must medicate or reprogram your brain in order to heal.

That approach to mental health is what I call the "disembodied brain perspective" (DBP).  It implies that your brain operates independent of the rest of your body and mind.  The DBP provides an ideal rationalization for inappropriate or troublesome behavior.   Personal responsibility no longer is an issue.  You smacked your child during a neurological short-circuit.  Don't worry about doing anything to remedy  that behavior; just rest so that your brain is not hyper excited next time.   DBP also is your family doctor's best friend.  If you come to the office with vague feelings of discomfort, she/he can write you a quick prescription so that the two of you believe that the visit and fee were warranted.

How much sense does DBP make?  Suppose you have a tooth ache and feel depressed.  You snap at your spouse and kick the dog.  Then you go to the dentist who fixes your decayed tooth.  One hour afterward, you feel great.  You apologize to your spouse and give the dog a heaping helping of  Kibbles and Bits.  Does that mean that brain dysfunction caused your tooth ache and the dentist repaired your brain?

Anyone with half a brain knows that we have a whole brain and a whole body, both of which are inextricably integrated.  To anthropomorphize, your brain feels poorly when your body feels poorly and vice versa.  Most of what you do to enhance brain health enhances bodily health.  And most of what you do to enhance bodily health enhances brain health.

When you perceive a problem, reject the DBP.  Instead, take personal responsibility via a simple ABC solution.  "A" equals "affect."  Learn how to control your emotions.  "B" is "behavior."  Perform some real world actions that reduce, minimize, or eliminate the problem.  And  "C" stands for "cognition."  Examine your thought processes, take steps to understand the roots of the difficulty, and reframe your perception of it—from an incapacity that troubles you to a challenge whose partial or total solution can be achieved by thinking it through.

For a thorough discussion of ABCs, consult a cognitive behavioral therapist or CBT self-help manual.  By doing so, you eventually will become empowered to solve virtually all but your most severe problems.

Reference

David Westbrook,‎ Helen Kennerley,‎ & Joan Kirk (2011). An Introduction to Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.  Sage: Thousand Oaks, CA