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The Psyche
Photo: © Kieser Training/Michael Ingenweyen
In the German dictionary of psychiatry and medical psychology, the term “psyche“ is defined as “the sum total of all conscious and unconscious mental processes with no differentiation between mind and soul and as a dualistic opposite to the biological and physical elements of Man.“ Often, it is used in the context of opposing pairs: body and soul or psyche and soma. “Even the ancient Greeks and Romans reflected on the psyche as a concept. Aristotle (384-322 BC) – doctor, philosopher and writer of “De Anima“ (On the Soul) – defined the psyche as the soul that determines the thoughts, actions and feelings of Man. The assumption at the time was that the soul was located within the mind, which led to the supposition that the soul was immortal. This in turn led to the separation of the body and the soul.
It was many centuries before new ways of thinking found acceptance. It was Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), the founder of psychoanalysis, which at its core contained a method of treating “disorders of the soul,“ who achieved a breakthrough in the way we view the concept of body and soul. Nowadays, we talk less about the problem of the body and the soul. Rather we talk about the interaction between psychological and physiological processes. For example psychological strain may trigger unpleasant somatic reactions, gastric and intestinal disorders, migraine or skin complaints. Our idioms reflect this close relationship between the body and soul: “He got right under my skin,“ “He’s a pain in the neck“ or “I can’t stomach him.“
Modern psychosomatic medicine deals with the relationship between the soul and the body (psyche and soma). Psychosomatic and psychological disorders are treated not only by medication but also by psychotherapy. The aim of psychotherapy is to identify the root cause and so pave the way for positive changes. In addition, for several decades sports scientists have been looking at whether and to what extent physical activity can improve our mental health. Juvenal, a poet in Ancient Rome realized this when he wrote “mens sana in corpore sano“ – a sound mind in a sound body.
Text: Petra Pribil
What effect does Kieser Training have on …
… our psyche?
Photo: © Kieser Training/Michael Ingenweyen
It has been known for decades that muscles affect health in previously unsuspected ways. Strength training protects us from back pain, osteoporosis and high blood pressure. It strengthens the cardiovascular system and stimulates the metabolism. More recently, there have been numerous studies demonstrating the positive effects of strength training on the psyche. If we make “progress“ in the physical dimension, we experience an effect in our psyche as well. We realise that we have within us not just negative qualities but positive ones as well.
Physical activity reduces stress
A sign of a healthy psyche is an ability to cope successfully with stress. Stress can arise in a variety of situations, e.g. conflict in our personal life, problems at work or serious events in our life. For both our physical and mental health, we need to develop strategies for reducing stress; one such strategy is physical activity and I am not referring here to the levels of exercise undertaken by elite athletes. No, I am referring to controlled strength training – tailored to individual needs – which will allow each and everyone of us to achieve success without pressure and stress.
Strength training boosts self-esteem and mental well-being
Controlled strength training improves our mood, because it increases self-esteem and general satisfaction with life. It also improves health. If we have a positive perception of our body – in terms of the way it feels and looks – and if we recognise the need to take personal responsibility, we boost our confidence. We feel more competent and socially we are a member of a group with an awareness of their health. Strength training requires concentration. We cannot think about anything else and so when we train, we are unable to ponder the things that are making us stressed. The root cause of these positive effects is not only psychological but also physiological. Strength training improves the hormonal balance, regulates the function of neurotransmitters – responsible for transmitting information in the brain – and improves general well-being.
Strength training not only looks after the muscles that literally keep us upright and improves our general body tone but also helps to strengthen the psyche and improve general confidence.
Participants in a current study by the Research Department of Kieser Training have discovered for themselves the positive effects of strength training on the way they feel and their personal self-esteem (see Reflex 37, Recent Research).
Text: Petra Pribil
Psychologist’s tip
What to do about depression?
Petra Pribil
Psychotherapist and Supervisor
Everything seems hopeless, alien and grey – these are words used by those with depression when they describe how they feel. According to estimates from the World Health Organisation, depression affects some 121 million people worldwide.
The precise causes are still unclear but it is known that apart from a genetic predisposition, psycho-social factors also play a role. For example, unresolved internal or external stress can trigger what is known as exogenous depression. Whereas milder forms of depression can be likened to “feeling low,“ its severe or very severe manifestation often causes thought processes to slow down. Sufferers often feel very sad and succumb to a feeling of hopelessness, despair and agitation. Similarly, they often experience an unjustifiable anxiety. They find it a trial just to get through daily life and cannot make decisions or only after strenuous effort.
The treatment required by each client will differ and must be decided by a medical specialist or psychotherapist. Psychotherapy can help, as can medication. However, no less important is the ability of the client to heal themselves – physical activity is one of the ways in which this can be promoted.
Research by psychologist James Blumenthal and his team at the Medical Centre of the Duke University in Durham North Carolina demonstrated the connection between regular sport and improvements in the symptoms of a group with slight to moderate depression. This involved no medication at all. Actively confronting our own body, listening to its messages and feeling that we are taking personal responsibility makes us feel good and generates positive feedback from those around us.
Text: Petra Pribil
