Question

1. Can physical symptoms be caused by thoughts? Explain why it is or isn’t possible. Be sure to provide justification from the readings for your reasoning.

2.Would it be better to cope with stress by changing thoughts, behaviors, or physiological responses? Would it be better to cope with stress by changing a combination of all three? Why would it be better to change just one or all three? Provide justification.

Answer 1

1. Physical symptoms can't be caused by thoughts alone. It is caused by repetition of the same thought with the intent and emotion to cause a physical symptom in a hyperaware state such as hypnosis or meditation. Thoughts alone cant lead to a physical symptom because thoughts are generated consciously. The conscious mind isnt capable of controlling autonomic functions such as creating a physical symptom which happens on a physiological level and is mostly unconscious.

2.It would be better to cope up with stress by changing thoughts and behaviours. Changing thoughts and behaviours repeatedly would then lead to changes in the physiological responses and in turn help to cope with stress better