• New York, USA
• Biarritz, France
• Brussels, Belgium

Please opt-in to the website. When we reach 500,000 members, we will create a full-fledged foundation to train, educate, teach, and apply assumptions about healthy human beings to many fields.

The Positive Mental Health Foundation is meant to educate.

Information on this site is not to be used for diagnosis, treatment or referral services and the Positive Mental Health Foundation does not provide diagnostic, treatment or referral services through the Internet. Individuals should contact their personal physician, and/or their local mental health agency for further information.

IMPORTANT NOTICE:  Internet communication is not secure, may not be read every day and should not be used for urgent or sensitive issues.

Consultation

If you would like to contact Dr. Yukio Ishizuka for a consultation for Lifetrack therapy call 914.967.6210 (New York, USA time).

Download Ottawa Journal Article (3MG) for more information on LifeTrackTherapy (succinct for therapy, academics or the press).

Press Information

We will do our best to respond to individual inquiries.  We will group responses to general questions in FAQ.

Dr. Yukio Ishizuka has made numerous television appearances as a psychiatric expert on major networks such as NBC, NHK (Japan), Fuji-Television (Japan), TV Asahi (Japan), and Antenne 2 (France).  Newspaper and magazine articles featuring Dr. Ishizuka and his work with Lifetrack have been published in the New York Times, Newsweek, USA Today, Reader’s Digest, Psychiatric News, L’Express (France), Voice (Japan), and Nikkei Business (Japan).  His first book, Self-Actualization (Kodansha Tokyo, 1982), sold over 45,000 copies in Japan.  The book was reprinted nine times.

Dr. Ishizuka has presented models of individual and organizational health with diverse organizations including AT&T and IBM as well as many Japanese, American, and European elite CEOs.  He is the founder of Japan International Students Association, the recipient of the coveted Japanese Health Culture Award in 2007 by the Minister of Japanese Health at the Japanese Imperial Palace.

Interview or Article

If you would like to contact Dr. Yukio Ishizuka for an interview for Lifetrack Positive Mental Health call 914.967.6210 (New York, USA time).

Please Download Ottawa Journal Article (3MG) for more information on LifeTrack Therapy (succinct for therapy, academics or the press).

Visit http://www.PositiveMentalHealthFoundation.com to understand individuals at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

A Book for Children and their Parents Based on Health, Happiness
Other is for young children (and their parents) and falls into categories on health for happiness, optimism, learning strategies, character building (buffer against bullying effects), social skills, stress children, and parenting.

Help Overcome Bullying.  Short Descriptions for Links:

Short Summary for General Public:

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other

A beautifully illustrated book for adults and kids who have felt different for any reason. Drawing from both the east and west, this heartwarming tale shows us how to overcome the ‘us’ vs. ‘them’ mentality through surprising coping strategies to counter bullying effects.

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other, illustrated & written by Nathalie Ishizuka, 60 color pages soft cover, ISBN 1-59113-741-1. $24.95 published by Booklocker 2005, visit www.natsays.com

---

Short Summary for Stress Children & Bullying Effects:   Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other 

This entertaining illustrated health series reads much like St. Exupery’s The Little Prince, but with a different message. Other is about the art of being different, what we wished our Mom had told us, what our Dad may not have known, and what our own head and heart might still have difficulty grasping. Unless, like the characters in the book, your Mom has a European ‘savoir vivre’ that is larger than life, your Dad is a Zen Japanese Harvard trained psychiatrist on health, and you like the American author Nat, have spent years trying to integrate both your mom’s heart and your dad’s head.  A must to read as your child follows his or her heart.  Effective in countering unwanted bullying effects.

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other, illustrated & written by Nathalie Ishizuka, 60 color pages soft cover, ISBN 1-59113-741-1. $24.95 published by Booklocker 2005, visit www.natsays.com

---

Short Summary for Expats, Expat, Expatriates: Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other 

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other will be treasured by the international crowd who have not always fit neatly into any one category. Adults who have traveled, married a foreigner, lived the life of an ex-pat or grown up bi-culturally will be memorably moved by the coping strategies of the tri-cultural penguin.

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other, illustrated & written by Nathalie Ishizuka, 60 color pages soft cover, ISBN 1-59113-741-1. $24.95 published by Booklocker 2005, visit www.natsays.com

---

Short Summary for Happa, Ameriasian, Nisei, Eurasian:  Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other 

Dad is Japanese. Mom is French. Nat, she is a Happa, Ameriasian, Nisei, Eurasian or more simply put an ‘Other’. This heartwarming entertaining book shows us how to enjoy growing up as an ‘Other.’ Through surprising and highly effective strategies Nat shows us how to enjoy an identity crisis, a different physical appearance (Nat had spent hours pinching her nose to make it less flat with little success), language (looking Japanese did not mean Nat spoke it fluently), a strange sounding name, and how to deal with racism from all ethnic groups including your own — if you are lucky enough that such a category exists.  A must to counter bullying effects and cope with stress children experience as they define and re-define their identity.

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other, illustrated & written by Nathalie Ishizuka, 60 color pages soft cover, ISBN 1-59113-741-1. $24.95 published by Booklocker 2005, visit www.natsays.com

---

Short Summary for Multiracial, Bi-cultural, Multicultural: Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other 

In addition to all the normal identity crisis and pressure that kids and adults go through growing up, this beautiful and heartwarming book helps multiracial kids deal with their differences including their physical appearance, language, a strange sounding name, identity, and how one deals with racism from all ethnic groups including ones own -all with great wit, humor, and surprising effectiveness.

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other, illustrated & written by Nathalie Ishizuka, 60 color pages soft cover, ISBN 1-59113-741-1. $24.95 published by Booklocker 2005, visit www.natsays.com

---

Short Summary for Children & Parents ‘Because Growing up is Difficult’: Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other 

“Mom says its cute to be small: Dad says Napoleon was small. But none of that helped.” This book is for Mom, Dad and children who grow up feeling that they are a little different – be it too small, tall, big, or some other ‘label’ that makes them stand out from the crowd. The book reads much like the St. Exupery’s The Little Prince, but is about optimal health, what we wished our Mom had told us, what our Dad may not have known, and what our own head and heart will enjoy discovering over and over.  A must to counter bullying effects and cope with stress children experience with peers.

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other, illustrated & written by Nathalie Ishizuka, 60 color pages soft cover, ISBN 1-59113-741-1. $24.95 published by Booklocker 2005, visit www.natsays.com

---

Short Summary for Psychology and Mental Health, Stress Children, Bullying Effects: Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: OtherThis heartwarming illustrated book is for busy adults and kids who have felt picked on for being different (and who hasn’t), or constrained by a label (their own or someone else’s). Child psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers and teachers will also get a lift from its freshness. Through the surprising coping strategies in the book, being different, can suddenly become a formidable stepping-stone to health. 

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other, illustrated & written by Nathalie Ishizuka, 60 color pages soft cover, ISBN 1-59113-741-1. $24.95 published by Booklocker 2005, visit www.natsays.com

Press Packet: Downloadable PDF light
To download a complete press packet light for web (300k) download other.press.light(Cover, Press Release, Review, Synopsis)

Press Packet: Downloadable PDF heavy for print
To download a complete press packet for print quality, HEAVY(6MG)download other.press.print (Cover, Press Release, Review, Synopsis)

Downloadable ThumbNails for Links

To download a thumbnail picture of Other Book Cover (for web) click

To download a thumbnail picture of Author (for web) click

To download a banner for link to www.natsays.com

---

Nathalie Ishizuka is a Franco-Japanese American who has lived, worked and studied on three continents. Her innovative interdisciplinary approach integrating the psychology of individuals, organizations, and the nation state has lead her to work with people from many fields and to receive the George A. Plimpton Fellowship for the study of social, economic, and political institutions.  She is a member of SCWBI. 

-30-

Mom Says, Dad Says, Nat Says: Other, illustrated & written by Nathalie Ishizuka, 60 color pages soft cover, ISBN 1-59113-741-1. $24.95 published by Booklocker 2005, visit www.natsays.com

Visit the Positive Mental Health Foundation to support a study of human beings at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness

When we encounter a challenge in our Self (self definition), Intimacy (love definition), or Achievement sphere (work definition) that is either positive or negative, we can experience Stress or Fear.

In the Lifetrack model of health, individuals rate their peaks of stress as they relate to changes in their sense of self, intimate relationships and achievements.

This helps us understand not only the nature of stress, but how we can use challenges to overcome symptoms of stress and anxiety.

Five Stress Types

Symptoms of stress can be varied.  For simplification Dr. Yukio Ishizuka groups them into five major stress types: anxiety (symptoms of stress and anxiety), anger (stress and anger), physical symptoms (physical symptoms of stress), depression (depression stress), and psychosis.

Regardless of how bright, strong, or resilient you may be, if the challenges you face in life are more than you can handle, one or more of the above symptoms may manifest itself.  These symptoms may not subside until you respond to the source of distress.

Observe them and recognize that these distress signals are there to alert you that you have surpassed your stress threshold in one or more of the three spheres.  You may have to slow down and re-assess what is causing stress.  Only after a proper recognition of realities can one gain perspective and take positive action to build inner health.

As overwhelming as such symptoms may be, they are temporary.  They are not you.  Seek a proper recognition of realities, perspective, decision and action that build health.  If you cannot bear the suffering or are not able to breakthrough, reach out to loved ones, to your spouse, a friend or a professional.

Stress Definition

Negative Peak: Negative peak experiences within a given rating period.

Anxiety: Thoughts, feelings and actions that signal anxiety, nervousness, tension, worry, and fear.

Anger:  Thoughts, feelings, and actions that are angry, unfriendly, hostile, and mean

Physical Symptoms: Any and all physical symptoms and feeling of illness

Depression: Thoughts, feelings, and actions that are negative to the point of being beyond your control

Psychosis:  Thoughts, feelings, and actions that signal inconsistency, confusion, inappropriateness, ambivalence or paralysis

Note on Psychosis:

Psychosis as defined here can be even applied to the ‘healthy’ mind.  Traditionally psychosis is used to describe the ‘mentally ill’ ie. a person talking to himself or herself out loud or experiencing visions.  Most of us have fortunately never experienced such a painful state (although many ‘healthy’ people when placed under enough stress such as a battlefield do).

Even healthy people think to themselves.  You may be aware of a voice (your own thoughts) constantly replaying what you should have done yesterday or will not get to do tomorrow.  For most of us, this is normal.

However, negative or inconsistent thoughts when playing over and over may contribute to paralysis, confusion, scattered behavior or exhaustion.  When we obsessively think about what to do next or what we should have done yesterday, our ‘inner voice’ is out of control.  We can rate this ‘loud’ inner voice in the Lifetrack scale as ‘psychosis.’  This state can occur in ‘healthy’ human beings. When trained our state of mind can be clear and in the present moment, free of such incessant noise.

Someone who experiences traditional psychotic symptoms (frightening visions, or cannot distinguish the inner voice from outer voices) may lose his or her capacity, to think, feel and act coherently.  He or she is not able to recognize the symptoms of psychosis nor to rate himself or herself until medication has returned the mind to normal functioning.

Psychotic symptoms must be treated by professional help.  Medications are essential to control such symptoms.  Once controlled, the individual can then return to the same challenge of becoming closer to another human being, developing a sense of self or achievement.  Due to the nature of the symptoms, however, such individuals need a strong support system and most must continue medications even when feeling well.

Copyright © 2010 Lifetrack Corporation

Visit http://www.PositiveMentalHealthFoundation.com to understand individuals at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

Read more about overcoming fear, five stress symptoms (stress types), stress techniques, and alternatives of the threshold of stress (don’t hate life).  In Lifetrack therapy the objective is not the mere elimination of stress symptoms, but building inner health and happiness.

Ready Made Description to link to this Page:

Stress Symptoms, Symptoms of Stress and Anxiety, Stress Types
Definition of stress types, stress anxiety, stress symptoms or symptoms of stress

http://positivementalhealthfoundation.com/symptoms-of-stress-and-anxiety/

Life Purpose

For those seeking inner well-being (peace, friendliness, physical health, happiness or a sense of mastery) as their life purpose, there seems to be several paths.  Some attempt to find such inner well-being through the Self, others through Intimacyor Achievement.  Still others through Spirituality.  To build and balance inner well-being one may need to be present in all spheres of life.

Self Sphere

Buddha believed that the mind suffers when we dwell upon past misfortunes or future desires.  According to Buddha, the end of suffering lies in complete awareness of the present, bringing the mind to a state of emptiness.   In this sense, Buddha believed the mind has subjective power over external events.  Although we cannot control what happens to us in life, we can control the way in which we respond to it.  We can accept the present moment for what is and in that manner stop suffering from it.  To attempt that, Buddha found that meditation and breathing helped to achieve a state of emptiness or being.  Meditation in this form can be a vehicle for one’s true self (one’s consciousness) to merge with the universe.

Today, many people attempt this, sometimes with the help of Zen or other spiritual teachings.  Through it, one may feel “at peace,” and “in touch” or “in control” apart from what happens in our intimate relationships and achievements.  In this sense, enlightenment through the Self if achieved can be life transforming.  It may be an ideal path for some.  Refreshed and invigorated the Self can then better reach out to others in closeness and in meaningful achievement.

Achievement Sphere

Some of us feel a sense of peace or being when we achieve.  For most, this means when we are at work.  Although not all aspects of work are enjoyable, there are peak moments when we are one with our work.  We lose a sense of time.  During these moments, we experience peace, friendliness, physical well-being, happiness or mastery.

These peak states are not easy to attain, but as most of us expend much time and effort at work (achievement sphere) most have experienced positive peaks of wellbeing during work — or alternatively when we achieve in a passion, hobby or favorite sport (also a form of achievement).

Peak states often do not last long, but when experienced give a sense of quietness.  Those who experience longer lasting states, often experience them when  they move towards a life goal with a sense of lightness that enables them to enjoy the present moment.

Intimacy Sphere

Most of us want to find love above all else.  As adults, we seek such love in a couple relationship, the most intimate union of two human beings emotionally, intellectually and physically sexually.  Because couple intimacy can provide the strongest sense of oneness with another and with the world, we crave it.  When disappointed, hurt or frustrated, the same couple relationship that provided well-being can provoke peaks of anxiety, anger, physical symptoms, depression or psychosis.

Couple intimacy can provide a sense of peace, friendliness, physical well-being, happiness and mastery.  Yet, like achievement, continued wellbeing in intimacy involves our full attention.  To shortcut effort, some seek a sense of one-ness in sex, where he or she may temporally lose a sense of self and become one with the other and the world.  Yet often such intimacy is fleeting.  Unless intimacy is given the attention and work that we often readily give to achievement or to our sense of self, the sense of connection is lost.

Pleasure and Wellbeing are Different

Well-being or states that can encompass moments of peace, friendliness, physical well-being, happiness and mastery are experienced when we are fully present in any one sphere (self, intimacy, achievement).  Yet, states of wellbeing are not to be sought directly or mistaken as mere pleasure (sex, alcohol, etc).  Of course, sex can be pleasurable but sex without intimacy does not sustain a greater sense of well-being.  Alcohol or drugs may make one feel good by temporarily escaping reality, but there is no mastery.  The self may mistakenly feel ‘at peace,’ but is neither ‘in control,’ nor ‘in touch.’ While well-being brings a background or constance to one’s inner state, pleasure is always fleeting.

Well-being (peace, friendliness, physical health, happiness and mastery) can be experienced as we build and balance our sense of self, intimate relationships and achievement at much higher levels than before.  At higher states of wellbeing one still experiences suffering, yet suffering occurs in the background of a larger sense of inner happiness, peace, friendliness, physical wellbeing and mastery.

Resistance in the form of Stress

Regardless of the sphere one approaches or builds inner well-being, one finds resistance.  As one experiences a challenge or pushes beyond a previous best level of adjustment, one will need to overcomestress or fear (anxiety, anger, physical-symptoms, depression or even for some psychosis).  These defenses can be triggered from a difficult past or may be dormant in people who have had positive experiences.

Fear exists in all of us to differing degrees.  Stress surfaces when we push beyond a previous best level of self, intimacy or achievement or when we are overwhelmed with a current challenge.

As we grow, we cannot avoid stress.  Stress is a normal sign that the mind is momentarily overwhelmed.  Either a positive or negative experience can trigger it.  When stressed, we may experience a hierarchy of defense including anxiety, anger, physical symptoms, depression or psychosis.  These are not pleasant states and there are a variety of stress techniques we can use in our daily life to grow from crisis.  Some who hate life itself experience 5 alternatives at his or her threshold of individual stress tolerance.

Building health and happiness is difficult.  When we cannot overcome a challenge, it may be necessary to withdraw from the challenge temporarily.  This allows us to achieve a better perspective.  Once rested, we can return to our life challenge to surpass a previous level of intimacy, self or achievement.   When we feel we can not breakthrough nor withdraw, it is important to reach out to others and when necessary seek professional help.

Spirituality

The Lifetrack model of positive mental health follows the criteria established by Jahodafor robust models of health which can explain the mind at its best and worst.  Such models are demanding in nature, but when adequate can provide insight to individuals in dire distress or at their optimal best.  Perhaps such models should also explain the need for human spirituality.

The Lifetrack model does not espouse any one religion or model of spirituality.  Yet it allows room for them to exist.  To understand the role of spirituality in such a model, one examines how the three spheres inter-act and over-lap to form our personalities.

Each sphere affects all the others.  Outer experience touches the inner and vice-versa.  We do not exist in isolation.  Our self, intimacy and achievement spheres inter-act and influence each other and our experience of the world.  When you have a bad day at work, that influences your relationship.  When your relationship is shaky, that influences your state of mind at work.  When your Self sphere experiences stress (out of touch, not at peace nor in control), your love and work suffers.  Through our senses the outside world influences our inner experience.

Notice, that at the center of the overlap amongst the three spheres is a space.  That center or space can represent inner consciousness.  It embodies our essence that experiences our self, intimacy and achievement spheres.

In other words, some may become aware of this space as they become selfless (the true self becoming one with the universe as in Buddhism), or find and achieve a life task that has an impact on a neighbor or on humanity (meaningful achievement), or experience the love of a spouse, of children, of other human beings, God, nature and the universe (intimacy).  As inner consciousness grows, one might imagine that this inner vortex grows.

Spirituality : An Extension of the Intimacy Sphere

In terms of the Lifetrack model of positive mental health, spirituality is seen as an extension of the intimacy sphere. This is because transcendental love and the love for another human being are not seen as two different quests, but a related one.  That is when we love another human being unconditionally or experience the love of God; each fortifies the experience of the other.  It is as if the door to one, can open the other.

Dr. Ishizuka is himself open to Buddhism, Zen and Christianity. He is agnostic, open to the reality of such existence, without wishing to name one or espouse one over the other.  His work as a therapist remains rooted on the individual and human intimacy.

Because the Lifetrack positive mental health model evolved in the course of working with patients through Dr. Yukio Ishizuka’s work as a psychiatrist, therapy focuses on human relationships, and notably, the most meaningful, inter-dependent and difficult human relationship: the couple.  Although this relationship has the potential for us to experience the greatest joy or ecstasy, it also has the capacity for us to experience the greatest pain.

Dr. Ishizuka teaches a couple to disarm the mutual defenses against closeness (anxiety, anger, physical-symptoms, depression, and psychosis) to breakthrough to a much higher level of intimacy than a couple has ever experienced previously.   A breakthrough in intimacy pervades all areas of one’s life ; including the self and achievement spheres.

Through breakthrough intimacy, Ishizuka helps an individual become and remain closer to an important other person (spouse or equivalent) long after therapy has terminated. This source of unconditional love and happiness in one’s couple relationship (at far higher levels than the individual previously experienced at his or her best), transforms the individual, the couple, and often how they experience their achievement and self spheres.

Interestingly, when one can love another human being such as a spouse or equivalent (love definition), it may also open a door for spirituality.  In the same manner, spiritual intimacy (becoming one with Christ or in Buddhism one with the Universe) also opens the door for greater compassion and love to all human beings.

Cycle of Life and the Growth of Spheres that build Health

Over one’s life one will re-define one’s self, intimacy and achievement spheres.  Through this growth, the circles expand and grow larger.  As an adult, one’s spheres encompass a closer relationship with an important other person such as a spouse or equivalent, with others around us and with the world.

As the spheres expand, the definition of self, intimacy and achievement expands to encompass more of the world.  Many engage in helping a larger cause than oneself, or one’s immediate family.  In this manner, we engage with others and with the world defining our three spheres in a broader sense.

Happiness and Health: Inner Transformation First

The person who wants to change the world (large achievement sphere) but who has not changed himself first, may become overwhelmed.  He or she may outwardly have a large achievement, self or intimacy sphere (and be admired by many), but may not be reaping the full experience of inner peace, friendliness, physical-wellbeing, happiness and mastery which usually accompanies such growth in spheres.

Through effort and self-denial, one can accomplish much (and often be regarded as a genius).  However noble and life changing one’s accomplishments, when one’s achievement remains external, one foregos the present.  Accomplishment gives a sense of joy, friendliness or love — but not for long.  Once one goal is achieved, another larger goal is presented.

Through Breakthrough Intimacy, by becoming far closer to another human being (usually spouse or equivalent), we may experience longer lasting peace, friendliness, physical health, happiness and mastery.  Through a deeper experience of closeness with the most important person in one’s life, we make a fundamental breakthrough in all areas of life and experience longer lasting well-being (peace, friendliness, physical health, happiness and mastery).

In the Lifetrack experience, breakthrough intimacy provides a deep transformation in all spheres of life–including achievement.  It is as if at such higher levels of intimacy, one initiates a transformation process in human personality that is far more profound than any direct work on achievement or superficial work on the Self.

Once breakthrough intimacy is achieved and sustained for a period, the self and achievement spheres rise to meet and balance it at much higher levels of well-being or adjustment.  The breakthrough, initiated in the intimacy sphere, extends to all spheres of life.

The goal of life is to build one’s spheres: to develop a larger sense of self, intimacy and achievement, but with a sense of lightness.

There is no limit to inner growth.  The self at its peak become selfless (the true self becoming one with the universe as in Buddhism).  Achievement (the desire to do something meaningful, well or difficult) impacts not only our neighbor, but potentially humanity. Intimacy, our love for a spouse or equivalent, may encompass children, neighbors, all other human beings, God, nature or the universe.

Inner transformation is possible through any one sphere.  In the context of Lifetrack, the breakthrough point is through the intimacy sphere (couple relationship).  Through this most important and difficult relationship the couple is taught to disarm their defenses (anxiety, anger, physical symptoms, depression and psychosis) that are triggered by rising intimacy.

Other approaches to internal change may attempt to go through the Self (spiritual teachings) or through achievement (aligning one’s inner purpose and outer achievement).

If we grow in all spheres and can do so with playfulness and humor from within (we do not take ourselves too seriously), we may experience true self, intimacy and achievement, and also enjoy each moment.  We can change the world by experiencing change within ourselves.  From this position of inner peace, friendliness, physical wellbeing, happiness and mastery, effective action is strengthened.

As we grow our presence in our self, intimacy and achievement spheres, we can grow to encompass a larger, healthier world.  We incorporate the world in ourselves and experience ourselves in the world.

Copyright © 2010 Lifetrack Corporation

Read our section Happiness and Health, a Science of Health (life way), Criteria for Health Models (science of happiness), Happiness Defined? Quantified?  (cycle of life),  Happier? (fear of the unknown),  Why Positive Mental Health Works (objective subjective), and Applications (international behavior).

Visit http://www.PositiveMentalHealthFoundation.com to understand individuals at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

Ready Made Description to Link to this Page:

Life Purpose, Finding Spirituality, Spiritual Living
Life Purpose, love god, spirituality definition, nature spirituality, Zen, Christianity, Buddhism, love definition, work definition, self definition

http://positivementalhealthfoundation.com/happiness-and-health/life-purpose/

The species “man,” can be defined not only in anatomical and physiological terms; its members share basic psychic qualities, the laws which govern their mental and emotional functioning, and the aims for a satisfactory solution of the problem of human existence.

It is true that our knowledge of man is still so incomplete that we cannot yet give a satisfactory definition of man in a psychological sense.  It is the task of the “science of man” to arrive eventually at a correct description of what deserves to be called human nature. — Erich Fromm (the Sane Society)

Thinking the Unthinkable : A refreshing life way

Can there really be a “science of man”?  How are we to know if psychic qualities really exist?  And, if they do, how might one come to know their nature – let alone how such psychic qualities are related and interact?

The Answer Not Freud (Freud psychoanalysis), but Einstein

Interestingly, the answer to this question may not come from Freud, but Einstein.  He wrote, “In our endeavor to understand reality we are somewhat like a man trying to understand the mechanism of a closed watch.  He sees the face and the moving hands, even hears it’s ticking, but he has no way of opening the case.  If he is ingenious, he may form some picture of a mechanism for all the things he observes, but he may never be quite sure his picture is the only one, which could explain his observations.  He will never be able to compare his picture with the mechanism and he cannot even imagine the possibility and meaning of such comparison.”

How We Make Sense of Reality

Einstein, by sharing this story of the watch, was describing the way the natural science of physics makes sense of reality.

He was well aware that despite that physicists may never discover exactly what was underneath the watch, there were still means to come closer to understanding it.

His predecessor, Newton, had done precisely that.  After stating a few postulates that most of the scientists in his time accepted, Newton attempted to show how the postulates could explain many of the things they observed.  To do so, however, he first had to define what it was he wanted to selectively observe or explain, and find a means or method to measure it (the latter was done by creating calculus).

A Science of Man

In much the same way as physicists must grapple with understanding what is under the watch without being able to see it, the challenge with developing a natural “science of man” could be the same.  The first step then is to do what physics and all natural sciences must courageously attempt: describe general phenomena, concepts or abstractions, which explain a wide variety of experiences.  In the case of a science of man those general concepts concern human psychological experience. This endeavor is likely to be a more difficult task than physics!

What are the Spheres of Psychological Existence?

While all attempts to understand the mind are imperfect, if one begins in the tradition of the natural sciences one must start by describing psychological phenomena that are abstract (and encompassing enough) that they hold true for most psychological experience.  These postulates need to encompass psychic qualities that when present determine the experience of well-being and health or when absent distress and illness.  If indeed there were such core psychic qualities, the laws of “which govern our mental and emotional functioning,” then it would follow that when we move in accordance with those laws well-being is the result.

Can the Same Spheres define health and illness?

Forces, including self-defeating thoughts, feelings and actions, can help us understand the causes of non-organic disease.  Naturally, assuming the very existence of psychological laws or of a better understanding of the structure of the human mind is to think the unthinkable.  Yet, no science is exempt from thinking the unthinkable – of asking of itself the very simple questions that only children dare ask.  These are the most dangerous questions, the ones that can shake the very foundations of any science.

Do the same assumptions hold for the body and mind?

Today, psychiatrists and psychologists need to be asking those questions.  As of yet, the medical field has focused its attention on developing a fairly consistent and increasingly accurate means to classify and measure illnesses, disease and disorders.  In this science of disease, mental illness is analogous to physical illness.  Whether one has cancer or depression, successful treatment demands the elimination of the disease, its reduction or containment.  To be healthy is not to be sick.

The Limits of a Medical Model based on the Body

This “medical model” has been helpful, yet it has a built-in limitation: it cannot explain the mind at its most healthy, creative and fullest potential.  In that sense it can not qualify as a natural science of man.  Too eager to establish a study of the mind as a science, psychiatrists never wondered whether the same assumptions hold for the body and mind.  To use Einstein’s analogy, while surgery, allowed the doctor to open up “the watch” and see whether they were right or wrong about what makes it tick, a science of the mind could not.  Psychiatrists had no idea if whether they were on the right track.  Although psychiatry has come a long way and helped many people, perhaps it should have evolved even further.

DSM useful, but too narrow to understand the Mind

Although pharmacological research has given the medical field increasingly effective and safer medications such as Prozac, the disease model has failed to prove that specific chemical changes in the brain is the cause or the cure for all mental illnesses.  What the field has now is a classification for disease that is helpful for the disbursement of medication, the labeling of “illnesses’” and insurance purposes.

The Death of the Disease Model?

Today this science based on disease is dying — not because it is wrong — but because it presents too narrow a worldview.  It does not attempt to do what all the natural sciences must: describe general phenomena, concepts or abstractions, which explain a wide variety of (human psychological) experiences.  To do so one must return to the challenge offered by Jahoda to develop a model of Positive Mental Health.

The Lifetrack model of positive mental health described on this website is one such attempt (insights Lifetrack), but is certainly not the only model possible.  In this respect, all models are imperfect and wait further testing (objective subjective) by patients to be refined and improved.

Visit the Positive Mental Health Foundation to support a study of human beings at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

Copyright © 2010 Lifetrack Corporation

Read our section Happiness and Health, Criteria for Health Models (science of happiness), Happiness Defined? Quantified?  (cycle of life),  Happier? (fear of the unknown),  Why Positive Mental Health Works (objective subjective), Insights (life purpose), and Applications (international behavior).

Ready Made Description to link to this Page:

Health: A Refreshing Life Way
Health and happiness, nature of man or life way, science of health, love definition, self definition, work definition as psychological spheres of existence.
http://positivementalhealthfoundation.com/happiness-and-health/life-way/

Dr. Yukio Ishizuka was born in 1938 in Hakodate, Japan.  He experienced WWII as a child and grew up during the American occupation.  It was a time of cross-fertilization of ideas of East and West.

In 1961, he entered Keio Medical School in Tokyo, where he taught himself English and founded the Japan International Medical Student Association (JIMSA) with the support of Dr. Taro Takemi—the long-standing President of the Japanese Medical Association and a well-respected physician and nuclear physicist.  Upon his graduation from Keio, Ishizuka informed Dr. Takemi of his plans to pursue post-graduate training in the United States.  “You should not return to Japan,” advised Dr. Takemi.  Yukio Ishizuka understood that he was being set free.

In 1965, the young graduate left Japan to complete a rotating internship at Jefferson Medical College Hospital in Philadelphia.  The following year, he was one of 25 physicians accepted for residency in psychiatry at the Massachusetts Mental Health Center of Harvard Medical School.  Elated, Dr. Ishizuka took a trip to Europe on a two-week discount ticket, spending much of his savings in the process.  During this trip he fell in love with a French woman, Colette, who would follow him to the US several months later, marry him, and inspire much of his work.

Towards the end of his residency in Boston, Harvard Professors Elvin Semrad and David Riesman encouraged Dr. Ishizuka to undergo further training in psycho-analysis.  Dr. Ishizuka briefly considered going to Mexico City to study under Erich Fromm.  Unconvinced, however, that psychoanalysis could enable people to become healthier and happier, he left psychiatry and was hired by McKinsey, and international business consulting firm.  After several years of consulting for McKinsey in Paris, Amsterdam, Toronto, and New York, he did mergers and acquisitions.  It was during his fourth year of mergers that one of his work colleagues became depressed.  Dr. Ishizuka’s rewarding experience helping his friend led him to return to the field of psychiatry in 1976.

Having been taught to approach complex problems as a whole by defining and measuring ‘objectives’ critical for organizational survival and success, he returned to his own field eager to understand the existing criteria for positive mental health.  Instead, he found a growing list of mental diseases and disorders (Diagnostic Statistic Manual of Psychiatry).  Whether one suffered from anxiety or depression, successful psychiatric treatment demanded the elimination, reduction, or containment of disease.  To be healthy is not to be sick.  There was little if anything on positive mental health, well-being, and happiness.

At that time, Dr. Ishizuka remembered the work of the American psychologist Maria Jahoda, who in 1958 published “Current Concepts of Positive Mental Health.”  The monograph introduced guidelines for the evaluation of models of positive psychology.  Unfortunately, in 1976 little work had followed.  No model of positive psychological health was developed or tested with patients.  It was his mentor, Dr. Jack R. Ewalt, the man who was in charge of the study by Jahoda, who pushed him and others not to give up on health.  As Chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School, Dr. Ewalt continued to challenge his students to question prevailing medical doctrine and conceptions on health by learning directly from patients, rather than using their own words to define and treat illness.

Dr. Ishizuka, drawing both on the East and the West, his experience in psychiatry, and most importantly, his patients, developed a science of health.  That paradigm incorporates both an understanding of the mind in distress and optimal well-being.  Over the years, he used and tested the model with different nationalities and people from all walks of life.  Rather than examining stress, disease, and illnesses, Ishizuka asks different questions of his field: What is the objective of therapy?  What does it mean to be well? How do we measure wellbeing as a part of a cycle of life?

The model of human personality and experience that he developed incorporates man’s search for self, the need for intimacy and the quest for achievement.  It also incorporates peak positive and negative experiences and an understanding of physical health.  The tripod model has withstood the demanding criteria put forth by the American psychologist Maria Jahoda in 1958 on “Current Concepts of Positive Mental Health” for the creation of new models of health defined in positive terms.  Dr. Ishizuka’s work helps us to build health far beyond a previous best level of health, happiness and optimal adjustment.  Working to overcome a fear of the unknown, he has defined and quantified the subjective nature of wellbeing and one working model of positive mental health and human personality (objective subjective).

Dr. Ishizuka’s has been using, refining, and testing the model of positive mental health with over 2000 patients in the last 35 years of his daily practice.  With a good sense of humor, a great sense of balance, and over 40,000 session hours examining millions of graphs on health and happiness, he has fine tuned a science of health and well-being.  His approach on healthy human beings has been presented to numerous fields including economic man, war/crisis/health, national health, Japan and organizations.

Today through his busy private practice, he continues the work that Dr. Ewalt incited him and other residents to undertake.  He hopes that insights that arose during Lifetrack therapy can contribute to each person’s life purpose ; the experience of much higher levels of self, intimacy and meaningful achievement.   Through this website and future books he hopes to share with other psychiatrists, psychologists, practitioners, academics, and most importantly the general public.

Dr. Yukio Ishizuka graduated from Keio University Medical School, Tokyo, Japan in 1964.  He completed his residency in Psychiatry at Mass Mental Health Center, Harvard Medical School in 1969.  He is the founder of Japan International Medical Students Association (JIMSA), which received the coveted Japanese Health Culture Award in 2007 by the Minister of Japanese Health at the Japanese Imperial Palace. Happily Married for 44 years with three children, he is also a member of the Salmagundi Club of N.Y. as a resident artist.

Visit the Positive Mental Health Foundation to support a study of human beings at their best, happiest, and most creative form.  Link to us to promote health and happiness.

Ready Made Descriptions to Link to this Page:

Happiness and Health
Dr. Yukio Ishizuka, A Japanese Harvard trained psychiatrist presents a new model of Health and Happiness. Explore a science of happiness, the cycle of life, life purpose, objective subjective, stress types, and a life way that integrates both East and West.
http://positivementalhealthfoundation.com/about/yukio-ishizuka/

Happiness and Health, Excellence and Well-being
Dr. Yukio Ishizuka, a Japanese Harvard trained psychiatrist who left psychiatry to work at McKinsey (management consulting) and later mergers and acquisitions, returns to his field with a new question: what does it mean to be well?   Explore individual and organizational excellence and wellbeing.
http://positivementalhealthfoundation.com/about/yukio-ishizuka/

Happiness and Health
Dr. Yukio Ishizuka, A Japanese Harvard trained psychiatrist presents a science of happiness, a new life way or life purpose.
http://positivementalhealthfoundation.com/about/yukio-ishizuka/