Please don't take this too seriously.

[Bereta_Eder]

These are called restrictive thought patterns.
It's something like your way of thinking (your mind) is taught to be prefixed on negative thinking. This colors your sentiments/feelings.
By changing or adapting restrictive thought patterns (the essence of therapy, one could say), feelings follow.
For example, a veritable restrictive thought pattern is "perfectionism". The fixation that if something isn't done "perfectly" isn't worth doing, or it is a complete failure.

Thoughts and way of thinking can change physical attributes. Cancer patients is been known to increase self healing abilities just by thinking positively (that can sometimes truely make a difference).
Knowing methods of not pissing yourself off can stop the release of toxins in your bloodstream etc.

Not saying that there aren't cases of native physiological biochemical imbalances. There are and they are many, in which case a for life medical administration is called for.
On the other hand "genetisizing" every aspect of human emotion is a bit unhelpful.

[Lorizael]

See, to me, the scenario looks more like this: Can the brain affect the brain? And I have a lot of trouble believing the answer to that question is anything other than yes. Look at it another way. Our body is constantly affecting itself. The most straightforward example is probably muscles. If muscles strain themselves, they can tear. But the ultimate cause of muscle strain is a command from the brain to act. We don't think our body into action, yet it is still the brain that causes the body to act. The brain has mechanisms to cause all parts of the body to act, from hormone release to nerve signals. The way the brain interacts with itself merely manifests as thoughts, because of this crazy thing we call consciousness.

[Aeson]

My last therapist ended up going apeshit and calling me Hitler. But this is after I pretended to have multiple personalities.

Was one of your pretend personalities a Nazi?

[Sava]

Was one of your pretend personalities a Nazi?

Not necessarily. I may have described, a little too vividly, my desire for an army of comfort women and the process by which they would be selected. Scouting/recruitment in high schools. Mandatory deep throat training...

that sort of thing

[Sava]

See, to me, the scenario looks more like this: Can the brain affect the brain? And I have a lot of trouble believing the answer to that question is anything other than yes.

Tibetan monks can do funky things with meditation. But that requires extreme discipline and lifelong practice and training.

Sure, the brain can affect the brain. But to what degree? I can stop my train of thought. Can I increase my white blood cell count by force of will?

Emotions are a complex process. Personal empowerment is also a double-edged sword. After all, if salvation is in your control, then failing to choose salvation is your fault. This kind of shaming is part of the problem, not the solution. That's why I think the discussion of "thoughts control feelings" is a complete non-starter.

For those who assert our brains can ultimately control everything... prove it. Show me a study where a person's force of will can affect bodily functions (any bodily function) in a meaningful way. Or instead, document yourself engaging in such an exercise.

I doubt most people could demonstrate a marked change in vital signs... let alone emotional state.

I've had quantitative EEG's done. Opening and closing your eyes has a profound effect on brain activity. Willpower/tryhard attitude? Not so much.

I'm data-driven. Show me the data.

[Lorizael]

I'm not saying that force of will can necessarily change anything. But force of will is not the only mechanism the brain uses to do stuff. The brain has many tools, and we're not conscious of most of them. That doesn't mean, however, that the ones we are conscious of don't have any power. My claim is this: thoughts are the conscious manifestation of a tool the brain uses to affect itself. Thoughts don't necessarily have any scope beyond the brain, but they don't need to; the brain has other tools for that.

[Felch]

See, to me, the scenario looks more like this: Can the brain affect the brain? And I have a lot of trouble believing the answer to that question is anything other than yes. Look at it another way. Our body is constantly affecting itself. The most straightforward example is probably muscles. If muscles strain themselves, they can tear. But the ultimate cause of muscle strain is a command from the brain to act. We don't think our body into action, yet it is still the brain that causes the body to act. The brain has mechanisms to cause all parts of the body to act, from hormone release to nerve signals. The way the brain interacts with itself merely manifests as thoughts, because of this crazy thing we call consciousness.

It works the other way around - there are mental health benefits of physical exercise.

I can personally attest to this. A couple months ago I went from barely working out and smoking several times a day to working out almost every day and smoking only about once a week. I feel a lot happier than I did before.

So get off of Poly, go outside, and walk for fifteen minutes a day. Ideally walk to some cheap gym, sign up for a membership, and start buffing your STR, DEX, and CON.

[Lorizael]

I'm pretty sure it was your brain that caused you to start working out.

[Felch]

You're probably right. My brain is awesome.

[pchang]

The answer is likely biochemical.

And yet all this aversion to a little electricity............

[Bereta_Eder]

Sava,
just thinking/willing to increase your white blood cells will probably not work.
But being in a miserable kind of state and your immune system does deteriorate a bit.
Being in a happy/content state of mind and your whole body (not just your immune system I think) regulates, confronts things much more efficiently.
This is documented but I don't "have a link"

So let's say that emotions trigger physical responces.
Now the question is wether thoughts drive emotions.
Imagine yourself completely healthy but in a dire situation. Let's say you were kidnapped by vietkong or something and were tortured.
Then you escape with a post traumatic effect.
Your brain was healthy before, it isn't now.
What happened?
Did the brain chemistry changed? Definitely yes. Were you born that way? No.
Therapy tries to reverse such effects. And it does show on brain scans for example according to studies.

You are back in chicago and you are in no danger at all, but your brain keeps thinking you are and you can't adjust. Therapy is supposed to overcome and rectify such damage (with which you were not born with).

Now some people do get born with permanent imbalances in such chemicals (dopamines, serotonines, neurotransimter connectios etc). Or have a genetic disposition that environmental parameters will or will not allow it to be manifested. (This is also age related)
It's hard to say that "they are responsible for their salvation". But in a way they are too. By taking appropraite measures to control such imbalances.

Also the brain is a very fluid thing. Keep it under stressful circumstances for too long and it will alter.
Stress can also generate from living a life you don't want or by taking decisions you don't really agree with.
That's why know thyself (and your wants/desires) is such a great (and so difficult) proverb.

Let's take Felch and his exercises.
It's true that working out did improve his mood. Released endorfins etc that improved his outlook by a well known chemical reaction.
But it was a thought that actually drove him to the gym. Maybe he saw a nice girl walking on the streets and his mind said I want to tap that! and things got under way.

Of course psychology is not a positive/definite art. It's more of a soul searching so there are vast undefinite areas.

[Sava]

Who knows? I may have chronic traumatic encephalitis from too many subconcussive collisions in hockey.

[Lorizael]

I'm stuck at work for the next 2 hours and I have a headache. Life is terrible.

[The Mad Monk]

I'm exhausted and bored.

[Lorizael]

Sounds like nap time.