A systems view of biological health

Section 1: Introduction

9 : A few important caveats

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Reading the next section (theory) is not compulsory(!) or maybe even necessary. The two-page summary in Section 3 is probably adequate. But you may find ideas here that will help to significantly deepen the effect of practical exercises.

Clearly this is not a panacea - I have a healthy disrespect for anything that claims to be the best thing since sliced bread. But it is an extremely useful life-skill, way of seeing the world, way of inhabiting and using your body - that is a basis for pretty well everything else, to be applied and used as you see fit.

There are a few caveats. One being that - once dissociation has progressed to the level depersonalisation and derealisation or psychosis, then the exercises and suggestions here may sometimes not be of use. Another being that this is a recipe. There are many suggestions, theories, programmes and techniques in the world, and some of them can be mangled together with no particular loss or danger. The ones presented here are quite subtle and very fundamental, and do not mix well with other recipes. This is a raspberry pavlova. Some experience in cooking and eating it (and understanding the ingredients) is needed before an attempt is made to improve it by mixing it with a recipe for beef stroganoff or waldorf salad.

The following should NOT be interpreted as an instruction to throw your medications down the toilet. Your health is your personal responsibility, and is dependent on your personal awareness of what might be called "symptoms" and your personal choices of action – whatever they might be. Your immediate awareness of your body’s needs is far more pertinent and relevant than any generic description or ideas (such as those provided here).