Summary Of Norman Cousins Anatomy Of Illness

Anatomy of an Illness as Perceived by the Patient is a personal narrative written by Norman Cousins. He shares his experience of crippling arthritis and his hospitalization. He quickly realizes that the hospital environment doesn’t suit him well so he begins to self-medicate with laughter and vitamins. He argues that one’s mental health can positively or negatively affect one’s physical health through a personal experience littered with detail and emotion. The first paragraph were Cousins begins to enter into his message is paragraph 14. He recalls when he began to think that him emotions could affect his physical health. First, Cousins explains his thought process about negative emotions and physical health. Next Cousins introduces his thesis.
“If negative emotions produce negative chemical changes in the body, wouldn’t the positive emotions produce positive chemical changes.” (Cousins 12). This is a smooth use of a transition in order to move his point from a negative and hesitant mindset to his positive emotions and therapeutic treatment. From this point on, Cousins displays more critical thinking in relation to his emotions and health. According to him, emotions affect stimulus such as pain and how we receive it. Norman Cousins develops an interesting point in reference to pain and how we react to pain. Just as positive emotions have positive effects of physical health, attitudes towards pain work the same way. According to Norman, “people become so panicky about almost any pain”, whether it be big or small”(Cosuins 13). In the case for Cousins, his pain was more severe than the majority of everyday pains. His point on pain remains the same if the pain is large or small, supporting his claim of pain being a good thing. Cousins argument is that illnesses can be mind over matter in many cases. In a clear summary of his purpose for writing this essay, Norman Cousins finishes his story. Supporting his own main idea with a quote from psychologist and a physician is a powerful way of concluding your work. “William James said that human beings tend to live too far within self-imposed limits” (Cousins 19). He questions if the boundaries could be broken once we accept the power between the mind and the body. This leaves room for the reader to make assumptions or ask questions. Emotions, whether they are positive or negative, will have an effect on the physical body. The way we perceive pain or how we overcome challenges is all in the mind. If we realize that pain in a good message in an unpleasant way, we may not fear it the way we do. Norman Cousins writes to spread the awareness that “mind over body” is a true statement with the right attitude.