Page No 33-51
Raghubir Singh Pirta
Himachal Pradesh University, Shimla
The paper addresses concerns that arise during the recovery of functional loss due to
an autoimmune disorder, the Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS). The first section elaborates
upon the changes in energies of a person, when the ‘self’ is mistaken for the ‘other,’
and its relation to innate and learned defence systems of the body. Second section is
a narrative on the experiences of loss after a person is taken over by an autoimmune
disorder. The third section is on deliberate practice where the sufferer infuses the mind
with willpower, effort and skill to master survival functions. The fourth section explores
the mind and body dialogue in the context of two major issues that a GBS patient
faces: the fatigue in body and mind, and the feelings vital in healing. The concluding
section reviews some premises of enlarging the spheres of healing so that the journey
of the wounded self becomes easier in real life within family, community, and larger
social circles
.