Beginnings
When I graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School, I knew nothing about mental health or the power of emotions to shape our lives. I actually became an anesthetist. That’s right, I was one of those doctors who put people to sleep. It was a perfect “guy” specialty because it was very technical, there were lots of gadgets and I didn’t have to talk to people. My problem though, was that every afternoon when the OR’s were closed, I had to do general practice. As a GP I had to talk to people and find out what was bothering them. Much to my surprise, I discovered that a very large percentage of my patients, including the Christians, were suffering from emotional pain rather than the physical pain that I was trained to treat.
When I graduated from the University of Toronto Medical School, I knew nothing about mental health or the power of emotions to shape our lives. I actually became an anesthetist. That’s right, I was one of those doctors who put people to sleep. It was a perfect “guy” specialty because it was very technical, there were lots of gadgets and I didn’t have to talk to people. My problem though, was that every afternoon when the OR’s were closed, I had to do general practice. As a GP I had to talk to people and find out what was bothering them. Much to my surprise, I discovered that a very large percentage of my patients, including the Christians, were suffering from emotional pain rather than the physical pain that I was trained to treat.
I had to start learning about emotions and mental health so I could help these patients. Initially, I studied and began treating depression, anxiety and mood swings. These were the most common mood disorders. I discovered that these disorders caused people to think in distinct, predictable patterns. Then I learned which medications were best for each thinking pattern. I was astonished at how well the medications worked when they were given to the right person.
A New Perspective
Another discovery was that Christians suffer from depression in unique ways and they are often reluctant to accept medical treatment for these conditions. There was so much misunderstanding about psychiatry and mental health in the Christian world that I wrote and filmed “Moods” to help Christians understand what was going on in their thoughts and when they needed to see a doctor. I wrote “Healthy Moods” to help non Christians understand mood disorders.
At that point in my life, I thought the solution to emotional problems was to just get everyone on the right pill. My perspective on this totally changed though, when my wife and I were struggling with our relationship. We needed to see a counsellor to help us through that difficult time. From this experience I Iearned there was more to emotional recovery than just pills. We discovered through our own healing journey, that emotional baggage and spiritual conflict can greatly affect our moods and relationships. Based on our experience, I wrote the book “Emotionally Free.” It explains how the healing journey requires us to get rid of our emotional baggage, find spiritual peace and take medications when necessary. Kathy tells our recovery story on her DVD, “Our Will, A testimony of healing.”
Helping Others
Over the past 26 years of medical practice I have learned how our moods, baggage and spirit can affect our relationships. For many years now my wife Kathy and I have been holding seminars internationally to teach people how to improve their lives by improving their relationships. This happens when we choose to walk the healing journey. All of our seminar sessions have been recorded and are available in the Books/CDs/DVDs section of our web site. If you would like to attend one of our seminars, check my itinerary in the Seminar section of our web site.
During your visit with us, be sure to read the free Resource Library, pick up some books, CD’s or DVD’s, and plan to attend one of our seminars. Expect to improve your relationships and your entire life.
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We hope you enjoy your visit and return often.
Grant Mullen M.D.
