In the fall of 2020, when I was very near death due to hypercritical allostatic load (overloaded nervous system), I reached out to someone whose compassion I deeply admired. I had watched one of Patch Adams MD’s videos on YouTube—it just popped up unprompted—and like in all of them, he ended by saying, “Write to me, and I’ll write you back. I always write back.” Though I had seen many of his videos over the years, I had never felt the urge to write to him before, but this time was different. Desperate for connection, and especially empathy from men after what a few of them had done to me, I thought, “Who else do I know that has more compassion than him?” The answer was, “Nobody.” So, I wrote to him, and true to his word, he wrote back the day he received my letter. His response was so lovely and heartfelt that it began a slow conversation by postal mail for over two years, during which I was able to help him reconnect with a former employer through whom I had briefly met Patch in the late 1970s.
Patch’s letter was hand-written on his signature stationary, which always includes a little story and pictures about his work—stories of human connection. He handwrites his messages around the pictures. One story was about “me and Rosie Gross,” a 77-year-old Swiss nurse on her ninth consecutive annual two-week Russian clown trip in 2012. Rosie had asked him, “On my tenth anniversary, can I have a noodle bath like in the movie?” So, in November 2013, with 60 clowns, mostly under 30, surrounding a 2.5-meter pool filled with cooked, well-oiled noodles, Rosie stripped down and got in. Feeling a bit mellow, the clown doctor stripped down and joined her. The pictures showed them delightedly playing in the noodles.
But what truly amazed me in his first letter was when he mentioned that his record for holding someone, for therapeutic reasons, was 18 hours. That simple, profound statement deeply touched me, as my body cried out for such a basic building block of the sense of safety stolen by psychiatric and surgical abuse.
Patch Adams, MD, is best known for his work as a physician and social activist, particularly through his promotion of humor and human connection as essential components of healing. The clown/doctor’s approach to medicine, which emphasizes compassion, community, and treating the whole person rather than just the disease, aligns well with the principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology (IPNB).
Core Principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology
Interpersonal Neurobiology, developed by Daniel Siegel and others, integrates various scientific disciplines to understand how relationships and the brain interact to shape the mind. The key principles include:
1. Integration: IPNB emphasizes the importance of integration—linking different parts of the brain and aspects of human experience. This integration fosters well-being and resilience.
2. Relational Focus: IPNB posits that human connections are central to mental and physical health. Relationships, particularly those characterized by empathy, attunement, and support, are essential for healthy brain development and emotional regulation.
3. Mind-Body Connection: IPNB underscores the interconnectedness of mind and body, suggesting that mental states can influence physical health and vice versa.
4. Compassion and Empathy: These qualities are crucial for healthy relationships and overall well-being, supporting the development of secure attachments and fostering resilience.
Alignment with Patch Adams’ Approach
Holistic Healing
Patch Adams advocates for a holistic approach to medicine, considering patients’ emotional, social, and spiritual needs alongside their physical health. This aligns with IPNB’s emphasis on the mind-body connection and the need for integration across various aspects of a person’s experience.
Human Connection
Adams believes in the therapeutic power of human connection, often using humor, play, and empathy to build rapport with patients. This approach mirrors IPNB’s focus on relationships as a foundation for healing and well-being. Adams’ emphasis on compassionate care resonates with IPNB’s view that empathy and connection can promote neurobiological integration and mental health.
Community and Social Activism
Adams’ work extends beyond individual patient care to address broader social issues, advocating for a healthcare system that prioritizes compassion and community. This aligns with IPNB’s view that social environments and relationships are critical to well-being. Adams’ emphasis on creating caring communities reflects the IPNB principle that healthy relationships contribute to the integration of the brain and nervous system.
Empowerment and Agency
Patch Adams encourages patients to take an active role in their healing, fostering a sense of agency and empowerment. This aligns with IPNB’s focus on autonomy and the importance of a positive self-identity for overall health and well-being.
Patch Adams’ approach to medicine, which centers on compassion, humor, and human connection, is highly consistent with the principles of Interpersonal Neurobiology. Both emphasize the importance of relationships, integration, and holistic care in fostering health and resilience. Through his work, Adams exemplifies how the principles of IPNB can be applied in real-world healthcare settings to promote healing and well-being.
This post includes content generated by ChatGPT, a language model developed by OpenAI. The AI-generated content has been reviewed and edited for accuracy and relevance.
