This book introduces a new concept explaining psychological difficulties and recovery. It is for use in self-help, by providers, and teachers of mental healthcare offering important applications for a full spectrum of therapeutic understanding. There is a reciprocal information circuit between the brain, emotions, body, and immune system functions. Hypothesized is a mental immune system (MIS) guardian of the mind and emotions like the body’s immune system is the guardian against physical illness. Thus, mental illness is in the realm of the MIS, MIS disorders (MISD), including the concept of MISD autoimmune disorders and MIS treatment (MIST). Disorders are discussed as a continuum from MIS function to dysfunction. For example, initial anxiety is an MIS primal, involuntary, and alerting response that may become an excessively inflamed over-response as an MISD anxiety disorder. Treatment and recovery involve multi-level brain function integration. Mental Immune System Treatment (MIST) integrates cognitive, emotional, behavioral, sensory, and all varieties of human processing to maximize learning and mental rehabilitation.
