Blum CL, "DeJarnette's Methods and Wisdom Regarding 'The Emotional Distortion'

While there are a multitude of presenting symptoms for a patient presenting with an "emotional distortion," DeJarnette, in his 1946 book "Sacro-Occipital Technic" explored this subject with sensitivity and insight.

"Emotion is its true sense, is a driving power which often leads to great accomplishments, and again that same driving power may lead to destruction. In using the term emotion, we do not mean to imply that these patients are show-offs, rather, they are sick and actually suffer. Their great tragedy is the locking-up process which has taken place in their own bodies."

"True emotional distortion patients seldom manifest their trouble by loud outbursts of wailing. These people are retainers of grief. They have locked within themselves something that needs to be withdrawn."

The Physical Component of the Emotional Distortion:

In SOTO-USA’s recent book "Chiropractic Manipulative Reflex Technique," Dr. DeJarnette recorded his emotional distortion observations in the occipital line two, area five/ lumbar 3 relationship. But in his 1946 book, he dealt with this condition in greater detail, including additional indicators and suggestions on methods of support for this type of patient:

Indication:

With the patient supine, the doctor will gently squeeze the patient's pubes. A positive finding will be if the abdomen distends upon pressure to the pubes. Maintaining this contact the doctor's other hand contacts the "left transverse sixth cervical from the posterior." If the sixth cervical is painful then "it is an emotional distortion." "If the pubes squeeze causes the abdomen to distend but the sixth cervical left transverse is not painful, there is a perineal lesion."

Treatment:

With the doctor contacting the pubes and left transverse process of the sixth cervical vertebra, both contacts are held until the abdomen relaxes. While this treatment will help relax the patient with an emotional distortion, this distortion "like all distortions, has causes, and if the abdominal distention takes place on the subsequent tests, and if the left sixth cervical transverse remains painful, there are other causes and these require much tact to discover and remove."

DeJarnette noted that, "Psychoanalysis attempts to right your life through a confession of wrong doings. [His] Emotion Technique attempts to right your life guidance and counsel and actual therapy."

"Many practitioners are unqualified to understand or analyze a patient's emotional difficulties. Many practitioners look only to the sordid phase of a person's life. Not all emotional distortions are caused by capital sins. Many of them are caused by wrong companionship, improper mating, wrong environment, poor working conditions, physical breakdowns through wrong living habits and over-drinking."

DeJarnette discussed specific manners of talking to patients with an emotional distortion. "It is entirely wrong to say to any patient, 'There is something on your mind. Tell me what is worrying you.' It is much better to say, "Is there something you would like to talk to me about? Is there anything that I can do for you that has not been done?' Reticence and indecision are the cardinal attributes of the emotional distortion." The patient may have reluctance to remove clothing for an examination or adjustment, or might have scars or disfigurements. "The good Doctor never mentions these marks unless asked to express an opinion. If there is an incision scar upon the patient's body, you may inquire as to the type operation performed. If a patient wishes your further opinion, that opinion will be asked for."

"Always let the patient make the first move, if a confession is to be made. Do not pry into other people’s affairs.

"Never make suggestions to a patient which will be impossible to carry out, and never betray a patient's confidence.

"Gentleness must take the place of sympathy. Force must take the place of pity. Calmness must take the place of fear. Love must usurp hate. Trust must overcome mistrust."

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