"Reflexive Depression"

Mental health is equally, if not more important than physical health. Regardless of how healthy "the rest of the body" is, when mental health deteriorates, appreciation of "peripheral health" changes to a degree. This is because of two main reasons:

1) We psychosomatically "zone in" on minor bodily ailments, thus amplifying them, and
2) As our mental health deteriorates, we sometimes begin to neglect our general health.

At the end of the day, although "peripheral bodily health" is important, perceiving what is pleasing or healthy to the mind, is what's most important since it keeps us "happy". Thus, I shall leave "perception" to the reader. The significance here though, is that a healthier body stabilizes or "heightens" mental health. And when we are in a "positive frame of mind," our physiology (bodily functions) reacts in many "positive" ways.

General aspects of depression

How are perhipheral and mental health related?

Peripheral health can affect mental health in many ways. Most obvious is that the rest of the body takes care of the brain. When we adopt a positive mood, or are in a content mental state, our blood pressure is more stable, our heart pumps more efficiently, and our hormone levels are more balanced. These factors alone keep the brain and body nourished and refreshed. We are then, more able to cope with the daily stresses of life more quickly and efficiently. When we are in a "good mood," our immune system manufactures chemicals, which heighten its performance, thus, preventing microorganisms, such as bacteria and viruses from entering and damaging the body. The heart, which pumps blood to the lungs to be oxygenated and then transports this freshly oxygentated blood to the brain and body, works more efficiently when we are mentally stable. During times of stress, the brain causes the adrenal glands to synthesize and release adrenaline into the blood. Adrenaline may cause the heart to temporarily work harder, but it also causes the brain to "over-think" and worry, when it doesn't really need to. Continued adrenaline release can also cause heart palpitations, causing us even more worry. When the heart and circulatory system work more efficiently, it is much easier for the body to to remove waste products that we've accumulated through our normal metabolism. The liver neutralizes many of the toxins that accumulate and via the circulatory system, the blood is transported to the kidneys, where these toxins are incorporated into the urine for removal. Mental and bodily health strongly influence this system, because adrenaline and other imbalances cause the vessels of the cirulatory system to constrict, or relax in different parts of the body. These vessel changes in turn, cause imbalances in filtering of the blood, and thus, waste or toxin removal from the blood. These toxins function as poisons that can strongly affect the brain, and thus, mental state.

Diet and disease strongly influence the mental state

Ketone bodies (the by- products of fat metabolism) can accumulate in the blood, as is seen in high-fat diets. As ketones accumulate, the acidity of the blood would changes, causing depression, stupor, and can even lead to coma and death in extreme situations. This is what can happen to the individual with certain types of diabetes, if left unchecked. And most cases of diabetes are type II, which can usually be reversed by dietary strategies.

If we suffer from heart or lung failure and blood is inadequately pumped or oxygentated, the brain will obviously suffer due to lack of oxygen and/or other nutrients, in addition to the accumulation of waste-products. If failure of the pancreas occurs, as in diabetes, blood sugar levels become unregulated. These excess sugars can attach to the blood vessel walls and cross-link cholesterol. This can affect the brain (and entire body), causing the individual to lose intellectual function over time, similar to dementia.

What else can cause depression?

Depression can also be caused by many other substances. Medications for other unrelated illnesses can also have side-effects of depression. This is why it is always important to read the information included with all medications, whether prescribed or purchased over the counter. Additives in food can also cause depression in certain individuals. In this case, food diaries can help, in "narrowing down" the food or additive that may be contributing to, or causing depression.

Monitoring depression and our mental state in general

How do we know if our mental health is changing and how can we modify its function for a more positive lifestyle? Mental health and its changes can be
1) self-monitored (to an extent), or
2) monitored by others for us.

In certain respects, it is not very difficult to 'monitor' or notice changes in mental health. This of course, is possible, as long we have insight (knowing that what is going on is not always normal). Insight is "knowing" that something you are feeling is not the norm. For example, you may be on medication for an illness. All medications have side-effects and in your case, one of them may be visual or auditory hallucinations. In this example, knowing that the hallucinations you were experiencing, were not real, but because of the medication, would mean that you have insight into the "reality" of the hallucinations (versus others who believed that they were genuinely seeing real and unimagined things). Insight is very important, because it helps us to differentiate events of possible illness from episodes of "false alarm."

More on Insight

Insight is "being aware" that a problem exists. I have an old saying.. If you think your girlfriend looks like Marylin Monroe, you are having an illusion. If you "think" your girlfriednd "is" Marylin Monroe, then you are suffering from a delusion. Imagine that you're hearing voices now and again in an empty room. You can think either of two things. 1) These voices are "genuine". (when everyone else is telling you that they don't hear any) or 2) You realize that you shouldn't be hearing these even though you are. Remember now, hearing voices doesn't mean you are mad in the "medieval sense". Many people suffering from strokes, epilepsy, other cerebral pathologies, and side-effects of certain medications, can experience hallucinations. Hearing a "genuine" sound (eg., telephone ring), is only a sound wave striking the eardrum, converting to a nerve signal, and travelling to the brain and compared to "known sounds" (sounds already learned, such as a telephone ring). But if there is something in the brain or "en route" that stimulates a nervous impulse, then you will experience a sound hallucination without the actual existence of a sound outside the body. People suffering from tinnitus (experiencing 'high-pitched' ringing sounds) are genuine when they claim to hear these high pitched ringing noises. These sounds may not be audible to others, yet they are to the individual experiencing them. Their auditory nerve is easily stimulated due to a particular pathology (eg., virus, inner ear damage,etc.). So, next time you hear somebody tell you that they are hearing voices, or sounds, perhaps they are telling the truth. However, a person having "insight" into this realizes that these sounds are not genuine, but rather due to another cause. In any event, these hallucinations can be disturbing to the sufferer, and illuminate the definition of insight.

In summary, mental health can be affected by many stimuli, including nutrition, infection, and other organic illnesses. Keep in mind that although these tips are very important for maintaining mental and physical health, there are instances when more help may be needed. This is never something to be embarrased about. Remember, mental changes can be caused by "organic" factors such as stroke, epilepsy, and other pathologies. It's always wise to initially rule out these possibilites by seeking medical help if they continue.

If you really want to come to grips with depression, and how it can be modulated, read about "Reflexive Depression," one of the most fascinating and treatable causes of depression. Reflexive depression is what can actually cause depression through a delayed response. In a majority of cases, depression can be lessened, if not completely reversed.