A new life is possible
Twice in my life I experienced a “miracle” cure. These two are why I became a mental health counselor almost two decades ago, i.e. I wanted to share what I had learned with others who suffer. The first cure, in my 20s, was from a decade of weekly debilitating migraine, and the other, at 50, was from lifelong chronic fatigue syndrome which allowed me to go back to school to become a counselor. If you have either or both of these issues, let’s talk!—MR
A catalogue of losses: what chronic fatigue syndrome took away from my life
by Mike Mariani, The Guardian US, November 28, 2022
Whether anybody else could see it or not, I had lost someone: my former, healthy self. On Friday, 14 December 2012, I would experience the sudden onset of an illness that, looking back almost a decade later, bears a powerful resemblance to the narratives of those suffering from long Covid.
Bodymind basics
Bodymind Counseling is results oriented. I want you to feel better fast. So to not waste your time and money, before we uncover important psychological, emotional, mental or relational issues that may be negatively affecting your mental and emotional health, we start at ground zero. We ask if there are physical things bothering your brain? Getting at least seven hours of restful sleep most nights—preferably between sundown and sunrise—in which you resolve emotional issues in your dreams is crucial to a sense of well being.–MR
It’s killing us all slowly: how the night shift is taking a toll on US workers
by Michael Sainato, The Guardian US, November 18, 2022
Roger Reinhardt works the third shift at a beer production facility in Michigan from 10pm-8am, four days a week. He started working nights because it was the only shift available when he was hired, but he has continued doing it for the extra pay.
Intentional kindness
Once upon a time, the Dalai Lama was famously asked by to a Western journalist to explain his Tibetan Buddhist religion. He replied, “my religion is kindness.” Jesus would probably agree. There is nothing you can do to emotionally feel better fast than perpetrate a kind act. Even if it’s only a shy smile.—MR
Why we all need to be a lot less hesitant about being kind
by Claudia Hammond, The Guardian US, November 13, 2022
While researching a book on kindness, I found that being kind enhances the mood of not just the receiver – but the giver, too.
Why pick poison?
Pharmaceutical antidepressants have repeatedly been scientifically proven to generally not give patients what they hoped for over time. Here’s another study that proves other treatments with fewer side effects work just as well. I would suggest they work better, because over time a patient has learned how to deal with her emotions. The drugs do not correct chemical imbalance, they just repress emotion, so at the end of pharmaceutical treatment patients are not only addicted to a drug that contributes to dementia but are in the same or worse place they began emotionally.—MR
Antidepressants are not associated with improved quality of life in the long run…
Science Daily, April 20, 2022
Summary: Over time, using antidepressants is not associated with significantly better health-related quality of life, compared to people with depression who do not take the drugs, according to a new study.
Whoa!
Mind boggling.—MR
One in Eight U.S. Adult Deaths Involved Too Much Booze
One out of every eight deaths in Americans ages 20 to 64 resulted from drinking too much alcohol, according to a U.S. population-based study. Nationally, 12.9% of total deaths per year among adults in this age group were attributed to excessive alcohol consumption from 2015 to 2019, and that number rose to 20.3% of total deaths per year when restricted to people ages 20 to 49, reported Marissa Esser, PhD, MPH, of the CDC in Atlanta…
The gut-brain connection strikes again
As biology continues to mature as a science, we learn more and more how the small intestines, i.e. the gut, must be healthy to have a healthy brain. Mind is a different thing altogether and consciousness is, most likely, an all-body mechanism, so being mentally ill is not about the brain so much as it is about the whole body and specifically about the gut. Human beings have known for a long time that if a person goes long enough without sleep, he can die. The utterly fascinating thing that research is showing is that when we go without sleep long enough, it’s not so much the brain that is negatively affected, as it is the gut. We absolutely must sleep or oxidative stress wrecks our small intestines and we die. But we’ll probably go crazy first…—MR
Why Do We Die Without Sleep?
Conversation with Steven Strogatz, Quanta Magazine, March 22, 2022.
The reasons why sleep is so vital often hide in unexpected parts of the body, as podcast host Steven Strogatz discovers in conversations with researchers Dragana Rogulja and Alex Keene.
Let’s get real
There was a time in my life when confronted with a problem or simply some distasteful conversation, I would slip into a Star Trek rerun in my head. Sometimes I would even change the plot line to a more preferable outcome. In a session with my first mental health counselor in the nineties, she saw me gazing off into space. Asking what I was thinking about I described a conversation between Jean Luc Picard and Worf. After that, when she saw me gaze out into my mental stars avoiding a subject in session, she’d snap her fingers and say, “Hey! Get back here!”—MR
I just go into my head and enjoy it’: the people who can’t stop daydreaming
by David Robson, The Guardian US, August 28, 2022
Psychiatrists may soon recognize ‘maladaptive daydreaming’ as a clinical disorder. But what is it, and how can it be treated?
Every day, Kyla* travels to a fictional universe with advanced space travel. It’s not real, of course – but an incredibly vivid daydream, centered on a protagonist with a detailed history. “It covers 79 years in the life of my main character,” she says. “I know how the whole thing plays out, and I can drop into it at whatever point I want to experience.”
Not a surprise
Guess I should be pleased at the news contained in the below article. It will guarantee a steady stream of miserable patients to my offices until I retire. It’s a stunning victory for Big C capitalism and the alcohol and drug industries!—MR
Marijuana, hallucinogen use at all-time high among young adults
by Morgan Sherburne, Michigan News, University of Michigan, August 22, 2022
Marijuana and hallucinogen use in the past year reported by young adults 19 to 30 years old increased significantly in 2021 compared to five and 10 years ago, reaching historic highs in this age group since 1988, according to the Monitoring the Future panel study.
Big deal
Golly gee whiz, the FDA approved the first new type of anti-depressant in 60 years! The below article reports it reduces symptoms a whopping five percent more than a placebo. What it doesn’t say is how long it’s gonna work for someone or what side effects are over the long term. Honestly, does that sound like something to sign up for?—MR
FDA OKs First Oral NMDA Receptor Antagonist for Depression
by Kristen Monaco, MedPage Today, August 19, 2022
The FDA approved combination dextromethorphan and bupropion extended-release tablets (Auvelity) for adults with major depressive disorder (MDD), Axsome Therapeutics announced on Friday.
Why risk it?
The below reviewed book underscores one of the dangers of drinking, i.e. dementia. Its author, Dr. Richard Restak, advises his patients to quit alcohol by 70 at the latest. Over 65, he writes, you typically have fewer brain neurons than when you were younger, so why risk them? “Alcohol is a weak neurotoxin – it’s not good for nerve cells.”—MR
Stop drinking, keep reading, look after your hearing: a neurologist’s tips for fighting memory loss and Alzheimer’s
by Gaby Hinsliff, The Guardian US, August 17, 2022
You walk into a room, but can’t remember what you came in for. Or you bump into an old acquaintance at work, and forget their name. Most of us have had momentary memory lapses like this, but in middle age they can start to feel more ominous. Do they make us look unprofessional, or past it? Could this even be a sign of impending dementia? The good news for the increasingly forgetful, however, is that not only can memory be improved with practice, but that it looks increasingly as if some cases of Alzheimer’s may be preventable too.
Heart of the matter
Most docs, psychiatrists, PAs, nurse practitioners and even psychologists who practice under the umbrella of allopathic medicine are focused on alleviating the symptoms of mental illness as quickly as possible and getting to the next patient in their busy day. Finding out what is causing those symptoms and helping tweak the causal structure is simply not their job, hence their reliance on prescribing psycho-pharmaceuticals. Mental health counselors, who do not prescribe, seek the reasons for mental health disorders and help the patient alleviate those causes to achieve a lasting cure thereby mitigating the need for drugs. They are like the Native elders below who get to the heart of the matter and come up with a plan to address the real issue.—MR
‘We look deeper’: the Native court settling cases outside the justice system
by Stewart Huntington, The Guardian US, August 6, 2022
In South Dakota, the Oyate Court – made up of Lakota elders – uses traditional peacemaking principles to stress healing over punishment.
Beware of dinosaurs
Time to let go of a dinosaur-sized erroneous hypothesis, i.e. that depression is caused by an imbalance in brain chemicals that can be managed by psycho-pharmaceuticals. It was simply a hypothesis pushed by Big Pharma to make billions. As many practitioners have been saying for decades, it just ain’t true. Yes, anti-depressants sometimes work to allay symptoms—though science doesn’t know why—but have been clearly shown to be connected dementia later in life by huge statistical margins. Also, we don’t know why. To err on the side of caution, I’d check out alternatives before taking a weird chemical that no one knows what it does to my brain.—MR
The chemical imbalance theory of depression is dead, but that doesn’t mean antidepressants don’t work
by Christopher Davey, The Guardian US, August 2, 2022
The chemical imbalance theory of depression is well and truly dead. A paper by Joanna Moncrieff and colleagues, longtime critics of the effectiveness of antidepressants, has caused a splash. The paper provides a summary of other summaries that confirm there is no evidence to support the idea that depression is caused by disturbance of the brain’s serotonin system.
Not your grandma’s pot
Cannabis in not “primarily addictive,” so science refers to it as “dependency.” Actually its dependents are addicted, just not to the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) that gets them high. They have become addicted to an opioid, i.e. the reward chemical, in their own brains that THC triggers at much higher than normal levels. Consequently, daily behaviors no longer trigger the reward chemical, so addicts feel unmotivated by events in life that would have been motivating, like getting an A on a math test or winning the attention of a young woman.—MR
Higher-Potency Cannabis Linked to Psychosis, Dependency
Food comes first
We’ve heard the phrase “you are what you eat,” but what does that mean to one’s mental health? It means that your body, of which your brain is a part, is constantly rebuilding itself with the what goes in your mouth. Whole or low processed foods create a healthy brain which is the first thing needed to be able to have healthy mind. So if you want good mental health, start with what you eat or drink. Replacing just ten percent of ultra-processed food weight with an equivalent proportion of unprocessed or minimally processed foods led to 19 percent less dementia in the below study!—MR
Dementia Risk Climbs With Intake of Ultra-Processed Foods
A diet higher in ultra-processed foods was linked with a higher risk of dementia, but substituting unprocessed or minimally processed foods for ultra-processed ones dropped dementia risk, a longitudinal study showed.
It’s not in your head
The below meta-analysis of dozens of studies has demonstrated that depression is NOT a low-serotonin brain-chemical imbalance. A pill can’t fix the many actual causes of depression, but a counselor can help you overcome them. Since 95% of serotonin is found in the small intestine, a good probiotic protocol (note: all probiotics are not created equal) may be the way to go. Sure chased away my blues! Frankly to me, the scariest part is that antidepressant use, as opposed to depression, presages dementia.—MR
The serotonin theory of depression
by J. Moncrieff, R.E. Cooper, T. Stockmann, S. Amendola, M. Hengartner & M. Horowitz, Molecular Psychiatry, 2022
The serotonin hypothesis of depression is still influential. We aimed to synthesize and evaluate evidence on whether depression is associated with lowered serotonin concentration or activity in a systematic umbrella review of the principal relevant areas of research.
Gut feeling
The below study finds a link between Alzheimer’s disease and gastrointestinal disorders. More and more this gut-brain axis is being proven to be at the root of much mental distress particularly depression and anxiety. Avoiding ingesting stuff that hurts the gut such as white flour, sugar and alcohol can go a long way toward improving your mental health.—MR
A large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis reveals shared genetic architecture between Alzheimer’s disease and gastrointestinal tract disorders
by Emmanuel Adewuyi, Eleanor O’Brien, Dale Nyholt, Tenielle Porter and Simon Laws, Communications Biology, July 20, 2022.
Consistent with the concept of the gut-brain phenomenon, observational studies suggest a relationship between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders…
It’s your choice
Finally, science is showing how much alcohol hurts the brain. The lovely thing about scientific research is that facts as opposed to product marketing can inform people who read. Then, they can make an informed choice about their behavior. Personally, I drink about four drinks a year because I would like my brain to function at its optimum well into old age. How about you? It’s your choice.—MR
Just 4 Drinks a Week Tied to Brain Changes
by Judy George, MedPage Today, July 14, 2022
Moderate alcohol consumption was linked to higher brain iron and worse cognitive function, an observational study showed.
Poisons are poisonous
Poisons poison the mind too. We cannot separate our body from the mechanism that controls its flow of energy and information which is the simplest definition of what mind is. I can only encourage you to at least try to limit your ingestion of poisons like pesticides, herbicides, pollution, alcohol and drugs. You’ll feel much better for it.—MR
‘Disturbing’: weedkiller ingredient tied to cancer found in 80% of US urine samples
by Carey Gillam, The Guardian US, July 9, 2022
More than 80% of urine samples drawn from children and adults in a US health study contained a weedkilling chemical linked to cancer, a finding scientists have called “disturbing” and “concerning”.
Move if you want to groove!
The mental health improvements from movement of any kind, but particularly exercise, are well proven. If you do not wish to feel depressed, move your body for about five minutes or more and you will feel better.—MR
Move yourself happy! How to exercise to boost your mood – whatever your fitness level
by Elle Hunt, The Guardian US, June 29, 2022
Everyone knows the benefits of exercise: stronger muscles, more energy, weight management, better sleep. A mood boost is often tacked on as a bonus. But there is stronger evidence than ever before that movement not only improves your mental health, but also protects it.
Run while you still can
It’s not just teens who are losing it. Cannabis may be more dangerous to mental health than any other drug. Please don’t believe the Big Lie. Follow the money.—MR
Psychosis, Addiction, Chronic Vomiting: As Weed Becomes More Potent, Teens Are Getting Sick
By Christina Caron, New York Times, June 24, 2020
With THC levels close to 100 percent, today’s cannabis products are making some teenagers highly dependent and dangerously ill.
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