What Affects Mental Health?
Health encompasses mental, emotional, physical, spiritual and financial levels. Mental health is an important component of overall health. As reported by the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA), at least 1 in 10 Canadians suffer from a condition classified under mental health. Common conditions associated with mental health are anxiety, panic attacks, depression, schizophrenia, bipolar disease, and social anxiety.
Mental health is a multifaceted issue involving many contributing factors such as:
* It is a common belief that genetics predetermine your health and conditions/disorders. Family history and environment can create genetic susceptibility to certain disorders, but nothing is absolute. You can change the transcription of your genes by changing your environment (including your thoughts and mindset). Genes are transcribed in response to the environment in order to create proteins to react to your environment. If you perceive your environment/world as loving and low stress, then you will subscribe genes and proteins (mainly hormones) in response to this thought (ie. you naturally increase your levels of mood elevating hormones).
Mental health is a multifaceted issue involving many contributing factors such as:
- Nutritional deficiencies - especially iron, B vitamins, zinc, and magnesium
- Genetics*
- Environment - including physical, emotional, and social environment
- Hormonal/endocrine issues - low/high functioning thyroid, menopause, PMS, PMDD, cushing's disease, addison's disease, etc.
- Stress - mental, emotional, physical, and financial
- Hypersensitivity of the nervous system
- Lifestyle and economic status
* It is a common belief that genetics predetermine your health and conditions/disorders. Family history and environment can create genetic susceptibility to certain disorders, but nothing is absolute. You can change the transcription of your genes by changing your environment (including your thoughts and mindset). Genes are transcribed in response to the environment in order to create proteins to react to your environment. If you perceive your environment/world as loving and low stress, then you will subscribe genes and proteins (mainly hormones) in response to this thought (ie. you naturally increase your levels of mood elevating hormones).
Stress Reduction Tips
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1. You have the power to change your thoughts and neurochemistry (ie. levels of serotonin, dopamine and catecholamines) - nothing is static!
When experiencing a stressful event, instead of react with panic, take a deep breath and repeat to yourself: "I am safe, I am love, this will pass and I will be okay". Positive affirmations works with time and practice. 2. Forms of meditation to get you "out of your head" such as: guided imagery, music, dance, painting, reading, yoga, walking, exercise, etc. Do what ever you enjoy which is creative and positive 3. Deep breathing. Nerves cells become hyperexcitable (ie. more prone to anxiety) when oxygen levels are low. Hence, deep breathing helps increase oxygen levels and decrease nerve firing. Follow the rule of 5X5: 1. 5 seconds in 2. 5 seconds hold 3. 5-10 seconds out 4. Repeat 5 times 5. Do 5 times a day. |
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How Can Dr. Nicole Help?
- Perform a detailed history, physical exam, and lab testing to determine which factors associated with mental health apply and what neurohormonal imbalances may be involved.
- Teach stress reduction techniques
- Use acupuncture for balancing energy and harmonizing the body
- Use proper herbal medicine specific to the person's case to calm the mind and improve digestion (gut-brain connection)
- In cases where a person is on medications, treat gently with herbs and homeopathics (which have limited to no interaction with medications), and help guide a person to a mental balance in which they can start to come off of (slowly and medically supervised) their medications.
- Nutritional counseling to include healthy foods and foods directly utilized in neurohormone develop (ie. natural happy foods)
- Most importantly, addressing the person's mindset and their perception. Remember, every person has the power to change their mindset and environment by changing their perception, and everyone has control over their perception. Negative thought patterns can also be unlearned and replaced with positive thought patterns.
- Teach stress reduction techniques
- Use acupuncture for balancing energy and harmonizing the body
- Use proper herbal medicine specific to the person's case to calm the mind and improve digestion (gut-brain connection)
- In cases where a person is on medications, treat gently with herbs and homeopathics (which have limited to no interaction with medications), and help guide a person to a mental balance in which they can start to come off of (slowly and medically supervised) their medications.
- Nutritional counseling to include healthy foods and foods directly utilized in neurohormone develop (ie. natural happy foods)
- Most importantly, addressing the person's mindset and their perception. Remember, every person has the power to change their mindset and environment by changing their perception, and everyone has control over their perception. Negative thought patterns can also be unlearned and replaced with positive thought patterns.