In the US prior to 1970, exercise was a foreign concept to most. If someone was running down the street your first instinct would be, “from what”? Today, in 2018, gyms and fitness are part of daily life. It is universally understood that physical activity is key to maintaining physical health.
Mental health, however, doesn’t get the same level of attention. Although people are becoming increasingly aware their importance, mental health issues are usually treated once they arise, using blanket diagnoses such as depression, PTSD, bi-polar, etc. to identify the proper medication to treat the symptoms. The issue is multi-dimensional; from the Big Pharma influence, to doctors’ incentives, industry constraints such as limited time to assess patients, insurance companies willingness to pay for pharmaceutical medication but not psychological assessments and counseling, and more, mental health problems are handled ineffectively in the United States.
“Depression is a chemical imbalance in the brain.” We’ve all heard this one before. The issue, however, is that this statement oversimplifies the issue and ignores important factors at play. According to scientists from Harvard, “depression doesn’t spring from simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. Rather, there are many possible causes of depression, including faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and medical problems” Source. Writing off the issue as a simple “chemical imbalance” is a disservice to patients who are fighting mental health issues.
Interestingly, the average age of onset for many mental health conditions is the typical college age range of 18 to 24 years old, said Courtney Knowles, executive director of The JED Foundation, a charitable organization that aims to reduce suicide and improve mental health for college students. In fact, according to the National Institute of Mental Health, 75 percent of all individuals with an anxiety disorder will experience symptoms before age 22, as cited in the ADAA Report. This information should inform doctors, parents, and friends of people dealing with mental health challenges during these years: take action now before the issue manifests into more serious problems down the road.
People have physical needs: shelter, food, water, sleep, and security. Without one of these things, (see Maslow’s Hierarchy or needs) problems arise; hunger, hypothermia, exhaustion, dehydration, or physical danger can prevent a person from living effectively. The same goes for psychological needs; people require emotional support, decision-making autonomy, and a sense of purpose in the same way they need food and water. Picture two people side by side: one has been battling insomnia and an ongoing food disorder, while the other simply feels like their life has no purpose. How different do they look? How different do they feel? How often do their symptoms overlap?
The Gut Brain Connection
Did you know that the bacteria in your stomach impacts your brain chemistry and vice versa? Think “gut-wrenching experience” or a “gut feeling”: the gut microbiota impacts how we think and act. In 2011, scientists conducted an experiment which compared the behavior of mice which consumed a probiotic, and mice which did not. They found that the mice which consumed the probiotic acted more calmly. “The probiotic bacteria, Lactobacillus rhamnosus, contains a neurotransmitter called GABA that helps regulate brain activity and can calm anxiety. Based on the reactions of the mice that consumed L. rhamnosus, researchers concluded the bacteria were affecting their brain chemistry. “Those pesky little critters might be the master puppeteers of our brain,” Dr. Cryan said of microbes (not mice!) during his 2014 TEDMED talk. This topic deserves a deeper dive, but for now, I’ll just mention it in relation to the mental health discussion today.
John Mackey, founder and CEO of Whole Foods, uses the analogy of a person’s happiness and a business’s profits in his book, Conscious Capitalism (highly recommended read). A person seeks happiness like a business seeks profit. If a company wants to be profitable they should focus their efforts on the business operations and processes that result in profit. Quality customer service, a great user experience, significant added value to the customer, among other techniques, result in increased revenue. Successful companies do not say, “Let’s focus on profit this quarter.” Instead, they focus on business processes and strategies that drive profit indirectly.
A person should seek happiness the same way a business seeks profit. If someone is feeling down, would you recommend that they go “be happy?” Of course not. Rather, you might recommend they find a new passion, new friends, or try to do things that indirectly make them happy. Taking a pill that simply dulls the pain and disconnects the patient from his or her worries, ignores the root cause of the problem. While you might be happy and content today, life can throw a curveball anytime. If you were setting sail on a long ocean voyage would you patch up a leak with duct tape and rubber bands? Whether you are mentally and emotionally prepared determines if you will weather the storm or let it consume you.
My thesis for the day: Everyone needs a sense of purpose in life. Eating well, surrounding yourself with positive and supportive people, and doing things that make you happy are all fine and well, but a fundamental sense of purpose will help you overcome life’s challenges and enable you to succeed. People find purpose in different ways: some folks climb mountains, run marathons, strive for high marks, or win competitions. Other’s learn a new instrument or language. Helping other people is inherently rewarding. Mental health requires effort and attention just like physical health. Don’t wait until you are stressed out and emotionally drained to do something about it. Meditate, move, socialize, volunteer, do something creative, or just shake things up. Maybe a road trip or weekend hike now and then is all you need to stay balanced. Take control of your mental health.
If you made it this far, thanks for reading. Today’s topic is something I’m passionate about not necessarily the most groundbreaking ideas… but the comments section below is meant to be used, so go ahead and add your thoughts!
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A few statistics from: https://www.nami.org/Learn-More/Mental-Health-By-the-Numbers
Kyle Huber 