Mental
balance will mean different things to different people, but for me an
important part of achieving mental balance it to stretch your brain –
socially, in the workplace and in your personal life.
PART
ONE
Your brain weighs nearly
two kilograms and has sufficient storage capacity to record a thousand new
bits of information every second, from birth to old age, and still have
room to spare. A computer performing the same functions as the brain would
weigh 10 tons! It is said that we use a mere one per cent of our
incredible brain capacity. Surely we owe it to ourselves to try using our
brains more effectively?
Scientists have found that
the more you use your brain the less likely you are to suffer from senile
dementia or Alzheimer’s disease in later life. In fact they maintain
that the older you get, the more efficient the brain becomes as it makes
more connections between the left and right hand sides. The brain is like
a muscle, use it or you’ll lose it, and that means exercising it every
day. It is never too late to start stretching your brain.
Many people find that
their thought processes become less efficient as the years go by and many
expect to suffer from, as my mother calls it, ‘Old Timer’s Disease’.
Don’t let this happen to you. Use your head to learn a variety of
different skills. This makes more connections between the right and left
sides of the brain and ensures that as you get older, your brain continues
to function efficiently. Reading, doing puzzles, learning a language and
taking on projects that force you to acquire new skills are all excellent
ways of preventing your brain from deteriorating.
Continued learning has
been shown to prevent depression. Depression can trap you in a downward
spiral so it is important to make a concerted effort to stretch your brain
and achieve mental balance in the process.
If you are not sure where
to start, write down three new things you would like to learn, whether it
be a new computer programme, a foreign language, learning to fly or how to
play golf. Then set yourself a target and aim to learn these things within
a realistic period of time. Once you have achieved this, keep adding more
things to your list. The more you are learning and the more new skills you
are acquiring, the happier you will feel. There is nothing like a sense of
achievement to make you feel that you are on top of the world!
As we saw in the previous
chapter, we need to eat well in order to ensure clarity of thought and
mental composure. But in order to take full control of your mental
well-being you also need to look at some of your habits. There are many
factors that can have either a direct or indirect influence on mental
health. We have identified a few that we have found to affect us, or the
people we have worked with, most frequently.
HABITS THAT HARM
There are few lifestyle
factors that have a bearing on achieving mental balance – let’s take a
look at some of the most common ones.
Alcohol Consumption
First
on my list of habits that interfere with brain function and mental balance
is the use of alcohol. Many people think of alcohol as something
that makes them feel ‘good’ so it’s not surprising that when
depression rears its ugly head, many turn to alcohol in an attempt to perk
themselves up or to further drown their sorrows. Unfortunately, this is
one of the worst things to do.
Alcohol itself acts as a depressant on the
central nervous system and can in fact
worsen existing depression. Too much alcohol causes deficiencies in the
very vitamins needed for good mental health, so if you’re feeling low or
suffering from depression, it would be far better to avoid alcohol
altogether.
Mark
and I both grew up in families where at least one of our parents was an
alcoholic. We saw at first hand what the long-term effects of alcoholism
were on the mental capacity of once very clever men. We also saw the
short-term effects in the toll that this destructive habit took on
relationships within the home.
Reading the book
Adult
Children of Alcoholics by Janet Woititz has totally changed our lives
but we are still working on the way we deal with some of the issues
resulting from living with an alcoholic parent - and we are already
grandparents ourselves! The legacy of alcoholism seems to go on and on,
affecting generations of children in a family. In her book Grandchildren
of Alcoholics, Ann Smith explains how the dysfunctional thinking in
adult children of alcoholics affects even the grandchildren in those
families.
The problem is more widespread than you might imagine. A visit
to one website for adult children of alcoholics showed that I was nearly
the 700 000th visitor to a particular site - and there were seven more
pages of sites to explore on the subject!
I
certainly do not believe that you should blame all your problems on having
an alcoholic parent. By all means, acknowledge that this is a factor in
your life, but don’t be crippled by it. You need to get on with your own
life and stop living in the past; there is absolutely nothing you can do
about your parents. But it is really interesting to see that having an
alcoholic in the family can affect the mental well-being and emotional
balance of both children and grandchildren alike.
As we explore this
subject, Mark and I continue to discover that the heritage of mental
dysfunction has left its mark not only on us, but on our children too and
has affected their response to life’s stresses and strains. You might
find it helpful to read more about this subject in an effort to achieve
your own sense of mental balance and well-being.
Don’t
make the mistake of thinking that an alcoholic is someone who is blind
drunk all day long - quite often it is someone who simply can’t get
through the day without taking a drink at some point. Take a long, hard
look at your drinking patterns and don’t be too proud to seek help if
necessary.
The
intake of alcohol has an alarming effect on the brain. In some people it
is a sedative, inducing sleep but of a poor quality. If your quality of
sleep is poor on a daily basis, the first area to be affected is the brain
and the central nervous system. This could lead to irritability, moodiness
and forgetfulness. In other people alcohol acts as a stimulant and violent
and self-abusive behaviour in association with alcohol intake is well
documented.
Regular
alcohol use can:
Damage the
frontal lobes of the brain (affecting reason, caution, inhibitions,
sociability, talkativeness and intelligence)
Affect the
parietal lobe of the brain (causing loss of fine motor skills, slower
reaction time and shaking)
Damage the
occipital lobe of the brain (resulting in blurred vision and poor
distance judgement)
Attack the
cerebellum (leading to lack of muscle coordination and balance)
Affect the
brain stem (resulting in a loss of vital functions)
Cause an
overall reduction in brain size and increase in the size of the ventricles
Lead to
alcoholism (addiction to alcohol) and result in tolerance to the
effects of alcohol and a wide variety of associated health problems
Cause a
vitamin deficiency. Because the digestion system of alcoholics is
unable to absorb vitamin B1 (thiamine), a syndrome known as
‘Wernicke's Encephalopathy’ may develop. This syndrome is
characterised by impaired memory, confusion and lack of coordination.
Further deficiencies of thiamine can lead to ‘Korsakoff’s
Syndrome’ which is characterised by amnesia, apathy and
disorientation. Widespread disease of the brain is a feature of both
these disorders
It has a negative impact on exercise by decreasing
the liver’s glucose output – this means less fuel for muscle
contraction and bursts of energy, thus hampering your performance
It also increases
fatigue, promotes difficulty in regulating body temperature,
and dehydrates the body
Why any company would encourage the consumption of alcohol at work
functions or even after hours is beyond me. I have heard so many stories
of how people are passed over for promotion if they fail to socialise with
their colleagues at the pub after work. It seems that most employers are
blissfully unaware of the fact that this practice just serves to encourage
apathetic, confused workers!
Caffeine Overload
As we have discussed
before, caffeine harms the body in many ways. When it comes to achieving
mental balance, caffeine is a huge stumbling block. People who suffer from
depression or tiredness often rely on a cup of coffee or a chocolate bar
to give a quick boost to flagging energy levels. But, as with alcohol,
this usually backfires.
Caffeine acts on the central nervous system, and
has a direct influence on your ability to sleep - too much caffeine in
your system can keep you from getting a good night’s rest. Even those
who claim to fall asleep easily after a cup of coffee are affected as
caffeine prevents the deep, restorative sleep necessary for optimal mental
health and well-being.
Caffeine is a powerful
stimulant and over-stimulation of the central nervous system has the
potential to raise anxiety levels. Anxiety and depression often go
hand-in-hand making recovery from either condition more difficult.
Caffeine also has a particularly negative effect on
endocrine function and frequently leads to adrenal exhaustion and low
blood sugar levels. Long-term research indicates that eight or more cups
of coffee a day (600mg of caffeine) can cause chronic insomnia, persistent
anxiety, paranoia, and depression – so that quick pick-me-up is no help
at all in taking control of your mind.
Hormonal
Imbalance
‘Mental
disease is a common symptom of … a disorder of the endocrine glands …
It’s no wonder. The hormones dispatched into the bloodstream by the
endocrine glands are probably second only to the chemicals in the brain
when it comes to shaping how we feel and behave. When an endocrine gland
malfunctions, secreting either too few or too many hormones, depression is
often a symptom.’ So claims Syd
Baumel in Dealing with Depression
Naturally.
Any
woman who has suffered from premenstrual tension will know just how
hormones can affect your mental and emotional state. It is vitally
important that you address endocrine function first should you have any
problems relating to depression or mental illness. This would include
correcting the diet, and getting enough exercise and sunlight. Low blood
sugar is a big factor in depression and blood sugar levels are controlled
by the hormonal or endocrine system. Your diet has a direct impact on this
system, so sort your eating habits out as a priority.
Exercise and
sunlight have a profound effect on the endocrine system and have the power
to lift depression. It is important to exercise for a minimum of 30
minutes daily, and if you exercise out of doors you will benefit from
natural sunlight too. (Refer to the chapters on exercise and sunlight for
more details on how they affect endocrine function and contribute to
physical and mental health.)
Parasite Infestation
Intestinal parasites, such
as worms or flukes, can manifest in a variety of ways and can cause severe
health problems. They cause damage to the body in the following ways:
Destroy cells faster that they can be generated
Produce toxic substances
Irritate and invade body tissue
Upset the balance or homeostasis of organ function
Depress the immune system
Cause nutrient deficiencies and malabsorption.
There are obviously many
physical symptoms as a result of this sort of damage, but in terms of the
impact on your mental health the most common symptoms are nervousness,
mental confusion, sleep disturbances and chronic fatigue.
What can you do to get rid
of them? There are over 400 different types of parasites that can infect
humans and I know of no drug on the market that will get rid of all of
these safely. The safest approach to combating parasite infestation is to
use a combination of natural herbs. There are two excellent products
available locally, Herbal Fibreblend
and Para 90.
They are made with
natural, organically grown plants and herbs, all efficient in ridding the
system of unwanted parasites. I suggest that you start with Herbal Fibreblend
as this will help clear the digestive tract of old faecal matter
and some of the herbs contained in this preparation will also rid you of
certain parasites, thus making Para
90’s job quicker and easier.
You will know the products
are working if you feel a ‘pokey’ sensation in your abdomen, or if
your skin itches or feels ‘crawly’. Headaches, excess mucus, nausea
and extreme tiredness are other symptoms of successful parasite release.
You may also experience more frequent bowel movements, looser stools and
increased urination. Some people even feel pain in the liver as the body
rids itself of parasites. Once you have completed treatment with Para
90 I would suggest that you take a probiotic (like Florafood
) to help re-establish the beneficial intestinal bacteria.
Also try to include some of the following foods in your diet on a regular
basis, as they help control parasite infestations: raw carrots, fresh and
dried figs, parsley, pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds or tahini (sesame seed
paste). Remember that a high raw fruit and vegetable diet helps maintain a
healthy immune system, which is essential in controlling parasites.
Candida
Syndrome
While
on the subject of intestinal health, some research indicates that Candida
overgrowth can also cause depression.
There
are over 300 different types of yeasts and fungi that live in or on the
human body. These organisms live symbiotically, that is they actually
benefit us. It is only when they get out of hand that they cause problems.
The most prolific of the yeasts is Candida albicans. It inhabits the
alimentary tract from mouth to rectum, and is also takes up residence in
the vagina. Candida overgrowth is seen most frequently in instances where
the immune system has been compromised.
Following
a healthy lifestyle will help you balance this problem if it occurs. My
book Perfect Weight the Natural Way covers this subject in some detail and gives many
pointers on how to combat this annoying condition. So for the sake of your
physical health and mental well-being, don’t allow Candida overgrowth to
become a problem.
Smoking
We all know
that smoking harms the body in many ways. But did you know that it impacts
on your mental health too? Nicotine, the highly addictive chemical found
in tobacco, influences the central nervous system directly and acts on the
brain in the following ways:
Pleasure
Followed by Sedation
Nicotine initially stimulates the pleasure centres in the
brain, creating sensations of enjoyment and alertness
It then acts as a tranquilliser and sedative.
Brain Alteration, Withdrawal and Addiction
Nicotine directly affects,
alters and takes control of specialised receptor cells in the brain
responsible for regulating well-being, mood and memory.
The drug remains active for 20
to 40 minutes, and then withdrawal symptoms begin.
The smoker’s mood changes
and he becomes irritable and anxious. As the discomfort becomes more
severe, intense cravings for more nicotine are stimulated.
Regular and long-term use
leads to addiction.
Of course
none of this is conducive to mental health! Once again, a diet high in raw
foods will help you to break this habit. The inclusion of plenty of dark
green leafy vegetables, sunflower seeds and sparkling water often helps
cut the craving for cigarettes.
In my experience, many people taking
BarleyLife (juice of organically grown, spouted barley leaves) find that
cigarettes start tasting foul after a while and they tend to give up
smoking because they no longer enjoy the experience. If you are
disciplined about focusing on your health (rather than on giving up
smoking) you may find that in time (usually somewhere between three and
six months) cigarettes will simply lose their appeal.
Use
of Medication
More
than 200 medical drugs in common use have been reported to cause
depression - these include anti-depressants (Yes, believe it or not!),
birth control tablets and even cortisone. I have mentioned a few of these
drugs here, as most people who use them are completely unaware of the risk
they pose to mental health. Before you take any type of medication read up
on the possible side-effects.
Ritalin,
a drug commonly prescribed to hyperactive children with attention deficit
disorder, has been found to cause long-term changes in the brain.
Researchers at the University of Buffalo found in animal experiments that
the changes to the brain induced by the drug were similar to those seen
after the use of powerful stimulants like amphetamines and cocaine.
The
known short-term side-effects of Ritalin use have been well documented and
include the following alarming symptoms: psychotic-like manifestations,
insomnia, depression, irritability, aggression and nervousness. (In my
book Healthy Kids the Natural Way I discuss alternatives to Ritalin
therapy in some detail.)
Blood
pressure medication has many side-effects, but those relating specifically
to mental well-being include confusion, lack of energy, depression, anger
and moodiness.
A
surprising number of people take anti-depressants without giving any
thought to what the side-effects are or indeed to what the root cause of
their problem could be. It seems that if anyone is tired or feeling a bit
flat these drugs are routinely prescribed, even to young children.
Many
people are reassured by their doctors that these drugs are not addictive
and they can stop taking them at any time with no ill effect. In practice
this is not so - I have yet to find a person who has come off drug therapy
without experiencing any side-effects. There are many different drugs on
the market for treating anxiety and depression. It is essential to be
aware to the side-effects of this medication (some even lead to suicidal
tendencies or further depression).
Drug therapy is not the solution to
depression as invariably it becomes part of the problem. If you are
suffering from depression you need to look at your diet and lifestyle
first – you need to understand that by taking responsibility for your
health you can achieve long-term solutions without using medication.
There are
several natural alternatives to drug therapy. Some people may require a
little help in the process of correcting their diet and lifestyle, and
although there are many herbal preparations that may be beneficial in this
regard, I am reluctant to promote them as I believe that in the long-term
implementing a healthy diet and a balanced lifestyle is the only permanent
solution.
However, if you feel that you need an extra hand in the
beginning, please make sure that you consult a qualified natural health
consultant, homoeopath, naturopath or a doctor who is aware of natural
alternatives for advice. There are many plant and herbal extracts that may
be of benefit if you are suffering from anxiety or depression. However, I
would caution you to regard them only as a short-term solution.
Ultimately, your body should be supported by a change to a healthier
lifestyle and in time problems like depression and anxiety should be
corrected.
Mary-Ann
Shearer, author of best selling Natural Way series, including her
new book TAKE CONTROL THE NATURAL WAY has been a nutritional counsellor since 1987 and does regular radio
and television appearances as well as many talks and seminars both
in South Africa and abroad.
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you would like to receive Mary-Ann's free email newsletter
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See
Part Two...
