Inflammation and Mental Health
You hear a lot about inflammation in the news. Inflammation has been linked to Diabetes, Arthritis, Hight Blood Pressure, Chronic Pain and Poor Mental Health. You may ask, what is inflammation and how does it worsen mental health?
Inflammation is the process your immune system uses to heal and protect. The inflammatory process is responsible for decreasing bleeding from wounds, slowing and stopping infections, forming scar tissue over wounds, healing broken bones and regulating your nervous system.
One of the issues with the inflammatory process, is there are a lot of things in chemicals and food today that the immune system views as poison. Your immune system is correct. Today we eat a lot of food additives, and use chemicals, that are not good for our bodies. When your immune system detects these additives and chemicals, it thinks it is being invaded by a poison and will start the inflammatory process.
When it comes to your mental health, out of control inflammation can affect your mental health in the following ways:
Neurotransmitter imbalance: Inflammation can disrupt the balance of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, which can lead to mood imbalances.
Hormonal disruption: Inflammation can affect stress and sex hormone levels, which can impact mood and cognition.
Neuroinflammation: Inflammation within the brain can cause cognitive and mood problems.
Reduced neuroplasticity: Chronic inflammation can hinder the brain's ability to adapt and learn.
Oxidative stress: Inflammation can increase oxidative stress, which damages brain cells.
Inflammation is a normal part of the body's immune response, but when it becomes chronic, it can increase the risk of developing depression and anxiety. Inflammation can also affect brain function, leading to cognitive decline and an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's
Many factors can trigger inflammation, including:
Stress
High sugar, high processed starch/carb diet
Processed fats
Food sensitivities/allergies
Viral/bacterial infections
Autoimmune conditions
Environmental toxins
Malnutrition
Here at Sacred Art Integrative Psychiatry, I work with clients to reduce their inflammation through diet, exercise, meditation, improved sleep, supplements and working to achieve work-life balance. One of the reasons that medications for mental health often fail to control your symptoms, is because your body does not have enough of the brain chemicals it needs to make you feel happy and satisfied with your life. Research has shown an out of control inflammatory response can be one of the causes of lower brain chemical levels. To learn more about how to lower your inflammation and improve your physical and mental health, schedule your appointment today at 414-242-6453. I can’t wait to meet you!
