The Devastating Ways Depression and Anxiety Impact the Body
New York Times| Article | 5′ read
Jane Brody is the New York Times Personal Health columnist. She has written more than a dozen books including the best sellers “Jane Brody’s Nutrition Book” and “Jane Brody’s Good Food Book.”
What You Need To Know…
Mind and body form a two-way street.
- “The body tends to react to mental stress as if it was a physical stress.” -Dr. Spiegel
- “Depression diminishes a person’s capacity to analyze and respond rationally to stress”
- “Improving sleep is especially helpful”
David Spiegel, M.D.,is the Wilson Professor and Associate Chair of Psychiatry at Stanford University School of Medicine. He directs the Stanford Center on Stress and Health.
Feeling constantly stressed? Blame your ‘threat brain’
Nelisha Wickremasinghe is a psychologist, author, associate fellow at Saïd Business School at the University of Oxford, and international leadership/organisational change consultant. She has worked in the field of human development for 30 years.
What You Need To Know…
Our brains mediates through three interconnected neurological systems:
- ‘Threat brain’ – It’s purpose is survival.
- ‘Drive brain’ – It’s purpose is to motivate us to achieve, compete, and accumulate resources.
- ‘Safe brain’ – It’s the rest state where we feel calm and relaxed.
“Pretty much all our problems stem from an overactive threat brain” – Wickremasinghe
“Simple methods of rhythmic breathing may help calm the stress response.”