Understanding the Brain
The brain is an amazing organ and only in recent medical and neuroscientific research are we beginning to understand that thoughts although they cant be seen or measured, can possibly have an effect on our brain health is closely linked to not only mental health, but also our physical health. Through the work with brain scanning especially by Dr Daniel Amen and other neuroscientists we now see areas of dysfunction in the brain that will cause the symptoms of poor physical and mental health.
A healthy brain has overall good blood flow and electrical activity to all areas with good communication between areas and calming and exciting of different areas with different activities, focus and thoughts. An unhealthy brain will have poor synchronicity and regulation of blood flow and electrical messages.
The brain’s billions of nerve cells make trillions of connections with each other. These are called synapses. These chemical signals are carried by specific messenger substances called neurotransmitters (or simply “transmitters”).
The better our transmitters operate in balance with each other, the closer we are to having optimal mental function.
A number of things may cause the brain to become overwhelmed including genetics, epigenetics, poor diet, emotional trauma, chronic stress, drugs, alcohol, poor sleep, sleep apnea, thyroid problems, infection, toxicity including mould and environmental toxins and traumatic brain injuries, Gradually the brains health reserve will reach a capacity when it cant cope any more and we become overwhelmed and show symptoms of neurological stress.
Those symptoms may include, anxiety, panic attacks, depression, chronic pain, tics, stammers, brain fog, tremors.
The great news is the brain can change, it will heal, when given the right nutrients, less stress, and positive thoughts. So even if you are suffering now you really are not stuck with the brain you have got. Through a process called neuroplasticity (see neurofeedback section) we are able to train the brain to build healthier neurological pathways allow negative, habits, behaviours and feeling to shift away. You do have a choice to have a better life with a better brain.