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Resilience: the brain’s built-in healing
There’s a recent book called The Tipping Point which describes how little things can make a
big difference when they reach a certain threshold. For example, when the Beatles first came
to America
few people knew of them. A media
campaign got people talking, and those people talked to other people, and
so on, until the publicity reached a “tipping point” where Beatlemania ensued.
The same process happens in medicine. For example, depression can be caused by
many factors: genes, stress, isolation, loss, seasonal changes, dietary
deficiency, inactivity, and medical illnesses to name a few. When these risks build up to a critical
point, the brain shifts into a depressed state of mind that is
fundamentally different from the person’s usual way of thinking. Beyond being unhappy, they now have
little energy, disrupted sleep, disturbed appetite, and difficulty
concentrating.
Medical
research is now turning its eyes to factors which reverse and prevent
depression, called resilience
factors. Depression is a real
illness, and our brains don’t want to be ill. It turns out that the brain was designed
with natural resilience factors
built in to help it fight depression.
Many psychiatric medications work in part by increasing these
factors in the brain. An example is “brain derived neurotrophic factor” which helps brain cells to
strengthen and grow. Psychiatric
medications don’t correct chemical imbalances; they are not that
powerful. Instead, they tip the
brain a little in the direction of its own recovery. Once tipped in the right direction,
natural healing factors start to take over, and soon a “tipping
point” is reached where the depression lifts completely.
Counseling
can also work to enhance a person’s natural resistance to
depression. Psychologists have
identified a number of these, including optimism, humor, flexible thinking,
acceptance, religion,
spirituality, charity or altruism, the ability to “step outside
yourself”, supportive friends, good role models, and physical
exercise. Read more about habits that promote resilience in health and lifestyle.
-Chris Aiken, MD 10/24/7
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