Now, you have come to know that depression is due to overactive hypothalamus (which can also leads to hyperthyroidism and Grave's disease)

But do you also know that Psychosomatic Disorder is also related to hypothalamic disorder?

Today, we will talk about PSYCHOSOMATIC DISORDER.

So, What is Psychosomatic Disorder?
Psychosomatic Disorder is a disease which involves both mind and body. Some physical diseases are said to be worsen by mental factors such as stress and anxiety.

"Psychosomatic illnesses are physical illnesses that are exacerbated by psychological factors. There is a direct correlation between the functions of our body and our mind. Psychological factors may cause a medical condition or may stop a medical treatment from being effective, which will increase an individual's health risk. The pain or symptom caused is real, but doctor may not be able to find any physical evidence to support it - Eg. Organic Dysfunction." - Padma Sundareson.

Doctors could not rectify the underlying cause of the illnesses as it is buried in the subconscious mind. Psychosomatic illnesses is caused from a very negative belief that is implanted in an individual and from the emotional aura that is generated in response to this belief.

What are the common symptoms and signs of psychosomatic illnesses?

• Itching of scalp and face
• Back pain, especially lower back pain. Leg muscle weakness and numbness may also present
• Mouth ulcers 
• Dry mouth
• Skin eruptions 
• Gastrointestinal disorders, such as belching, constipation, abdominal pain or nausea
• Chest pain 
• Dizziness
• Palpitations 
• Frequent urination 
• Erectile dysfunction
• Heart beat rate increases
• Tremor
• Sweating 
• Headache
• Fast breathing

For example, migraine/headache. 
People who suffers from severe migraine and headache depend on Panadol or Aspirin because doctor could not find out what is the cause of their migraines. Therefore, doctors prescribe pain killers to patient who suffers from severe migraine or headache. This is not going to help because pain killers are meant to numb the pain.

To tell you the truth, people do not have any physical pain or illnesses. All these psychosomatic illnesses and diseases are done by their brain, their mind.

HOW?
When a person is in a 'flight or fight' mode, the body chemical and brain structure will change. And then, adrenaline (Epinepherine) is release into the bloodstream due to the increase activity of nervous impulses sent from the brain to the other parts of the body.

Your body wants to get your attention. And if it did not, it will just attack your body by giving your minor injuries or minor accidents, such as slipping on a banana peel, bite your own tongue/lips, or knock your feet at the door.

Depression is not just about taking medicines or sleeping tablet, and you will be fine. Depression has got to do with your brain and also,with your mind. Like I said, 'Your mind is the one who is playing tricks on you'.

Let me share something with you.
I know a woman who takes depression medicines and sleeping tablets for more than 10 years, but still shows no improvement on her mental condition, in fact it worsens her body activities and work productivity. WHY? Because it all done by her hypothalamus. She doubted everything - her marriage, her children, her husband and her family. She keeps doubting and creating thoughts non-stop, basically 24/7. And, all the thoughts that she had created it affects her emotions very, very badly. And because of her uncontrolled emotions and thoughts, she also suffers from thyroid issues and uterine dysfunction, as well as other body pains. Doubting and creating thoughts non stop became her habit (a negative one). It is very difficult for her to break from her habit because she keeps feeding these negative thoughts.
People often say that DEPRESSION is due to stress and anxiety. So, ask yourself a question, why people has so much of stress and suffers from anxiety disorder? The answer is simple. It still goes back to YOUR HYPOTHALAMUS.

You may have ask " How does depression relates to our human hypothalamus? "

In my previous post regarding HYPOTHALAMUS, I mentioned that it controls all parts of your brain, and regulates your whole body activities with the secretion of hormones. It is also part of the limbic system which controls your emotions.

DEPRESSION 
Depression is more than just low mood. It is a serious condition that affects your physical and mental health. It is also caused by the serious changes in brain chemistry.

HOW does depression relates to our hypothalamus?
Depression, is associated with an overactive of hypothalamus. When the hypothalamus is overactive, the symptoms are:

• moodiness and irritability
• negative thinking, hopelessness, and negative interpretation of events. 
• low motivation 
• appetite and sleep disorder.
• abnormally high or low sexual interest
• tendency to isolate socially, and a hindered ability to form relational bonds.

Therefore, when an individual in stress - physical or emotional, internal or environmental, the body initiates a complex system of adaptive reactions to help cope with stress. Such reactive response is known as GLUCOCORTICOIDS (stress hormone) to stimulate adaptive changes in a variety of bodily systems.

Let me tell you how does this work - 'Flight or Fight response'

" This reactive and adaptive protection system originates in the brain. And so, when a threat is perceived by our hypothalamus, chemical signals are then sent to the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland will then sends the chemical signals to the adrenal glands, and the stress hormone, Cortisol is release. Cortisol will initiate many other physiological changes that allow the organism to respond to the impending danger. "

In this era, people live in the society filled with emotional stress - financial worries, deadline pressures at work or school,  as well as unnecessary physical stress ( excessive caloric intake, obesity and inactivity), all these will lead to cardiovascular disease, diabetes and mood disorders (depression and anxiety).

In short, an increase in glucocorticoids (Cortisol hormones) is caused by excessive stress which changes the human brain structure.

All of us are living in the time-chaser and money-chaser society. We are all constantly working and studying around the clock, chasing deadlines etc. Guess what we have in common? STRESS.


Fret not, here are some tips for you to cope with your stress. 

Wait, wait, wait. Hypothalamus is not a food, and you cannot eat it (That's for sure), because it is part of our brains. Remember in my previous post, I mentioned that our HYPOTHALAMUS is the most crucial part in our brain? That's right!

Today, I am going to share some information regarding the human HYPOTHALAMUS.
Those who studied biology, you may have came across 'HYPOTHALAMUS", "PITUITARY GLAND' and also 'ENDOCRINE SYSTEM'. Those who are not familiar with these jargon terms, fret not, because I am going to keep these post short and simple.

The hypothalamus is a one small section of the brain responsible for the production of many of the body's essential hormones, chemical substances that helps to control different cells and organs. It is a size of an almond that is located in your fore brain. Although our hypothalamus is small in size, it is connected to many parts of the brain and controls most of our body activities.

In a nutshell, the HYPOTHALAMUS is:

• part of the human limbic system (A brain strucutre which involves in our emotions)
• Interconnected with other parts of the central nervous system  and also the autonomous nervous system
• It is also connected to the amygdala and septum 
• Receives many input from the brain stem 
• A link between the endocrine and the nervous system

The primary function of Hypothalamus is homeostasis. This is to maintain the body's status quo system-wide.
The Hypothalamus also regulates necessary processes of the body, including behavioral, autonomic and the endocrine functions. In order to maintain internal body balance,it helps to inhibit many of your body's key processes:

• Electrolyte and fluid balance
• Body temperature
• Blood pressure and heart rate
• Body weight and appetite
• Glandular secretions of the stomach and intestines
• Production of substances that influence the pituitary gland to release hormones.
• Sleep cycles

Do you know what are the hormones secreted by your Hypothalamus?
The hormones from the hypothalamus governs the physiologic functions such as temperature regulation, thirst , hunger, sleep, mood, sex drive, and the release of other hormones within the body.

1. Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)
2. Corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH)
3. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GDH)
4. Growth Hormone-releasing hormone (GnRH)
5. Oxytocin
6. Prolactin-releasing hormone (PRH)
7. Thyrotropin releasing hormone (TRH)

Now you have already know that our human hypothalamus is very crucial as it controls most of our body activities. But do you know that, nowadays, many people suffer from hypothalamic disorder?

Hypothalamic disorder symptoms:

1. Unexplained fatigue / lethargy
2. Body temperature dysregulation
3. Sudden weight gain
4. Changes in sleep pattern or difficulty/interrupted sleep
5. Painful muscles (especially in trigger points)
6. Bouts of depression / mood swings / irritable / highly sensitive
7. Low libido
8. Lack of determination / drive

If you want to read and know more about HYPOTHALAMUS and the functions of hormones, you can visit SWO & Healthline

Do not hesitate to email us if you have any inquiries about your health and lifestyle issues.

Cheers. 

It's a wrap! Last Sunday, we had a talk at SWO Body and Mind Care Center, 10 Boulevard. The talk was a success (All thanks to the SWO team!). It has been a while since Mr Arul conducted such informative talk about how we can take control of our mind and well-being.



Thank you to those who participated in this talk. There are more than 70 participants and we are glad to received these positive feedback from participants. We, the SWO team are very grateful for your support, enthusiasm and sharing.

Cheers.

Who believes that whatever human wish for, it will happen?
Often, these quotes will be used in movies and song lyrics. But have you really thought to yourself that whatever you wish for or manifest, it will happen (whether good or bad)?

Let me share this with you, based on my own experience.
Few days back, I was assigned with a task. I need to complete all my artwork a day before the event. Therefore, I was given 24 hours to do everything (including printing and binding). To tell you the truth, the whole artwork takes only 1 and a half hour to finish, but it took me more than 6 hours to complete it (Can you believe that?!) and at the end, my artwork was not accepted and I fail to present my artwork.

So, I ask myself why, why did I fail to present my artwork and why was I not performing well?

"Why does it took more than 6 hours to complete it when the artwork can be done within one and a half hour?"
"I have so many ideas, but why does it went blank when I am about to do my artwork?"
"Why do I fail to complete my artwork?"
"Why do I have anxiety?"

It's not because I have a bad day or bad luck or someone curse me or jinx me. It's because I doubted myself with my own thoughts. I created my own obstacles and problems to myself.


I doubted myself when I was doing my artwork. 

" Wah, it's already 12pm. I have a gathering to attend at 4.20pm. HOW?! Can I finish before 4.20pm? " . I DOUBT.
" OMG, It's already 2pm. I haven't finish the second page yet. HOW?!" I DOUBT.

" Can I finish it by 4.20pm, latest by 6pm?" I DOUBT.
" I must finish it before 7pm. So that, no one will be angry at me." I DOUBT.

" Are they angry at me, because I delayed my work?" I DOUBT
" SHIT. Not sure if they like my design. Maybe I should change the color and the wordings, then they will accept it. What if they don't? " I DOUBT.
" Not sure if my artwork is okay." I DOUBT.

So on and so forth.

You know what is the worst part? I DOUBTED myself, and after that I hold the guilt in me and I blame myself.

Guess what happens when you doubt yourself, your own brain?
Whatever that I doubted, it happens.
I cannot finish my artwork and my laptop battery went flat when I was in the midst of doing my artwork. I have to go back and charge my laptop (which actually wasted a lot of time).
My artwork was not accepted and it failed because I wasn't really performing well. Annnddddd... my artwork was not okay.
Worst still, I told myself that my work can be done within an hour, but I still doubt myself if I can finish it within an hour. How funny is that?! I contradict my own thoughts.

WHATEVER I DOUBTED, IT HAPPENS. 

Because I was so afraid of being scolded by my superior due to the delay of my work. Without me being aware of it, the fearful thought of being scolded keeps replaying over and over again, in my head.
WHATEVER I am afraid or worried of , it actually happened to me.
My work delayed, and it cannot be finished. And, my artwork was not accepted by my superior. I got scolded because of not performing well in my work.

When I hold the guilt in me and blame myself constantly, my thoughts transmit the stress signals to my body without me being aware of it. In return, my body react to the signals by giving me injuries, pain, and even minor accidents too!!

How DANGEROUS can it be DANGEROUS, when you manifest the wrong things and feed the wrong and negative thoughts? 

IT'S ALL DONE BY YOUR HYPOTHALAMUS (the most crucial part of our brain).
If you constantly feeding your negative thoughts in you brain, it will act according what you thought.

Let's say you went to Tesco and buy groceries, the current market price for a packet of EVERYDAY milk powder is roughly RM43. Then you say "WAH! So expensive! Tesco things are so expensive". Because you sent your thoughts and you said it, the stocks in Tesco are always expensive to you whenever you want to buy groceries in Tesco. 

Same goes to your positive thoughts.

Let's say you have an unidentified pain on your shoulder for many weeks. But, you told yourself (Your body and mind) that there is no pain on your shoulder and you are able to do your work normally without any problems. 

TRUST ME, you will be amazed how powerful your mind is.

That is why, there is an old saying " Be careful what you wish for."


Stay tune for my next post.

Cheers.

People always quote this statement " Your mind is playing tricks on you, again". Some people do believe that statement, but some don't.

Well.... The title says it all - "THE POWER OF THE BRAIN".
Have you ever wonder why you have so many obstacles in your life?
Have you ever wonder why do you always fail in your academics exam?
Have you ever thought of empowering yourself ?
Do you want to succeed in your life and your career?

Want to know how Tun Mahathir, Warren Buffet, Richard Branson, Bill Gates and other iconic leaders succeed in their life and career, come and join us this Sunday. SWO Body and Mind Care will be having a talk about the human brains and how you can change your life and career with few simple steps.