The War Within

The Human Body Experiencing Chronic Stress The human body is a miraculous living organism teeming with synergistic interaction focused on survival. Just as humans marvel at the sometimes seemingly impossibility of a fir tree establishing itself and growing into a big and beautiful tree from its seedling wedged into a tiny crack in a sloped rock outcropping, so the human body establishes itself in an environment resplendent with wonderful opportunities as well as devastating consequences. Survival depends on many adaptations to one’s environment as well as one’s innate determination to survive. The mystery of why some people in extreme conditions survive better than others must unravel itself around understanding the myriad interactions of the human body: recognizing its chemistry, its electrical output for energy, its metabolism, and its quest for high quality incoming raw materials to sustain its survival instincts. And just as importantly each person exhibits their own unique biochemistry through ancestral roots to present manifestations from lifestyle choices and exposures that plays a role in reactions to extreme and/or traumatic experiences. Stress abounds in all environments, whether human, animal, or plant based. It cannot be ignored, but it can be managed. If not managed, then adaptation or extinction will occur. Depression – A Natural Outcome from Nutrient Depletions The signs of depression are as varied as individuals as each person makes interpretations about their life experiences and judges them as beneficial or as sad liabilities. Depression may be of short duration whereby a person understands the situation and seeks either effective coping strategies or significant mental/emotional therapy leading to a sense of resolution, or depression can evolve into a chronic state that can become life threatening. “Depression rarely exists alone. . . . patients often have lack of energy or fatigue as a major part of their depression, in addition to anxiety or phobias or fears” (Rogers, 1997a, p. 16). There may also be physical symptoms such as digestive disorders or a variety of body aches and pains. Emotional dysfunction may include “feelings of guilt and worthlessness, agitation, irritability, memory defects, inability to concentrate, difficulty in thinking and making decisions, or thoughts of death and suicide” (Rogers quoting Massarelli, 1997a, p. 17. Research by Lombard & Germano (1997) found “that depression is closely linked to the dysfunction of two neurotransmitters in the brain [norepinephrine (p. 14) but] particularly serotonin” (p. 197). While pharmaceutical companies rushed to manufacture drugs effective in preventing the reuptake of serotonin, Lombard & Germano report as of 1997 that “about fifteen percent of people with this disorder commit suicide as a result” of not receiving treatment in time (p. 197). The question then arises: is suicide an outcome of serotonin deficiency requiring drug intervention or does some glitch occur in biophysical and chemical pathways needing nutrient remediation in order to properly function? As we have learned from the previous discussion, the organ and glandular systems responsible for optimal functioning require high grade raw materials to complete their hormonal secretion transactions. Deficiencies at any place along the communication pathways alter brain chemistry and this can lead to changes in moods, behavior and thought processing.