Inflammation and Your Mental Health

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This week we are continuing our conversation with naturopathic doctor, Kelsey Myers, ND as she discusses the relationship between inflammation and our mental health, which often can go overlooked. By having a better understanding of the bidirectional relationship between inflammation and mental health, she reminds us of mind-body connection and how everything we experience is connected.

How is inflammation impacted by our mental health?

Our mental-emotional health and physical health are intimately connected. Repetitive thoughts, suppressed and unprocessed emotions, stressors, and trauma that affect mental health can trigger physical symptoms and perpetuate inflammatory processes in the body. Research has shown that people who have had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) such as abuse or neglect are more likely to develop chronic disease and have elevated inflammatory markers. We also see that supporting our mental health with mindfulness-based practices, like yoga and meditation, reduce inflammatory markers in the body.

We can trace the effects mental health has on inflammation back to the nervous system. The central and peripheral nervous system are the master regulators of all other body systems, including the immune system. When we experience stressful and traumatic events the nervous system elicits a physiological response in the body releasing stress hormones from the adrenal glands. These stress hormones also work to modulate the immune system. Once again, this process is normal and needed in acute stressful situations but when stress is ongoing or psychological thought patterns and emotions are unprocessed, the body gets erratic signaling from the nervous system. Chronic and dysregulated stress hormone release creates confusion for the immune system. The body ends up in a depleted place and conditions like autoimmune disease may develop. In conventional medicine doctors treat autoimmune disease with prescription versions of stress hormones called steroids. This may be helpful short-term but does not address the need to repair the maladaptive patterns of the nervous system affecting the adrenal and immune system.

Findings in research support what I have seen in my medical practice. When I meet with a new patient, I spend time discussing the timeline of events leading up to current health concerns. I almost always discover there were high psychological stressors prior to the onset of symptoms and diagnoses or history of childhood trauma. As we learned above, chronic stress disturbs the body’s ability to regulate the inflammatory process and heal. Therefore, my treatment plans include tools to support both the mind and body and I often recommend support from a therapist or psychologist. Addressing and supporting a person’s nervous system and mental-emotional state decreases inflammation and symptom severity, speeds up the healing timeline and reduces relapses of chronic disease.

How is our mental health impacted by inflammation?

Inflammation and chronic diseases associated with inflammation can contribute to mental health conditions. When the body is chronically inflamed, we do not feel well physically which impacts mood, heightening anxiety and depression symptoms. Science is beginning to look at the association between inflammation in the brain and body and mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and OCD. Whether inflammation is the cause or a contributing factor to some mental health conditions is still up for debate. However, many patients notice significant improvements to their mental health when they reduce and eliminate inflammatory triggers in the body.

With my patients for example, I often see gut inflammation impacting mental health and mood. This can be attributed to something called the “gut-brain axis” which is the bidirectional communication between the brain and gastrointestinal tract. Chronic inflammation in the gut caused by food intolerances, low stomach acid and digestive enzymes, slow motility (constipation), microbiome imbalance, or infection can cause systemic inflammation in the rest of the body, including the brain. Reducing inflammation in the body and healing the gut is very supportive to mental health.

The mind-body connection is a powerful tool. By engaging in activities that we know are good for our mental health, such as mindfulness practices, we are able to help our bodies heal as well the mind and vice versa. When we are able to engage in practices that are helpful in reducing inflammation, such as eating organic and non-GMO foods when we can, these practices influence how we are feeling generally. By feeling comfortable and safe in our bodies we then have created space to work through challenges and feel confident in ourselves.

Resources mentioned for support:

EWG Dirty Dozen: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/dirty-dozen.php

EWG Clean 15: https://www.ewg.org/foodnews/clean-fifteen.php

EWG Skin Deep: www.ewg.org/skindeep

Research Articles on Inflammation and Mental Health:

PMID: 31887414

PMID: 32113908

PMID: 32260096

About the Author

Dr. Dani is passionate about working with teens and emerging adults who are navigating trauma, substance use, depression, anxiety, and other life transitions. She utilizes an integrative and holistic approach when working with her clients, always reminding the client that they are the expert on themselves. If you’re interested in a free consultation to see if we would be a good fit, click here!

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