A chicken and egg story
When physical and mental health coincide.
I used to work at a unit for dogs with behavioural problems. Vet treatment of dogs in our care could sometimes be an interesting challenge. But I worked with an amazing vet. Together we'd find a way to do whatever treatment the animal needed.
After a year, I started to notice a pattern. Many dogs would come to us for a behavioual reason, and soon after arrival, we'd be identifying a medical issue.
Was this a coincidence?
I looked back at records. And found out that over 50% of the dogs had had a chronic physical medical condition.
50% !
Half !
That's a huge proportion with health problems. I have no idea which comes first. Some behavioural problems cause medical problems. Some medical problems cause behavioural problems. (In fact, behaviour is often how an owner tells their vet their pet is not well - not eating, limping, sleeping a lot etc etc).
Was this a coincidence? It doesn't seem so to me.
Why might this matter to us?
In many parts of the world, including where I grew up, human mental health and physical health are considered quite separately. My experiences are leading me feel that a more holistic approach could be beneficial.
And it sheds a totally new light on the shame of mental illness. If such a huge proportion of mental health issues might be associated with a physical problem, why should anyone feel they are weak for struggling mentally, when they likely have no control over it?
Do you have a medical condition that affects your mental health?
Do you ever think your mental health affects your physical health?
What effects does it have?
Sending healing vibes
Clio.
@Clio9876
there is always a connection ....
if anyone wonders why a medical or a mental illness treatment is not working look at the whole picture. it cannot be fixed when we compartmentalize things and treat all as unrelated. we have one person helping with thing A and another with thing B and never will their suggestions mesh or be successful ..... both practices of healthcare mental or physical is BASED on repeat and frequent visits.
recently heard a very informative podcast explaining even diet can change mental health symptoms etc.
@toughTiger6481
Thanks for your thoughts.
I agree, compartmentalised causes problems. I can however, totally understand how it happens. Medicine is a huge subject. It's rare that you can find someone who knows everything about everything. The only way it can work really is to have specialists.
So, how do you achieve a more holistic approach, when it's kinda necessary for health professionals to specialise?
One way is for the individual to invest in learning about their own conditions and thus discover the links. But I know that isn't always possible. I love biology so I enjoy learning this stuff. For others it is not so easy. There's also a lot of misinformation to sift through.
The only thing I do know is combating the shame that's too often associated with mental health has to be a good first step. Shame won't help anyone find answers. It's relatively easy to see that it's unfair to blame a dog that is in pain, for aggression, but what about the more subtle stuff? If it is implied to a child that being angry is bad, does that make finding out more about the possible reasons behind the anger more or less likely?
I'm glad we agree that the whole picture is very important. And yes, diet can be a part of that.
@Clio9876
I just found out, less than a year ago, actually, about a medical condition I've had my whole life that has affected me in countless way. I went the doctor about an ear infection last spring and they told me I have a deviated septum which makes it hard for my body to do basically any other thing like deal with infection, speak clearly, focus and obviously breathe naturally and normally.
Also, the stress from it all has prevented me from reaching my potential, being normal or living my life thus far. Being trapped and jailed like this by something on my own body sucks and causes me to go deep down rabbit holes of self sabotage.
Furthermore this self sabotage might destroy me; I've chronically been in and am experiencing situations like poverty, homelessness, abuse, assault (I attract people who either make me feel worse about myself or who take advantage of my condition.), a lack of access to basic resources such as a great health team, clean clothing and healthy food and the threat of more spontaneous death by suicide attempts, one of which I survived a few weeks ago.
In conclusion, healing is impossible to me considering I'm such a tangled mass of issues going into their fourth decade of life in only a few years; I've been deeply crying out inside so long for comfort that I'm basically hopeless at this point. To just keep going day after day, trying to seek and seeking answers which always lead to more questions is unacceptable. Maybe one day there'll be a solution, but I doubt it.
@communicativePond1728
I'm sorry to hear about your medical diagnosis a year ago. It is amazing how these things can affect so many systems. I hope the knowledge can give you some understanding and maybe some opportunities for improving things for you.
I'm sorry you are feeling so hopeless. That really sucks. Sometimes you do just have to keep going, day after day. And I'm so pleased you are still seeking for answers. I hope you find some soon.
