{"id":33879,"date":"2021-09-27T15:45:08","date_gmt":"2021-09-27T13:45:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/spanish.rberzal.com\/inflammation-stress-and-depression\/"},"modified":"2025-11-06T17:49:46","modified_gmt":"2025-11-06T16:49:46","slug":"inflammation-stress-and-depression","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/spanish.rberzal.com\/es\/inflammation-stress-and-depression\/","title":{"rendered":"Inflammation: stress and depression"},"content":{"rendered":"

BLOG POST WRITTEN BY PSYCHOANALYST LONDON<\/a><\/p>\n

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If you are interested in health and lifestyle you might be aware that\u2026 \u201cinflammation\u201d seems to be a big thing. Why is that?<\/p>\n

It turns out that low \u2013 grade inflammation is the root of all diseases: from rinitis, celulitis to autoimmune disorders, cancer and neuro-degenerative ones like Alzheimer. Low \u2013 grade inflammation is below the pain threshold so\u2026 we don\u2019t feel it.<\/p>\n

You might be wondering\u2026 why would a psychoanalyst talk about\u2026 INFLAMMATION?<\/p>\n

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Chronic Stress<\/strong><\/p>\n

Well, there are three \u201ccontrol\u201d systems in the body which are deeply connected:\u00a0immune, endocrine and nervous system<\/strong>. I hope this blog helps you understand that they are the cornerstone of our wellbeing or\u2026 discomfort. Fortunately, the need for an integrative medicine is becoming more and more evident. However, as of today\u2026 medicine treats patients as strict compartments. Of course we need to go to an specialist to address our specific the problem, although\u2026 we need to bear in mind that most likely that specific disorder is related with an imbalance in this psycho \u2013 neuro \u2013 immune- endocrine axis. Why?<\/p>\n

Chronic stress<\/strong>\u00a0alters these systems which\u2026 at the end of the day, control everything. This is why as a psychoanalyst I am very interested on\u00a0how anxiety\u00a0<\/strong>and\u00a0stress<\/strong>\u00a0can\u00a0impact the body<\/strong>. A\u00a0link\u00a0<\/strong>which is becoming more and more evident but which has been misunderstood and underestimated for a long time. Not only by medicine but also by ourselves (me included).<\/p>\n

Being momentarily stress when facing certain situations is beneficial: let\u2019s say there is a fire and we need to run: adrenalin and cortisol will go up to help us react quickly and scape. However, if we are stressed all the time, alert (unfortunately very typical in our lifestyle these days) our \u201ccontrol\u201d systems begin to be impacted: raised adrenalin, triggers hormonal changes. More cortisol is produced. Cortisol impacts our immune system because it gives place to pro-inflammatory cytokines \u2014> this is how stress leads to inflammation in the body. I hope you realised that\u2026 you can have a healthy lifestyle, exercising and following an anti-inflammatory diet but\u2026 It is not only about diet: we need to learn to deal with stress.<\/p>\n

Otherwise, chronic stress can burn out these \u201ccontrol\u201d systems. Overproducing cortisol can lead to adrenal fatigue: suprarenal glands are not able to produce cortisol anymore, chronic fatigue syndrome. We then don\u2019t have energy for our daily lives activities. Very common these days.<\/p>\n

We need to ask ourselves,\u00a0WHY<\/strong>\u00a0am I getting\u00a0SICK<\/strong>? What is causing my imbalance?<\/p>\n

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\u2018Disease begins in the gut\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s have a look at the\u00a0GUT<\/strong>, the famous \u201csecond brain\u201d. Already outstanding Hippocrates have quoted: \u201cdisease, begin in the gut\u201d. Why would he say such a thing more than 2000 years ago?<\/p>\n

Today we know a lot more. To begin with we know\u00a0DISRUPTION\u00a0<\/strong>in the gut\u00a0MICROBIOTA<\/strong>\u00a0is closely linked to\u00a0inflammation<\/strong>. WHY? Because the intestinal mucosal barrier not only protects us from the entrance of pathogens but it also triggers\u00a0hormonal<\/strong>\u00a0changes. First of all,\u00a070% of our immune system\u00a0<\/strong>is in the\u00a0gut\u00a0<\/strong>(they produce cytokines). Secondly,\u00a080% of the serotonin<\/strong>, yes, the happiness hormone\u2026 is produced in the\u00a0intestine<\/strong>. Constipation, intestinal disorders\u2026 can impact the production of serotonin. If we don\u2019t have serotonin, we get depressed. If we get depressed\u2026 they will end up giving us an antidepressant pill. Most of antidepressants are serotonin re-uptake inhibitors. However, in this case, to feel happier and healthier what I need is not an antidepressant\u2026\u00a0I need to fix my gut!<\/strong><\/p>\n

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What<\/strong>\u00a0can be\u2026\u00a0harming<\/strong>\u00a0it?<\/p>\n

And here it comes the so feared\u2026\u00a0GLUTEN.<\/strong>\u00a0Gluten is the protein of wheat (and other cereals). Why does it have lately such bad press? Bread is so delicious! Unfortunately, bread we eat today is not the bread our grandmas ate\u2026 before gluten had 7 chromosome and now it has\u2026 42! It has been genetically modified so it become resistant against plagues and other hazards. Modern \u201csuper gluten\u201d can trigger leaky gut syndrome, all in all intestinal permeability. Is that\u2026 so bad? According to latest medical research\u2026 yes, IT IS: Main cause of inflammation is\u00a0INTESTINAL PERMEABILITY<\/strong>. Remember, in the intestine, there are tons of immune cells. If the gastro-intestinal barrier is open, it is\u00a0more likely<\/strong>\u00a0that\u00a0pathogens<\/strong>\u00a0will get in . The entrance of pathogens\u00a0activate the immune system<\/strong>\u00a0(producing more stress hormones \u2013 noradrenalin and cortisol). Inmune system hoards more and more energy in detriment of other systems generating INFLAMMATION. There you have it: gluten generates inflammation.<\/p>\n

Another thing which generates inflammation is OXIDATIVE STRESS. Energetic metabolism of the cells in the mitochondria generates free radicals. Exercise generates free radicals. This is why athletes (and everybody in general) need to eat a lot of anti-oxidants. This is normal, one of the reasons we age. However, environmental toxic substances, lifestyle and\u00a0STRESS<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0DEPRESSION<\/strong>, can make it worse.<\/p>\n

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You can\u2019t treat the body without treating the psyche<\/strong><\/p>\n

As a psychoanalyst, understanding and being aware of all these pathways and interconnections is key for your healing and successful result of your therapy because:<\/p>\n