Post Christmas depression is something I often see in patients coming into my office. As we enter into a new year and face new challenges along with leaving old issues, being healthy enough physically, mentally, and emotionally is critical to your success and wellbeing.
Besides end of the year depression, postpartum depression is something often seen for many reasons, some issues found in both areas can be overlapping.
The changing of a lifestyle involved after having a baby, can be challenging, just as having to leave loved ones following a Christmas event or having Christmas away from loved ones. All these events tend to mess up ones routine, and can result in a degree of grief.
Dietary stressors during the holidays can drop magnesium levels significantly. Likewise, if mom is magnesium deficient while pregnant, the baby will take the lion’s share leaving mom essentially holding the bag so to speak. In either case where brain magnesium levels plummet, neurological events can result in depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
One of my colleagues requested I touch on the issue of loneliness and the health concerns connected to this. In one article on the subject, the author quoted poet John Donne, “No man is an island.” Social interaction is critical in our society. This is far and above what we call social media. Physical contact is critical to health. Babies held and interacted with in delivery rooms show faster improvement in APGAR scores than those not handled.
Seeing people living their lives through their cell phones and computers instead of physical social interaction is troubling to say the least. Although the quote attributed to be from Albert Einstein wasn’t, it does hold a degree of truth: “The day technology surpasses human interaction we will live in a generation of idiots.”
Even though we may live in communities and deal with the public on a regular basis, we still see those dealing with a deep sense of loneliness. When the only really close friends we have is our immediate family, and our time with them is dependent on holidays or other special occasions, it’s not uncommon to see depression and anxiety following these exposures.
In the past, Organizations like the Grange, various fraternal lodges, extra church activities and things like I enjoyed such as Square dancing were thriving. Because of technological advances, it’s easier to just stay home and not have these interactions. Besides getting less physical exercise, the fall out of not developing close knit friendships has taken it’s toll on our health.
Research has shown that lonely people can have blood pressure readings 30 points higher than those not lonely. Advanced breast cancer survival doubles when women join support groups, and immune systems are strengthened during times of stress when there are close personal friends.
When my wife and I were actively participating in square and round dancing anywhere from once to four times a week, we encountered some of the most dynamic, healthy, sharp people of all ages. What impressed me was that even though many were late in life, they had a joy and vitality of those many years younger than themselves.
Recently a family member got back into square dancing after many years away from it and I’ve seen a transition which literally erased at least twenty years. The fellowship and dynamic friends gained has improved their health dramatically. This is just one aspect of developing and maintaining lasting friendships that can transform the mind, will, and emotions, resulting in physical healing and the restoration of the immune system.
By having physical interaction with friends on a regular basis, there is opportunity to improve on many levels. I have very dear friends all over the United States. My shipmates from my time in the military are like brothers in so many ways, but I only get to see them every two years at reunions. The members of Chariots of Light are also family, but again, personal exposure is limited to yearly national tours. I’m nourished by the time I have with my patients who actually become family to me.
Besides end of the year depression, postpartum depression is something often seen for many reasons, some issues found in both areas can be overlapping.
The changing of a lifestyle involved after having a baby, can be challenging, just as having to leave loved ones following a Christmas event or having Christmas away from loved ones. All these events tend to mess up ones routine, and can result in a degree of grief.
Dietary stressors during the holidays can drop magnesium levels significantly. Likewise, if mom is magnesium deficient while pregnant, the baby will take the lion’s share leaving mom essentially holding the bag so to speak. In either case where brain magnesium levels plummet, neurological events can result in depression, anxiety, and insomnia.
One of my colleagues requested I touch on the issue of loneliness and the health concerns connected to this. In one article on the subject, the author quoted poet John Donne, “No man is an island.” Social interaction is critical in our society. This is far and above what we call social media. Physical contact is critical to health. Babies held and interacted with in delivery rooms show faster improvement in APGAR scores than those not handled.
Seeing people living their lives through their cell phones and computers instead of physical social interaction is troubling to say the least. Although the quote attributed to be from Albert Einstein wasn’t, it does hold a degree of truth: “The day technology surpasses human interaction we will live in a generation of idiots.”
Even though we may live in communities and deal with the public on a regular basis, we still see those dealing with a deep sense of loneliness. When the only really close friends we have is our immediate family, and our time with them is dependent on holidays or other special occasions, it’s not uncommon to see depression and anxiety following these exposures.
In the past, Organizations like the Grange, various fraternal lodges, extra church activities and things like I enjoyed such as Square dancing were thriving. Because of technological advances, it’s easier to just stay home and not have these interactions. Besides getting less physical exercise, the fall out of not developing close knit friendships has taken it’s toll on our health.
Research has shown that lonely people can have blood pressure readings 30 points higher than those not lonely. Advanced breast cancer survival doubles when women join support groups, and immune systems are strengthened during times of stress when there are close personal friends.
When my wife and I were actively participating in square and round dancing anywhere from once to four times a week, we encountered some of the most dynamic, healthy, sharp people of all ages. What impressed me was that even though many were late in life, they had a joy and vitality of those many years younger than themselves.
Recently a family member got back into square dancing after many years away from it and I’ve seen a transition which literally erased at least twenty years. The fellowship and dynamic friends gained has improved their health dramatically. This is just one aspect of developing and maintaining lasting friendships that can transform the mind, will, and emotions, resulting in physical healing and the restoration of the immune system.
By having physical interaction with friends on a regular basis, there is opportunity to improve on many levels. I have very dear friends all over the United States. My shipmates from my time in the military are like brothers in so many ways, but I only get to see them every two years at reunions. The members of Chariots of Light are also family, but again, personal exposure is limited to yearly national tours. I’m nourished by the time I have with my patients who actually become family to me.
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