Positive Choices
Anxiety and Depression. A faith-based approach
Introduction
Anxiety
Types of anxiety.
Generalized anxiety disorder – most common. Persistent and obsessive worry
Panic disorder (with or without agoraphobia) there are physical symptoms
Social anxiety disorder
Specific phobias (specify animal, environmental , situational)
PTSD – started with the military
Acute stress disorder – like the CampFire
OCD – with poor insight
Depression
Loss of interest
Sleep disturbance – lack or too much
Feelings of worthlessness
Difficulty concentrating
Suicidal thoughts /dark thoughts
Three kinds of mental health disorders:
Thought disorders
Schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional
Mood disorders
Anxiety, depression
Behavior disorders
Employers care about
Neuroanatomy
Frontal lobe – decision making part of brain
Parietal lobe – ability move
Occipital lobe – visual
Temporal lobe – emotions
Limbic system – affects the way we feel
Neurotransmitters
Amino acid – glutamate-excitatory
Monoamines – dopamine, norepinephrine, serotonin
Neuropeptides – neuropeptide Y
Adrenal hormones – cortisol
GABA – gamma amino butyric acid
Synapse mechanisms
Neurotransmitters are a mechanism to jump the synaptic cleft
Can change the nerve pathway
Dopamine
Pleasure, euphoria
Methamphetamine leaves more Dopamine in the cleft
Nicotine binds to presynaptic neuron – releases more Dopamine
Cocaine – blocks removal of Dopamine in the synapse
Mesolimbic pathway – drugs of abuse, reward areas
These are the Dopamine pathways
Affected by food
Glutamate – excitatory hormone
1. too much —> Alzheimer’s, MS, ALS, schizophrenia
2. Associated with treatment resistant depression, bipolar
3. Ketamine antagonizes – Ketamine is an antidepressant
4. Exercises decreases cerebral glutamate
5. MSG – yum food
6. High protein foods
7. Beans, celery, kale, cabbage
Substance Abuse/Alcohol Abuse
Mental Health
1. Renaissance, Image of God, true to life (life in good control)
2. Impressionism (light, textures, colors), subject less important
3. Cubism (no emotions, flat), Picasso
4. Post modern (no direction), Andy Warhol
Medications can move you to impressionism, but not to mental health with meaning and purpose.
Genesis 1. God made man in the image of God.
Not only our appearance, also in our mental health
Random chance, organize letters, make words.
Highest level of meaning is meaning and purpose.
Goal is mental health with meaning and purpose.
Jeremiah 29:11
Goals for this week.
1. No Alcohol
2. Limit MSG
3. Put some energy into your spiritual life. Read Jeremiah 29:11 daily and claim as promise.
