“In general, the problem of causality in microbiome studies is substantial,” says Rob Knight, a microbiologist at the University of California, San Diego. “It's very difficult to tell if microbial differences you see associated with diseases are causes or consequences.” There are many outstanding questions. Clues about the mechanisms by which gut bacteria might interact with the brain are starting to emerge, but no one knows how important these processes are in human development and health.
http://www.nature.com/news/the-tantalizing-links-between-gut-microbes-and-the-brain-1.18557
What a great article!
As a Crohn's patient and a wanna be researcher, archaeologist, yada yada, writer, I have noticed that my mood changes during a flare. These changes are physical changes with direct influence on my emotions. If the flare is light, a day in bed, a nap, good wholesome food (or not) is enough to put things right. If the flare is gonna be a tough one the very first symptoms are exhaustion, crying, depression, and anxiety.
I will try to explain it this way:
My alarm rings and it is time to get ready for work. I slept well with minimal tossing and turning. Yay! My outlook is optimistic until my left ear buzzes. I know, how weird, but it is still true.
The buzz is loud. I completely relax and wait for it to go away. As soon as it does, I slowly get out of bed. When I stand up, I can literally feel my stomach dump its contents into my small intestine. This dump is accompanied by a feeling of light-headedness and then depression. It is not like the emotional depression you have when someone dies, but a physical depression which is soon followed by anxiety as my body attempts to give me energy from my adrenals.
Shortly after there is a burning sensation at my duodenum and then my illeim. A rush of water/food can be felt, seen and heard (if you are so inclined to look) as it rushes out of my stomach taking with it anything else that might have been left behind on the previous dump.
Exhaustion overwhelms me. I want to sit down and give up. I don't say this lightly, but I have had Crohn's for so long I know it will pass just not when, and I need my medical insurance.
That propels me to my feet and I continue on like this sometimes for hours, sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks. I generally go into non eat mode which is the quickest way for me to defeat a flare and give my intestines time to rest, but because I must go on I fight daily battles with anxiety, depression and physical symptoms until the flare subsides.
I didn't have episodes of relief before I went on Remicade. I was constantly depressed and anxious. So I was not at all surprised to hear someone postulate the flora in our gut might be somewhat responsible for our moods. I doubt much of anything could live in my body during a flare, especially little microbes happily eating predigested food.
That is so gross.
I can be in the throes of a mega flare and wake up the next day feeling fine. How do I know I am fine? For one, my ear doesn't buzz, but the BIGGEST prognosticator is my body is quiet. There is no anxiety or depression. There isn't any pain, and when I get up my stomach stays where it is supposed to. I am also clear-headed and have energy, though always my energy is limited.
If you too fight the monster of depression etc read the article. While it states nothing is for sure, scientists are at least becoming more aware and maybe our flora is responsible for other types of anxiety.
I'd like to hear your thoughts. PM me if you'd like. I will always respond or leave a comment below.
What a great article!
As a Crohn's patient and a wanna be researcher, archaeologist, yada yada, writer, I have noticed that my mood changes during a flare. These changes are physical changes with direct influence on my emotions. If the flare is light, a day in bed, a nap, good wholesome food (or not) is enough to put things right. If the flare is gonna be a tough one the very first symptoms are exhaustion, crying, depression, and anxiety.
I will try to explain it this way:
My alarm rings and it is time to get ready for work. I slept well with minimal tossing and turning. Yay! My outlook is optimistic until my left ear buzzes. I know, how weird, but it is still true.
The buzz is loud. I completely relax and wait for it to go away. As soon as it does, I slowly get out of bed. When I stand up, I can literally feel my stomach dump its contents into my small intestine. This dump is accompanied by a feeling of light-headedness and then depression. It is not like the emotional depression you have when someone dies, but a physical depression which is soon followed by anxiety as my body attempts to give me energy from my adrenals.
Shortly after there is a burning sensation at my duodenum and then my illeim. A rush of water/food can be felt, seen and heard (if you are so inclined to look) as it rushes out of my stomach taking with it anything else that might have been left behind on the previous dump.
Exhaustion overwhelms me. I want to sit down and give up. I don't say this lightly, but I have had Crohn's for so long I know it will pass just not when, and I need my medical insurance.
That propels me to my feet and I continue on like this sometimes for hours, sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks. I generally go into non eat mode which is the quickest way for me to defeat a flare and give my intestines time to rest, but because I must go on I fight daily battles with anxiety, depression and physical symptoms until the flare subsides.
I didn't have episodes of relief before I went on Remicade. I was constantly depressed and anxious. So I was not at all surprised to hear someone postulate the flora in our gut might be somewhat responsible for our moods. I doubt much of anything could live in my body during a flare, especially little microbes happily eating predigested food.
That is so gross.
I can be in the throes of a mega flare and wake up the next day feeling fine. How do I know I am fine? For one, my ear doesn't buzz, but the BIGGEST prognosticator is my body is quiet. There is no anxiety or depression. There isn't any pain, and when I get up my stomach stays where it is supposed to. I am also clear-headed and have energy, though always my energy is limited.
If you too fight the monster of depression etc read the article. While it states nothing is for sure, scientists are at least becoming more aware and maybe our flora is responsible for other types of anxiety.
I'd like to hear your thoughts. PM me if you'd like. I will always respond or leave a comment below.