The human gut is often referred to as the “second brain”, and has an intricate network of 100 million neurons embedded in the gut wall. Our gut is hard wired into our flight-fight response in stressful or dangerous situations. Not only are our thoughts and emotions reflected by the state of our gut, the balance of bacteria in the gut can actually influence our mental health.
Everyday expressions such as “go with your gut feeling” and “butterflies in the stomach” reflect the interaction between the gut and brain in the expression of our thoughts and emotions. More importantly, living organisms and bacteria in the gut begin to influence development soon after birth, and help to shape brain development.
Diet is thought to influence our mood and behaviour through the interaction between the gut and brain. In particular, research has investigated the role of gut health in neurodevelopment disorders such as ADHD and Autism – diet can be an important means of managing and even improving symptoms. For example, removing certain foods, such as gluten or other allergens, appears to reduce symptoms and improve quality of life.
Gut flora, including bacteria within the gut, also plays essential roles in many aspects of digestion and metabolism. These include producing and extracting essential vitamins from food, maintaining the immune system, blocking harmful bacteria from setting up camp, and producing chemicals which defend us against pathogens that cause illness. Gut bacteria also produce hundreds of neurochemicals that the brain uses to regulate both physiological as well as mental processes such as mood and learning. This relationship also explains why people who suffer from gastrointestinal disorders such as IBS or Crohn’s disease often have anxiety and depression. Therefore, in treating inflammation in the gut, and altering chemistry within the brain, symptoms of anxiety and depression may be improved.
Improving gut health can have a dramatic effect upon mood and cognitive functioning because of its power to influence the brain and immune system. The use of nutritional therapy to support gut health in children builds resilience and supports bottom-up treatment of psychological concerns.
Just as gut bacteria affects the brain, the brain also has a profound influence over the balance of bacteria in the gut. Psychological stress suppresses beneficial bacteria, which can in-turn have negative consequences for physical health – such as a greater susceptibility to illness. If your child is experiencing ongoing stomach pains and medical treatments have not been effective, a psychologist can identify the underlying emotional or behavioural factors that are contributing to the pain and implement strategies to improve these.
Leonie is a VCPS psychologist who has qualifications in nutrition/dietetics and has specialised in the treatment of medical conditions for around 20 years, including teaching and training other psychologists and GP’s in the use of medical hypnosis. Leonie uses medical hypnosis as part of an overall psychological treatment plan where the underlying causes of behaviour are explored in order to develop strategies for alternative emotional responses. Leonie is also highly experienced in working with children, and will assist in a way that engages your child in both the assessment and the treatment process.
