Post by Jurriaan Plesman BA (Psych), P on Jun 14, 2013 16:31:33 GMT 10
Symptoms of Hypoglycemia discussed
by Jurriaan Plesman, BA (Psych), Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
web
Not all emotional experiences are due to hypoglycemia or any other metabolic disorder. For instance , it is quite natural to experience fear of height. It protects us from falling from heights by accident. Without that fear, the risk of falling from a height could easily materialise during our life-time. The question is when does such fear become irrational?
People with a fear of height may avoid coming near a balcony in twenty-story building. Is this rational or normal?
When a fear of height is such that the person experiencing this fear cannot live in a two-story house, or is unable to accept employment, which would entail working on the sixth floor of a tall building, then such fear may be regarded as becoming irrational. Such a fear would amount to being obsessive. Thus irrational fear may start to affect the life-style of a person. The question then is to whom does this appear to be irrational. This shows that the line between normal and abnormal behaviour is relative and difficult to draw.
The answer may be that the person himself will ultimately determine, whether a piece of behaviour is rational or irrational. The person may have sufficient insight to acknowledge, that "there is something wrong" with him, and this insight is essential for a person to accept and seek treatment.
This dividing line between the normal and abnormal is also apparent in case of drinking alcohol or addiction. Where is the distinction between a social drinker and being an alcoholic or drug addict. Who decides whether a person "has an alcohol problem" or "is addicted to drugs".
The line of demarcation between the rational and irrational may also be seen in such behaviour as "being angry". It is generally considered normal and quite appropriate to feel angry when somebody trespasses the boundaries of one's privacy. But it becomes questionable, when a person displays anger or even aggression, whenever he feels he has been offended. Where is the boundary between between being angry, and having an "anger-management problem". And where is the line between having a "anger management problems" and "being out-right violent". This is further discussed here.
Here again who decides, whether such behaviour is normal or abnormal, rational or irrational? As a general rule, the person himself may come to decide, that there "is something wrong with me" that interferes with his other aspirations in life. If he were to continue this kind of behaviour he may lose his wife, or in other cases he may find himself being arrested for violent behaviour. In other words, he has reached "rock-bottom".
The same conunbrum arises in a "gambling problem". When does a flutter on horses or pokeys becomes a "gambling problem".
Another example of questionable behaviour is "risk avoidance behaviour" and its opposite "risk seeking behaviour".
Some people don't like taking risks by avoiding certain activities that may be rationally considered to be risky, such a motor-bike racing, boxing or buck jumping in a rodeo. But when does such avoidance behaviours becomes irrational, as when a person avoid at all costs leaving his house for fear of meeting people.
Some people seek activities, that may be considered to be risky by some others; such as sky-diving, or rock-climbing, motor-car racing or mountain climbing. When does "thrill seeking" becomes abnormal behaviour and pathological, when a person feels he is not living the full life, when is is not experiencing the thrills and excitements in otherwise risky behaviour
Motivation to change comes from the person with a minimum insight that his behaviour is somehow interfering with other values in life - such as his love for family, or a job.
Without a value system, a person may not find any reason why he should change or seek treatment for his behaviour. See Values Clarification Course. But once a person is motivated he may choose a therapy approach that may not help him to change, as for instance, if his behaviour primarily due to an unknown underlying biochemical disorder, that is mainly responsible for his behaviour AND if treatment for this biological flaw is neglected. If a behavioural problem or symptom is caused mainly by a biochemical disorder, then that needs to be treated BEFORE considering any other aspect of personality.
Since many mood disorders are associated with Hypoglycemia, it may be worthwhile to focus on this illness by carrying out a test for hypoglycemia. This pre-diabetic condition has been reported to be responsible for the production of excess stress hormones - quite unrelated to what may be going on in the environment - and which account for most symptoms encountered in mood disorders. The brain, being the most sensitive organ in the body to react to unstable blood sugar levels, will trigger the release of stress hormones (adrenaline), and these are the common element in both hypoglycemia and mood disorders. It may even lead to false ideas and delusions.
If the test for hypoglycemia proves positive, the first step would be to adopt the Hypoglycemic diet.
If symptoms do not subside, say within three months, it is recommended that the patient be referred to a Nutritional Doctor, for further diagnosis and treatment. There are numerous Silent Diseases, that can contribute to mood disorders, apart from or in addition to hypoglycemia.
by Jurriaan Plesman, BA (Psych), Post Grad Dip Clin Nutr
web
Not all emotional experiences are due to hypoglycemia or any other metabolic disorder. For instance , it is quite natural to experience fear of height. It protects us from falling from heights by accident. Without that fear, the risk of falling from a height could easily materialise during our life-time. The question is when does such fear become irrational?
People with a fear of height may avoid coming near a balcony in twenty-story building. Is this rational or normal?
When a fear of height is such that the person experiencing this fear cannot live in a two-story house, or is unable to accept employment, which would entail working on the sixth floor of a tall building, then such fear may be regarded as becoming irrational. Such a fear would amount to being obsessive. Thus irrational fear may start to affect the life-style of a person. The question then is to whom does this appear to be irrational. This shows that the line between normal and abnormal behaviour is relative and difficult to draw.
The answer may be that the person himself will ultimately determine, whether a piece of behaviour is rational or irrational. The person may have sufficient insight to acknowledge, that "there is something wrong" with him, and this insight is essential for a person to accept and seek treatment.
This dividing line between the normal and abnormal is also apparent in case of drinking alcohol or addiction. Where is the distinction between a social drinker and being an alcoholic or drug addict. Who decides whether a person "has an alcohol problem" or "is addicted to drugs".
The line of demarcation between the rational and irrational may also be seen in such behaviour as "being angry". It is generally considered normal and quite appropriate to feel angry when somebody trespasses the boundaries of one's privacy. But it becomes questionable, when a person displays anger or even aggression, whenever he feels he has been offended. Where is the boundary between between being angry, and having an "anger-management problem". And where is the line between having a "anger management problems" and "being out-right violent". This is further discussed here.
Here again who decides, whether such behaviour is normal or abnormal, rational or irrational? As a general rule, the person himself may come to decide, that there "is something wrong with me" that interferes with his other aspirations in life. If he were to continue this kind of behaviour he may lose his wife, or in other cases he may find himself being arrested for violent behaviour. In other words, he has reached "rock-bottom".
The same conunbrum arises in a "gambling problem". When does a flutter on horses or pokeys becomes a "gambling problem".
Another example of questionable behaviour is "risk avoidance behaviour" and its opposite "risk seeking behaviour".
Some people don't like taking risks by avoiding certain activities that may be rationally considered to be risky, such a motor-bike racing, boxing or buck jumping in a rodeo. But when does such avoidance behaviours becomes irrational, as when a person avoid at all costs leaving his house for fear of meeting people.
Some people seek activities, that may be considered to be risky by some others; such as sky-diving, or rock-climbing, motor-car racing or mountain climbing. When does "thrill seeking" becomes abnormal behaviour and pathological, when a person feels he is not living the full life, when is is not experiencing the thrills and excitements in otherwise risky behaviour
Motivation to change comes from the person with a minimum insight that his behaviour is somehow interfering with other values in life - such as his love for family, or a job.
Without a value system, a person may not find any reason why he should change or seek treatment for his behaviour. See Values Clarification Course. But once a person is motivated he may choose a therapy approach that may not help him to change, as for instance, if his behaviour primarily due to an unknown underlying biochemical disorder, that is mainly responsible for his behaviour AND if treatment for this biological flaw is neglected. If a behavioural problem or symptom is caused mainly by a biochemical disorder, then that needs to be treated BEFORE considering any other aspect of personality.
Since many mood disorders are associated with Hypoglycemia, it may be worthwhile to focus on this illness by carrying out a test for hypoglycemia. This pre-diabetic condition has been reported to be responsible for the production of excess stress hormones - quite unrelated to what may be going on in the environment - and which account for most symptoms encountered in mood disorders. The brain, being the most sensitive organ in the body to react to unstable blood sugar levels, will trigger the release of stress hormones (adrenaline), and these are the common element in both hypoglycemia and mood disorders. It may even lead to false ideas and delusions.
If the test for hypoglycemia proves positive, the first step would be to adopt the Hypoglycemic diet.
If symptoms do not subside, say within three months, it is recommended that the patient be referred to a Nutritional Doctor, for further diagnosis and treatment. There are numerous Silent Diseases, that can contribute to mood disorders, apart from or in addition to hypoglycemia.
