4 ms·

Has anyone researched the opposite? Like the role of mood and happiness on the gut microbiome. I was diagnosed with Celiac 5 years ago, could never gain weight

Has anyone researched the opposite? Like the role of mood and happiness on the gut microbiome. I was diagnosed with Celiac 5 years ago, could never gain weight and had my share of struggles with anxiety etc. I recently found a counsellor who told me to stop overthinking, seeking knowledge and a few other things which after following I gained 5 kilos and became a happier person. I always thought my gut was to blame but a few simple practices seem to be fixing my gut too.

electric_mayhem 3y ago
Can you clarify on “seeking knowledge”? Is this something you were supposed to stop along with overthinking, or things you were supposed to learn that would help- if the latter, what were those bits of knowledge? And elaborate, specifically, on “a few other things”?
- r_singh 3y ago
  With respect to these things he advised me to Slow down - deep breath and chant om daily Seek only that knowledge which helps me in my field of work Think only the amount that helps me propel towards acting on the next step
- deleted 3y ago
  [deleted]
PragmaticPulp 3y ago
The connection is bidirectional, yes. Mental health issues have been associated with changes in appetite. It’s a simpler relation, though, and is more a function of hormones and nervous system activity than microbiome.
Llamamoe 3y ago
> [...] told me to stop overthinking, seeking knowledge and a few other [...] That's something people are always telling you, might as well have been chance that things improved and you've linked it with life events, as humans do- we're a storytelling species, we always seek to explain things in our lives through the prism of our decisions and thoughts.
mrleinad 3y ago
Stress is the cause for many illnesses, yes.
- hirvi74 3y ago
  For the 30 years I have walked this Earth, I have never been able to find a "healthy" way to manage stress. In fact, I have had such bad problems with stress that it basically assisted in the emergence and continuation of an autoimmune disorder. So, I am quite aware of the damage stress can cause. I have used plenty of unhealthy methods of managing stress, but the sad fact of the matter is that -- unlike yoga, warm baths, etc. -- the unhealthy methods actually work, and they tend to work really well.
  - hydrok9 3y ago
    where does your stress primarily come from?
    - hirvi74 3y ago
      Not trying to create a pity-party or be all woeful, but to answer your question: My source of stress is highly contextual, but fundamentally the common denominator would be a sense of insecurity. I feel a sense of financial stress due to not being financially secure. I have taken proper measures to ensure I am on the proper path to financial security, but it seems like one job loss, one major medical emergency, major market crash, etc., is all it takes to wipe it all out. Not to mention all the rising costs of everything too. I have occupational stresses (software engineer) due to my incompetence, lack of useful/meaningful skills, poor knowledge of fundamentals (my comp sci program was so poor that we almost lost our accreditation), etc.. I've basically been a junior developer for the last 7 years. Couple all that with my various issues, and yeah, I live in a perpetual state of stress and anxiety which creates a not so wonderful negative-feedback loop. I've tried therapy, psychiatry, etc., but any solution is like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. So, when nothing else works, all I have left is escapism. Luckily, I do not have an issue with any hard substances. However, one of my biggest crutches and forms of escapism are video games. The sad reality of why they are so appealing to me is that these games create a world that is more appealing than the current one I live. In the real world, I have no meaningful accomplishments, nothing to be proud of, etc.. In games, goals and objectives are clearly laid out, easily obtainable, and if I fail to achieve something I know that I am the sole reason -- not some variable out of my control (no office politics or BS). I have a chance to not be below-average for once, and when I manage to accomplish something, it creates a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment that I cannot find in the "real world." When playing competitive games, my contributions actually matter, and if I do well, my teammates express a genuine sense of appreciation and gratitude. They relied on me, and I pulled my weight/extra-weight. It sometimes feels so good. I know it is all just a false sense of well-being, for any sense of accomplishment I feel is quickly fleeting. At the end of the day, when I turn the games off, what am I left with? I didn't really accomplish anything tangible -- no real skills -- and in the real world, none of it matters one bit. It seems that I have managed to lose the ability to put forth any effort in bettering myself, and I am just in some kind of going with motions and distracting myself anyway I can. So yeah, sorry for my long ramblings, but it felt good to get it out.
runlaszlorun 3y ago
I’m not an expert at all but believe there’s good evidence for a large stress/unhappiness -> cortisol -> significant metabolic changes linkage.
DrThunder 3y ago
It does seem like I've read a couple studies that suggest it's not one or the other. Diet can influence the microbiome/mood and mood can influence the microbiome. Reducing my anxiety has definitely helped my ibs/mild crohn's.

electric_mayhem 3y ago

Can you clarify on “seeking knowledge”? Is this something you were supposed to stop along with overthinking, or things you were supposed to learn that would help- if the latter, what were those bits of knowledge? And elaborate, specifically, on “a few other things”?

r_singh 3y ago
With respect to these things he advised me to Slow down - deep breath and chant om daily Seek only that knowledge which helps me in my field of work Think only the amount that helps me propel towards acting on the next step
deleted 3y ago
[deleted]

PragmaticPulp 3y ago

The connection is bidirectional, yes. Mental health issues have been associated with changes in appetite. It’s a simpler relation, though, and is more a function of hormones and nervous system activity than microbiome.

Llamamoe 3y ago

> [...] told me to stop overthinking, seeking knowledge and a few other [...] That's something people are always telling you, might as well have been chance that things improved and you've linked it with life events, as humans do- we're a storytelling species, we always seek to explain things in our lives through the prism of our decisions and thoughts.

mrleinad 3y ago

Stress is the cause for many illnesses, yes.

hirvi74 3y ago
For the 30 years I have walked this Earth, I have never been able to find a "healthy" way to manage stress. In fact, I have had such bad problems with stress that it basically assisted in the emergence and continuation of an autoimmune disorder. So, I am quite aware of the damage stress can cause. I have used plenty of unhealthy methods of managing stress, but the sad fact of the matter is that -- unlike yoga, warm baths, etc. -- the unhealthy methods actually work, and they tend to work really well.
- hydrok9 3y ago
  where does your stress primarily come from?
  - hirvi74 3y ago
    Not trying to create a pity-party or be all woeful, but to answer your question: My source of stress is highly contextual, but fundamentally the common denominator would be a sense of insecurity. I feel a sense of financial stress due to not being financially secure. I have taken proper measures to ensure I am on the proper path to financial security, but it seems like one job loss, one major medical emergency, major market crash, etc., is all it takes to wipe it all out. Not to mention all the rising costs of everything too. I have occupational stresses (software engineer) due to my incompetence, lack of useful/meaningful skills, poor knowledge of fundamentals (my comp sci program was so poor that we almost lost our accreditation), etc.. I've basically been a junior developer for the last 7 years. Couple all that with my various issues, and yeah, I live in a perpetual state of stress and anxiety which creates a not so wonderful negative-feedback loop. I've tried therapy, psychiatry, etc., but any solution is like trying to put out a forest fire with a garden hose. So, when nothing else works, all I have left is escapism. Luckily, I do not have an issue with any hard substances. However, one of my biggest crutches and forms of escapism are video games. The sad reality of why they are so appealing to me is that these games create a world that is more appealing than the current one I live. In the real world, I have no meaningful accomplishments, nothing to be proud of, etc.. In games, goals and objectives are clearly laid out, easily obtainable, and if I fail to achieve something I know that I am the sole reason -- not some variable out of my control (no office politics or BS). I have a chance to not be below-average for once, and when I manage to accomplish something, it creates a sense of fulfillment and accomplishment that I cannot find in the "real world." When playing competitive games, my contributions actually matter, and if I do well, my teammates express a genuine sense of appreciation and gratitude. They relied on me, and I pulled my weight/extra-weight. It sometimes feels so good. I know it is all just a false sense of well-being, for any sense of accomplishment I feel is quickly fleeting. At the end of the day, when I turn the games off, what am I left with? I didn't really accomplish anything tangible -- no real skills -- and in the real world, none of it matters one bit. It seems that I have managed to lose the ability to put forth any effort in bettering myself, and I am just in some kind of going with motions and distracting myself anyway I can. So yeah, sorry for my long ramblings, but it felt good to get it out.

runlaszlorun 3y ago

I’m not an expert at all but believe there’s good evidence for a large stress/unhappiness -> cortisol -> significant metabolic changes linkage.

DrThunder 3y ago

It does seem like I've read a couple studies that suggest it's not one or the other. Diet can influence the microbiome/mood and mood can influence the microbiome. Reducing my anxiety has definitely helped my ibs/mild crohn's.