THE CARE OF YOUR FRONTAL LOBES
THE KEY TO WHAT CREATES A HAPPY LIFE
LOW FUNCTIONING OF THE FRONTAL LOBES
Interestingly enough, it has been proven that depression is caused by low functioning of the frontal lobes and/or an out of balance state between the right and the left frontal lobes. If there is excess activity in the right frontal lobe compared to the left frontal lobe, it is likely to cause depression.
What throws that balance off, as it should normally function in balance?
What happens to our lives when it is thrown out of balance or into low frontal lobe functioning?
I've listed some on the left.
Significant, I think, are a reduce ability to realize to assess and value the long term, to control one's behavior, and to see that one's actions affect the future. There is also an impaired ability to feel well-being. It impairs the development of character, which is a key determinant of the quality of life.
Increased anxiety, more problems unsolved, and reduced problem solving and decision making ability leads to mood problems and unhappiness. The inability to look long term leads to more short term gratification, which in turn leads to behaviors that cause further damage and impairment of functioning.
In short, it is a very, very, very bad idea to do anything that causes your frontal lobes not to be in balance and fully functioning!
It only makes sense that protecting our brain should be the top priority!
PEAK MENTAL PERFORMANCE
If your brain is working with good blood flow, plenty of oxygen, and no fatigue, you'll simply feel better, make better decisions (which will have you feel even better), and you'll get a whole lot more done.
And when your brain is sharp, your willpower and self-control is much higher, as the frontal lobe is the executive center of the brain and of your whole life.
CHECKLIST TO STRENGTHEN FRONTAL LOBE PERFORMANCE AND HEALTH
For more detail relative to the bad effects but also on the contributors to depression and some description of the cures and their whys: Depression Lifestyle Causes And Contributors. Of course, even if they are not on the list below, stop all the negative effectors in the list on the left.
___ Exercise 30 minutes/day
___ Increase blood flow at least every hour (sitting kills)
___ Hydrate - Drink lots of water; when feel tired or foggy, drink water!
___ Assure deep breathing (check, stop shallow breathing, take breathing breaks)
___ Change inputs to body
___ Maximum vegetarian as possible
___ No (at least minimize) meat, cheese
___ No rich foods
___ No high sugar doses, no refined carbohydrates (hurt glucose in brain)
___ 2 grams Omega 3/day
___ Eat (healthy) serotonin and tryptophan foods
___ Stop doing stress causers
__ Change behaviors so not in a hurry
__ Implement stress management-reduction program
___ Get back on circadian rhythms.
__ Make sure sufficient melatonin is created.
___ Adequate rest/sleep (6-9 hours/night, to point feel fresh and awake in am)
___ Stop all drugs and stimulants that are not absolutely necessary, to restore normal
functioning.
__ Even caffeine - Which exacerbates anxiety, inappropriately stimulates the body,
even enervating it, causes blood sugar problems
__ Yes, marijuana! - Scrambles and permanently damages your brain, causes
passivity (which will make you feel worse about yourself), and reduces sharpness
___ Stop (at least drastically reduce) entertainment TV and internet surfing.
___ Listen to classical music for a 1/2 hour or more per week
___ Use it or lose it
__ Reading 1/2 hour or more daily
__ Abstract thinking
__ Planning every day
__ Clarifying and committing to your values, so brain's "morality" center is not upset and/or scrambled (it will unwire your logic and judgment center); also helps make willpower stronger and reduce energy use.
