Reader’s Question

I have had a problem for several months now. Ever since I was a pre-teenager, I’ve known that my mind has a lot of control over my body. For example, when I was younger, I had a fear of getting appendicitis, and this fear would often make me feel as if my stomach was hurting, even though there was nothing wrong with me. Recently, I developed learned insomnia, which means that my fear of insomnia made me sleep badly, just as my fear of appendicitis made my stomach hurt when I was little. Ever since having the insomnia, I have developed an irrational fear that my mind controls my body, instead of my body controlling my mind. I am afraid that my mind will make me do all sorts of frightening things, like give me nightmares or shout loudly in class, etc., that I won’t be able to control. Can my mind really make me do these things? Or am I thinking that my mind is more powerful than it really is? Please help.

Our Clinical Psychologist’s Reply

You’re thinking too much!!! While the mind/brain controls the body — it works both positively and negatively. Just like you can make your stomach hurt, you can also fantasize about getting a tan on the beach and you’ll relax.

The mind-controlling-body isn’t the major issue here, however. From your description:

1. onset of a few months,
2. insomnia,
3. irrational fears/preoccupations,
4. obsessive thoughts, and
5. fears of losing control

From your description, you are in the process of developing depression. While we all hear about people who become depressed following a traumatic event, most depression has a gradual onset — a type of creeping process that slowly increases our thinking speed, changes our sleep and appetite, lessens our concentration and attention, increases our fears and worries, and causes us to become uncomfortable around people. Depression is associated with low levels of a neurotransmitter/neurochemical called Serotonin. Low Serotonin also produces obsessive thoughts in many people — like yourself — making the person think too much and become obsessed with fears, superstitions, impulsive acts (shouting loudly in class), etc. I would recommend that you read my article on depression on my website at www.drjoecarver.com.

Review your life over the past 12 to 18 months. I would guess you’ll find an increase in personal and social stress. Maybe too many obligations or recent stressful events. If you are showing signs of depression, I would recommend seeing a family physician as a starting point. We have medications that actually increase Serotonin and help return your brain speed to normal. I would also recommend seeing a counselor or therapist.

Your mind does control your body to a large degree. When we are depressed, our brain turns against us and torments us with past events, fears, and inappropriate impulses. One out of four adults get this type of depression and it is very treatable. You will find additional information on depression on the CounsellingResource.com website, including some depression tests.