The big idea: should we drop the distinction between mental and physical health? [theguardian.com]

Ingrid Cockhren (PACEs Connection Staff) 9/14/227:05 PM

By Edward Bullmore, Illustration: Elia Barbieri, The Guardian, September 12, 2022

The current false dichotomy holds back research and stigmatises patients

A few months ago, I was infected by coronavirus and my first symptoms were bodily. But as the sore throat and cough receded, I was left feeling gloomy, lethargic and brain-foggy for about a week. An infection of my body had morphed into a short-lived experience of depressive and cognitive symptoms – there was no clear-cut distinction between my physical and mental health.

My story won’t be news to the millions of people worldwide who have experienced more severe or prolonged mental health outcomes of coronavirus infection. It adds nothing to the already weighty evidence for increased post-Covid rates of depression, anxiety or cognitive impairment. It isn’t theoretically surprising, in light of the growing knowledge that inflammation of the body, triggered by autoimmune or infectious disease, can have effects on the brain that look and feel like symptoms of mental illness.

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Peter ChiavettaMember

Reading this article by Edward Bullmore gives some hope of the medical community moving towards the patients threw a trauma lens. It reminds me of an article by the American Psychiatric Association published in the 1980's, stated that a female would not have long term effects from incest. Besides it would prepare them for a life that they were to live.

In the beginning of my practice of ACES Awareness as an Emergency Medical Technician 8 years ago I would tell my patient good luck on getting treatment for your trauma. Years latter I know my efforts evaporate as I drop off my patients at the bedside in the ER. In my frustration I have increased the pages of my ACES Awareness handout from 6 pages to 9 in the hope of stimulating the insight of there struggle.

But things are moving forward in PACES as we all witness from this platform. I recently attended a 8 hour class sponsored by NY State Health Dept. on the connection between addiction and mental health. I was pleased to see an hour devoted to ACES and it's contribution to addiction.

We will get there someday.