Book Review: Who Switched Off My Brain?

When I noticed this title on my friend, Sandy's, bookshelf, I had to beg to borrow this book. This has been the theme of my existence over the last few months. Indeed, this is one of the reasons I recently switched my antidepressant medication and had a routine physical, including blood tests and an EKG. I feel like I am literally losing my mind. We have even questioned whether I could be experiencing early on-set Alzheimer's.

Although I doubt that is what is truly going on, I have been deeply distressed by the mental fog I have been living in. I forget to turn off burners, forget to take medicine, cannot remember a request unless it is written down and often cannot think clearly.

Yesterday, was another case in point. We had a wonderful visit with my mother-in-law. She was immensely helpful (even though I wanted her to get some rest and relax with the boys). She shampooed our carpeting, washed our windows inside and out, and sorted through more of their belongings to take back to her home. The little boys loved having her here and she spoiled them with kisses and hugs and corn mush and stories (plus the attention that they clamor for the minute she arrives).

I was hoping to get some exercise in yesterday morning and decided the best plan would be to take Grandma along with us to the park. Grandma was busily clearing out stuff, so I promised the boys that we would leave as soon as she was ready. Then, I realized that I had forgotten to give YS his morning inhaler treatment. As I administered his puffs, I thought to myself frantically, "puffs, pulmonologist, appointment, April 17th, 10:30, downtown Indy - aarrgghh!" I scooped up YS, grabbed my purse and yelled an explanation to my husband. We left the house at a few minutes after 10 and, remarkably, pulled into the parking garage just at 10:30 (thank you, Lord, for synchronized green lights and cop-coffee breaks). YS was livid when he realized where we were. Just another episode of mommy-denseness.

Frankly, most of the episodes are like that and not terribly serious. However, a few weeks ago, when I had a chance to get away I had an episode that really shattered me. I spent the night with my brother and sister-in-law and attended their Salvation Army corps the next morning. As I was getting ready that morning, I began conversing with Kari. Only problem was, it wasn't my niece, Kari, after all. It was her older sister, Kirsten. If there weren't so many other episodes of mental haze, I probably would have brushed it off. However, that afternoon, I found myself crying as I relayed the experience to my husband.

I still don't think that I have Alzheimer's, but I can more fully appreciate the terror it strikes in someone when you begin to lose your mental faculties. I don't know if I can say that I am "too young for Alzheimer's, since I recently learned of twins battling childhood Alzheimer's.

So, what book should I notice on my friend, Sandy's, bookshelf? A book by Dr. Caroline Leaf, entitled Who Switched Off My Brain? Controlling Toxic Thoughts and Emotions. I didn't really notice the sub-title until I began reading, but it was a significantly worthwhile read, even though it basically says that I turned it off myself. Gee, I don't remember doing that ...

I must say that, since Dr. Leaf is identified as a learning specialist, and not necessarily a medical doctor, I did wonder whether or not she had merely taken a valid idea and run with it. For example, she states that "Research shows that around 87% of illnesses can be attributed to our thought life, and approximately 13% to diet, genetics and environment." Immediately, I thought of my niece, Amelia, and her battle with cancer. Surely a two year old can't have enough toxic thoughts and emotions accumulated to render the body vulnerable to cancer. While Dr. Leaf did provide a bibliography at the end of the book, she didn't footnote these statistics, so I couldn't verify the supposed "research."

However, I still was very impressed with the book and hope to implement many of her suggestions. Her basic premise is that you must cleanse your thought life of these toxic thoughts and emotions (unforgiveness, anger, rage, resentment, depression, worry, anxiety, frustration, fear and excessive guilt) because they release harmful chemicals into your brain, opening the way for depression and illness.

She divides emotions into two categories: faith-based, which are positive, and fear-based, which are negative. Emotions result in attitudes and attitudes produce responses. I can appreciate her emphasis on the importance to fill our minds with positive emotions which will in turn create positive attitudes and nurture positive responses within the body. It reinforces the wisdom of Scripture in Philippians 4:8-9 ("Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.... and the God of peace shall be with you.")

On page 59 of her book, she states, "The cortisol increase the body uses to respond to stress causes triglycerides and cholesterol to increase and may cause weight gain."

Whoa, there. I've observed weight gain and an increase in cholesterol. Certainly, it couldn't hurt to attempt to control my thought life more carefully. It must be beneficial to weed out toxic thoughts and emotions. This same thought was presented to me twice in the past two weeks. First by my friend, John, who explained that it is helpful to begin the conscious work of making a list of things I have held resentments towards others over, thus setting myself free from the chains of those emotions. Then, today, I read Cardiogirl's response to my last post. She suggested the very same concept. There has to be at least something to gain by rewiring our thinking when we know for a fact that it is sending harmful currents through our body.

Dr. Leaf provided 13 steps to detox your brain. These were things like: "consciously reject or accept thoughts, frame your world with your words, express your emotions, forgive, love, play and laugh, exercise, diet, and focus on your spiritual life."

She also suggests journalling your dreams. She wrote, "The more turbulent and disturbing your dreams, the more work you have to do on your thought life." This was interesting to contemplate, given the fact that, just last night, I had a horribly vivid dream where two children were sledding and slid right under the wheels of my car. Wake up! I've got some detoxing to do - this time in my thought life.

Of course, her last step was one word: RELAX! So, for now, I'll merely write my review and visit other blogs tonight while waiting for my ES to return from a trip with friends to opening day at King's Island. Besides, now that my mother-in-law has returned home (despite painful tears from the little boys), I can relax. Now, if I could just teach my husband to detox his thoughts and relax more! Ah, well, I'd better start with myself.