Body Chemistry and Mental Health

Stories, signs to notice and what to do

Tired, Low and Forgetful at Forty

Sunita Patil, forty-two, a school teacher in Kolhapur, had been feeling flat for most of a year. She was exhausted by lunchtime, felt cold when others were warm, and her hair was thinning. She gained weight without eating more. Worst of all, her mind felt foggy: she lost words in class and forgot errands. She wondered if she was depressed, or going mad.

Her husband tried to cheer her up with outings, but she had no energy to go. Her sister, a nurse, asked a simple question: 'When did you last have a blood test?' Sunita realised it had been years. At the clinic, the doctor listened to everything, including the sadness, and ordered a thyroid test along with other basic checks.

The thyroid, a small gland in the neck, sets the speed of the body's engine. Hers was running slow. The doctor explained that low thyroid can cause tiredness, low mood, slowed thinking and weight gain, and that it can be treated. She was started on treatment and told to come back for review. Over the following months, her energy and mood returned, and the fog lifted.

The doctor also said that an overactive thyroid can do the opposite, bringing anxiety, a racing heart and shaky hands. 'That is why a feeling in the mind is sometimes a message from the body,' she said.

How to recognise it

• Long-lasting tiredness, low mood, feeling cold, dry skin or hair thinning, and unexplained weight gain.
• Slowed thinking, forgetfulness or poor concentration that feels out of character.
• The opposite pattern: anxiety, racing heart, sweating, weight loss and trouble sleeping, which can suggest an overactive thyroid.
• Symptoms that develop gradually over months and do not improve with rest or cheering up.
• Family history of thyroid problems.

What this story explains

The chapter's section on thyroid function shows that both low and high thyroid can look like depression or anxiety. A simple blood test can reveal a treatable body cause.

Probable root causes

• Thyroid gland working too slowly or too quickly, often because of an immune condition.
• Changes after pregnancy or at certain ages, especially in women.
• Lack of iodine or other nutrients in some regions.
• Family history, and sometimes other medical conditions.

What to do

1. Write down the symptoms, when they began, and any family history.
2. Visit your doctor and mention both physical and emotional symptoms.
3. Have the blood tests the doctor recommends, including thyroid function.
4. Follow the doctor's treatment and attend review appointments.
5. Keep supporting sleep, food and gentle activity while recovering.

Whom to consult

• Family doctor for blood tests when tiredness, low mood or anxiety come with physical changes.
• Endocrinologist (hormone specialist) if a thyroid problem is confirmed or the doctor refers you.
• Psychiatrist or counsellor if low mood continues after the body problem is treated.
• Emergency services or nearest hospital if there are thoughts of ending your life.

Do and don’t

How to behave and communicate

• Say it with care: 'This does not sound like you. Let's have you checked, not blamed.'
• Avoid 'you're just lazy'; try 'I can see how tired you are.'
• Listen to the physical complaints as well as the emotional ones.
• Offer to accompany them to the appointment.
• Celebrate small improvements.

Kabir's Skipped Meals

Kabir Sheikh, thirty-five, drove a delivery van in Hyderabad. His days ran on tea and biscuits, with a large meal late at night. Lately he had been snapping at his wife, feeling shaky and sweaty by mid-afternoon, and thirsty all the time. He woke at night to pass urine, and his vision blurred sometimes. He put it down to stress and tried to ignore it.

One afternoon he nearly lost his temper with a customer, then sat in the van with his heart pounding and his hands trembling. A fellow driver gave him a banana and juice, and within minutes he felt calmer. 'Your sugar probably dropped,' he said. 'You should get it checked.'

The clinic tests showed that his blood sugar was running high overall and swinging up and down. The doctor explained that blood sugar is the brain's main fuel, and that when it rises or falls sharply, mood, energy, thinking and temper can all change. She talked about diabetes, regular meals, and a plan with a dietitian, and made sure Kabir knew what to do if he felt shaky.

Kabir started eating at regular times, packing simple food and walking after dinner. His temper settled, and his wife said she had her husband back. 'I thought I was becoming angry by nature,' he said. 'It was partly my body.'

How to recognise it

• Irritability, shakiness, sweating, headache or anxiety a few hours after meals or when meals are skipped.
• Extreme thirst, frequent urination, tiredness or blurred vision.
• Mood and energy that swing during the day, often settling after eating.
• Poor concentration or confusion when hungry.
• A family history of diabetes or weight gain around the waist.

What this story explains

The chapter's section on blood sugar explains that the brain depends on steady fuel, and that swings can mimic anxiety, anger and low mood. Regular meals and medical review help.

Probable root causes

• Irregular meals, long gaps and high sugar or refined foods.
• Diabetes or pre-diabetes, which may run in the family.
• Low physical activity and weight gain.
• Stress, which raises blood sugar, and poor sleep.

What to do

1. Eat at regular times and include protein, vegetables and whole grains.
2. Keep a safe snack for emergencies if you tend to feel shaky.
3. Get your blood sugar tested if you have thirst, frequent urination or mood swings after meals.
4. Follow your doctor and dietitian's plan if diabetes is confirmed.
5. Walk after meals and sleep regularly.

Whom to consult

• Family doctor for a blood sugar test when symptoms of thirst, tiredness or shakiness appear.
• Diabetes specialist or endocrinologist if blood sugar is high or unstable.
• Dietitian for a practical plan for work and family life.
• Counsellor or psychiatrist if anger, anxiety or low mood continue after blood sugar is controlled.

Do and don’t

How to behave and communicate

• Say with kindness: 'I have noticed you get shaky and snappy when you have not eaten. Shall we get it checked?'
• Avoid shaming about food: 'Let's find something simple that works for your days.'
• Pause an argument if the person seems very hungry or unwell, and return when they have eaten.
• Listen to their description of body feelings.
• Encourage rather than monitor every bite.

Neha's Tingling Fingers

Neha Verma, nineteen, was a first-year student living in a hostel in Delhi. She was a strict vegetarian and survived on instant noodles, tea and biscuits. She rarely went out in the sun because she studied or slept in the afternoon. By the end of the semester she was tired all the time, her mood was low, she cried easily, and her fingers sometimes tingled. She had stomach upsets and her muscles ached.

Her friend Zara thought it was exam stress. Her mother thought she was homesick. But when Neha mentioned the tingling during a call home, her mother, who knew a little about nutrition, insisted she see a doctor.

The doctor asked about her food and routine, examined her, and ordered blood tests. They showed low levels of vitamin D and vitamin B12. Both are needed by the brain and nerves: B vitamins help make brain chemicals and protect nerves, and vitamin D affects mood and bone strength. The doctor advised treatment, and also changes to her diet, getting sunlight sensibly, and eating more varied foods, including pulses, dairy, greens and fruit.

The doctor also talked about the gut, the 'second brain', whose health and the food we eat connect with how we feel. Within a couple of months, Neha's energy improved and the tingling went. She said, 'I was ready to quit college because I thought I was weak. I was undernourished.'

How to recognise it

• Constant tiredness, low mood, irritability or tearfulness with a poor and limited diet.
• Tingling or numbness in hands or feet, muscle aches or weakness.
• Poor concentration, memory difficulties or feeling mentally foggy.
• Very little sun exposure or very restricted eating, such as only snacks.
• Stomach problems such as constipation, bloating or poor appetite.

What this story explains

The chapter's sections on vitamins, minerals and the gut-brain axis show how poor nutrition, low vitamin D and low B12 can affect mood, nerves and thinking. It also lists physical conditions that can look like mental illness.

Probable root causes

• Limited, repetitive diet with few vegetables, pulses, dairy or fruit.
• Low sun exposure and indoor lifestyle.
• Low vitamin B12, which is common when intake of animal-based foods is low or absorption is poor.
• Stress and irregular sleep, and gut problems that reduce absorption.

What to do

1. Review what you actually eat in a week, honestly.
2. Add a variety of home-style foods: pulses, dairy or eggs if you eat them, greens, fruit and nuts.
3. Get some daily sunlight on skin, as advised for your area and skin type.
4. Ask a doctor to test for vitamin levels before taking supplements.
5. Follow the doctor's advice and return for repeat tests; add sleep and activity.

Whom to consult

• Family doctor or college health centre for blood tests when tiredness, low mood and tingling occur together.
• Dietitian or nutritionist for planning affordable, varied meals.
• Neurologist if numbness, weakness or balance problems are marked or persist.
• Counsellor or psychiatrist if low mood continues after the body is treated.

Do and don’t

How to behave and communicate

• Be caring: 'You sound very tired. Can we look at what you are eating and get tests done?'
• Avoid food shaming; offer to cook or share meals.
• Listen to both physical and emotional complaints.
• Reassure: 'This can be treated, and it is not a weakness.'
• Check in again after a few weeks.

This book is for education and general awareness. It does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a qualified professional. If anyone is in danger, contact your local emergency services.