Feel Better, Live More with Dr Rangan Chatterjee
How Changing Your Lifestyle Can Fix Your Mental Health & Why Depression and Anxiety Are Not Disorders with David Bidler #408
Episode guests
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Addressing physical needs is essential for optimal mental health.
- Labeling anxiety and depression as disorders can be detrimental.
- Teaching fundamental skills can greatly impact rates of poor mental health in young people.
- Establishing physiology first campuses globally can empower young people to manage their own well-being.
- Incorporating health education into the curriculum challenges the notion of mental disorders and addresses underlying physiological issues.
Deep dives
Physical Prerequisites for Mental Health
The speaker emphasizes the importance of meeting physical needs for mental health. Metabolic, sleep, exercise, and nutritional needs must be fulfilled for optimal mental well-being.
The Danger of Labeling Mental Health Responses as Disorders
Labeling natural physiological responses, such as anxiety and depression, as disorders can be detrimental. It is important to understand that these responses are order, not disorder, and indicate that physical needs are not being met.
Teaching Physiology First
David Biddler, a social entrepreneur, believes that teaching fundamental skills of breathing, nutrition, movement, and rest can greatly impact rates of poor mental health in young people. By understanding their physiology and building skills, young people can navigate their own nervous systems to manage anxiety and other mental health responses.
Creating a Health-Centered Educational System
David's goal is to establish physiology first campuses globally, offering an academic curriculum integrated with health education. By placing health at the foundation of learning, young people can develop skills, tools, and agency over their own well-being.
The importance of teaching basic health education to children worldwide
Teaching children worldwide about the importance of basics such as movement, sleep, stress management, and nutrition can have a significant impact on rates of anxiety and depression. By incorporating these foundations into education, it challenges the notion that these kids are disordered and points towards a paradigm shift in addressing the 21st century health crisis. Building an infrastructure that invites and provides free health education to children can lead to a thriving business and positive community impact.
Linking mental health to overall health and the importance of physiological assessment
By recognizing that mental health is interconnected with overall health, it becomes crucial to address the root cause of symptoms rather than just labeling kids as disordered. Understanding the physiological prerequisites for mental health, such as good sleep, hydration, and stress management, challenges the traditional framework of mental disorders. Physiological assessments and a focus on foundational health education can help identify and address underlying physiological issues before resorting to medications or therapies.
Reimagining the educational system and prioritizing health in schools
To build a better future, it is essential to put brain and physical health at the core of the educational system. By incorporating health-oriented approaches, shorter school days, movement, and brain health practices, we can unlock the potential of a generation. Disrupting the current archetype of education and allocating time for health, movement, and brain development can create thriving communities and equip future generations with the skills needed to navigate a rapidly changing world.
The Importance of Changing the Learning Environment
One of the key points discussed in the podcast is the significance of changing the traditional learning environment to enhance learning. The speaker emphasizes that when we change our physical vantage point during a conversation or learning session, it can have a positive impact on information retention and understanding. They give an example of a person who suggested standing or walking around during a conversation to see the speaker from different angles, which can enhance learning. The speaker also highlights the importance of incorporating movement and exercise in the learning process, as it supports the expression of full range of motion and can aid in assimilating information.
Addressing Mental Health through Physiology
Another key point discussed in the podcast is the connection between physiology, mental health, and education. The speaker emphasizes that mental health is a tangible aspect that can be influenced by physiological factors. They give an example of a young girl who experienced panic attacks while playing soccer and how addressing her physiological needs, such as heat acclimatization training, warming up properly, and improving CO2 tolerance through breathing exercises, significantly reduced her panic attacks. The speaker suggests that education should focus on teaching physiological self-regulation skills to manage anxiety and stress, and create an environment where engagement and curiosity thrive. They emphasize the need for a new approach in education that prioritizes the physiological and mental well-being of students.
“It’s not that exercise is an antidepressant, it’s that not exercising is a depressant.” So says this week’s guest – and he’s redefining youth mental health education for the 21st century in line with this powerful belief.
David Bidler is a social entrepreneur dedicated to reinventing education for the 21st century. In 2019, he founded Physiology First University a non-profit education centre, which teaches the latest science of the brain and body by offering classes - in neuroscience, exercise physiology, sauna and cold exposure, to all ages but with a particular focus on teenagers and adolescents.
David’s core belief is that if we could teach all the kids around the world the fundamental skills of breathing, nutrition, movement and rest, as a priority over the current education system, we could see a huge change to the rates of poor mental health.
He believes that we’re often doing young people a disservice by labelling them with mental health disorders, instead of looking at their lifestyles and giving them the tools to feel better. His facility teaches students about anxiety by helping them experience it in a controlled setting, so they know exactly what the fight-or-flight response feels like. They increase their own heart rate, through exercise and then lower it, through breathing techniques. And so, because they know what anxiety feels like, they can ‘reclaim’ agency over their anxiety, by realising it’s not a loss of control and by learning - through first-hand experience - how they can navigate their own nervous systems to effectively manage it.
David’s goal is to put Physiology First campuses all across the globe - he wants to create a healthy alternative to the current educational system - one that integrates an academic curriculum alongside a health one.
This is a fascinating conversation that will give you a fresh understanding of your own physiology. Ever since I came across David on Instagram, I have been inspired by his work and what he is trying to do. He is a passionate individual, trying his best to make the world a better place. I hope you enjoy listening.
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Show notes https://drchatterjee.com/408
DISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.
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