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Tag: brain

  • The Science Behind Flow State

    The Science Behind Flow State

    By: Maggie Wright

    ~ 3 minutes

    Recently, the phrase ‘flow state’ has gone viral on social media, but most people have no clue what’s actually happening in the brain. Creative outlets for your brain start with the flow state, a mental state you can enter during creative activities like art, dance, writing poetry, or even giving a creative speech. When you are fully immersed in what you’re doing, the mind becomes deeply focused and present. This experience is known as the flow state.

    Being in this state can trigger the release of feel-good chemicals such as dopamine, which is associated with pleasure and reward. These chemicals positively affect your brain chemistry and help bring it into balance. The more often you engage in creative activities that lead you into this flow state, the more positive the effects on your mental and emotional health.

    Make the Most of Your Happy Chemicals – Wellbeing Infographic / Trainer Bubble ©

    Routine also plays an important role in achieving flow state. While the brain may become bored with repetition, the discipline of regularly doing creative work helps maintain the steady release of beneficial brain chemicals. Over time, this habit becomes a powerful tool for supporting emotional stability and improving overall brain function. It can also increase your capacity to learn and help you stay in a more positive mood. Your brain is like a muscle that can grow and change with use. Just as going to the gym strengthens your body, creative outlets help strengthen your brain. Whether you’re solving mental math problems, dancing, writing, or painting, these activities exercise the brain in meaningful ways, and with time, you will begin to notice progress in your thinking, mood, and emotional resilience.

    Creative outlets are not just helpful in the long-term, they also provide temporary support. These outlets allow you to process emotions, deal with stress or trauma, and reflect on your day in a positive way. This results in a clear headspace and a more productive day.

    Engaging in creative activities can calm the amygdala, which is the part of the brain responsible for the fight-or-flight response. When you’re feeling anxious or stressed, the amygdala becomes highly active. Creative work signals to the brain that you’re safe, which helps reduce that activation and gives you a sense of relief and clarity. Incorporating creativity into your life is more than just enjoyable, it’s a powerful way to support your mental health and help your brain thrive.

    References

    Freepik. (n.d.). Psychology concept – Sunrise and dreamer woman silhouette [Digital image]. Freepik. https://www.freepik.com/premium-photo/psychology-concept-sunrise-dreamer-woman-silhouette_18124911.htm
    Jean-Berluche, D. (2024). Creative expression and mental health. Journal of Creativity, 34(2), 100083. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yjoc.2024.100083 ScienceDirect
    Kumar, V. et al. (2024). Creative pursuits for mental health and well-being. PMC
    Suttie, J. (2018, July 11). Where does happiness reside in the brain? Greater Good Science Center. https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/article/item/where_does_happiness_reside_in_the_brain 
    The Role of Handmade Crafts in Mental Health and Self-Care. (2023, January 25). Awesome Pattern Studio. https://awesomepatternstudio.com/blog/blog/the-role-of-handmade-crafts-in-mental-health-and-self-care/ Awesome Pattern Studio
    Trainer Bubble. (n.d.). Make the most of your happy chemicals – Wellbeing infographic [Infographic]. Trainer Bubble. https://www.trainerbubble.com/make-the-most-of-your-happy-chemicals-wellbeing-infographic/ 
    UCLA Health. (2025, May 15). 3 proven health benefits of having a hobby. https://www.uclahealth.org/news/article/3-proven-health-benefits-having-hobby UCLA Health
  • ‘The Second Brain’ The Gut Microbiome’s Effect on Your Mental Health

    ‘The Second Brain’ The Gut Microbiome’s Effect on Your Mental Health

    By Gianna Lee

    ~ 4 minutes

    Every year, in the United States, millions are diagnosed with schizophrenia, autism, and depression . These disabilities severely hinder people’s way of living, therefore, it is crucial for us to find ways to prevent individuals from suffering. In the past few years, research has shown that the gut has a significant connection with your brain.

    The ENS

    The ENS (enteric nervous system) is what some researchers call your “second brain.” It is composed of two layers that have hundreds of millions of nerve cells that dictate your mood shifts. Located in the gut, this system efficiently communicates with the central nervous system, connecting your mind and body.

    The ENS sends signals to your brain via the gut-brain axis. For example, when the gut signals hunger, the brain sends out a stressor leading to your blood sugar dropping, which makes you frustrated or irritated. This shows that the brain and gut are in constant communication, which can be linked to mental illness.  With this logic, we can understand that while microorganisms within the gut can prevent mental illness, others can cause them.

    In cases of Schizophrenia, clinical research has shown similarities within the gut between patients; 8 cases of Schizophrenia found that their gut contained similar gut microbiota such as: Lactobacillus, Enterococcus, and Bifidobacterium. Scientists then prescribed probiotics to these patients which reduced inflammation and contributed to a better state and overall mood.

    The Mind and Gut’s Relationship

    While research is still being developed regarding the link between the two, findings are piling up in order to help us understand the relationship between the gut and mind.

    In order to maintain a healthy gut and mindset, there are a few ways to keep yourself healthy. You are what you eat. Your diet is a major factor for a healthy gut, so nourishing your gut with a diverse and balanced diet can feed bacteria, allowing for an improved mood! Some healthy nutrition options include probiotics such as: kimchi, kefir, and other fermented items, as well as  prebiotics like green vegetables, legumes, whole grains, and nuts.

    Additionally, ways to completely treat mental illness are still being discovered. A process called “Faecal microbiota transplant” has recently been found to be a possible cure. The process allows  donors with healthy guts to donate stool to patients suffering from infected colons. This process is usually used to treat infection, however, studies were done that found out a few cases of clinical depression were cured through this process. 

    To sum it up, the gut microbiome may not seem like much, however it does play a significant role in mental health. The link between the two is still being studied to this day, with new findings revealing that treatments may cure existing mental illness. As of now, the current best way to maintain a healthy mental state is to ensure a healthy diet. Hopefully, one day we will be able to cure mental illness through these ground breaking discoveries, and when that happens, I will be here to report it!

    References

    GBD 2019 Mental Disorders Collaborators. (2022). Global, regional, and national burden of 12 mental disorders in 204 countries and territories, 1990–2019: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019. The Lancet Psychiatry, 9(2), 137–150. https://doi.org/10.1016/s2215-0366(21)00395-3
    Health, N. (2025). The gut-mental health connection: How to improve both for overall well-being. Nuvance Health. https://www.nuvancehealth.org/health-tips-and-news/the-gut-mental-health-connection
    Johns Hopkins Medicine. (2019). The brain-gut Connection. John Hopkins Medicine. https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/the-brain-gut-connection
    Li, Z., Tao, X., Wang, D., Pu, J., Liu, Y., Gui, S., Zhong, X., Yang, D., Zhou, H., Tao, W., Chen, W., Chen, X., Chen, Y., Chen, X., & Xie, P. (2024). Alterations of the gut microbiota in patients with schizophrenia. Frontiers in Psychiatry, 15, 1366311. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1366311
    Morrow, R. (2021, November 17). 9 Soulicious Soup Recipes. Foodmatters.com; Food Matters. https://www.foodmatters.com/recipe/9-soulicious-soup-recipes