For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 (NASB)
One of the questions I ask when I am meeting with a woman who is struggling with sorrow and even depression is how much she is sleeping. Have you noticed that if you are not well rested your mood can be affected? Tired people tend to be a bit cranky! Lack of proper rest, too much or too little food, being over worked and even a lack of exercise can all contribute to your moods. We also must consider the natural hormonal rhythms of our bodies as well.
The hormones in our system vary throughout the day, and these changes can affect our moods and feelings. These changes in feelings come and go bringing highs and lows that come and go without notice at times. This is one very important reason we are not to make decisions based on our feelings.
We also are influenced by certain chemicals we take in, such as caffeine, sugar, and alcohol. Too much of any of these substances and you have a physical and emotional response.
In very rare incidences, the body malfunctions and causes the endocrine system and the brain to release mood altering chemicals into the bloodstream causing moods that don't correspond with thoughts or circumstances. When emotions are out of control it is a key that something is wrong and needs to be checked. This is why I urge women to be checked for thyroid problems and diabetes. Both of these endocrine based diseases have altered moods as a side effect of their presence in our bodies. When the blood sugar or thyroid levels are stabilized these chemical imbalances in the body disappear and moods and feelings and emotions should level out as well.
Tomorrow we will look at what our feelings are really telling us.Labels: Feelings, Sorrow