How The Pituitary Gland Effects Your Emotions

The pituitary gland is the central gland in the hormonal system, since it sends out hormones to stimulate all other glands. It lies against the brain; numerous nerve pathways from the brain lead to it. It is therefore greatly influenced by what takes place in the brain, and its secretions; in turn, have a great effect on brain function. The secretions of the pituitary affect the other glands by, in effect, turning them on and off.

For example, it is the pituitary that stimulates the ovary to start putting out female sex hormones such as estrogen and in the latter part of the menstrual cycle it brings about a change in stimulation, so that progesterone: is added to the ovary’s hormone outflow. It also stimulates the adrenal cortex, which causes the cortical hormones to flow out in emergency situations.

Because it is directly connected to the hypothalamus (the brain center for primitive emotions), anything that affects emotional tone affects the pituitary, which in turn affects all other glands. Undoubtedly, the pituitary is involved in some of the various states of semi-health in which so many people find themselves.

You are probably aware that emotional strain from whatever cause can bring about menstrual irregularities in women. In most instances these are due to pituitary dysfunction, which throws the female sex hormones off balance. Quite frequently I see seriously disturbed women who fail to menstruate for months or even-years, and then suddenly begin having regular cycles again; This is always a favorable sign in the course of a serious mental illness.

THE ADRENAL CORTEX AFFECTS YOUR EMOTIONS

The adrenal cortex produces at least thirty hormones, but we are intimately familiar with only a few. About seventy percent of adrenal cortical under activity is due to as yet unknown causes. Whenever we are confronted with a disorder of unknown cause, we must always consider diet as a factor, since cells need proper nutrition to fulfill their normal functions. Those ad renal cortical hormones that we know about do have a strong influence on carbohydrate, water, and mineral metabolism. In both an overactive and under active adrenal cortex, sodium and potassium may be present in abnormal amounts, either too high or too low.

We know that during periods of stress, the adrenal cortex’ pours out its hormones as a protective mechanism. This gland may well be overworked in people who are chronically disturbed. It is difficult to evaluate this possibility because proper testing of adrenal cortical function really requires ten days in the hospital. Even if we find the tests to be within normal limits, there is no guarantee that some state between good health and outright illness may not exist.

We do know that when whole adrenal cortical extract is administered to emotionally ill people, many feel better. As mentioned previously, M.D. reports giving a combination of intravenous ascorbic acid and adrenal cortex to psychotic patients, which aroused many of them from their psychotic states. I have observed the same phenomenon in my office, and therefore sometimes use adrenal cortical extract. Incidentally, adrenal cortical injections are also very helpful for patients who have emotional symptoms following the eating of some food to which they are allergic.

Some of my views about adrenal cortical hormones cannot be definitely documented at this time. Much more scientific work on this is being done in Europe than here. My clinical experience leads me to believe, however, that eventually clear scientific proof will be forthcoming to the effect that many emotionally ill people can benefit from adrenal cortical extract. Modern living, with its lack of exercise, probably increases susceptibility to adrenal cortical insufficiency by not providing the stimulation of physical activity. Rather, it tends to give constant overstimulation from the tensions surrounding us, as well as from the “refined” foods which we eat.

HOW ADRENALIN AFFECTS YOUR EMOTIONS

Another part of the adrenal gland is involved in the well-known “fight-or-flight” mechanism which was so vital for our ancestors. Whenever primitive man met an emergency situation such as a dangerous animal he was forced either to fight or to run to escape. The body’s immediate reaction to such emergencies was vital for survival, and it was the adrenal gland that insured it. The adrenal gland shoots adrenalin into the blood stream, which makes the blood sugar go up and thus readies the muscle tissue to work more efficiently. At the same time, adrenalin causes a reduction of the blood supply to the abdominal organs, making more blood fuel and oxygen available to the muscles.

For millions of years this mechanism was most appropriate; it certainly helps to account for our survival as a species. But nowadays this vestige from the past is a liability. If, for example, a woman working in a typing pool feels the need to get up and stretch her legs, and at the same time would like to tell her disapproving supervisor to get off her back; she has a feeling of confinement and repressed hostility which causes adrenalin, to shoot into her blood, making her ready for fight or Flight. Yet if she needs to earn a living, she can neither fight nor flee. The adrenalin in her blood makes her tremble with repressed hostility. Her blood sugar shoots up because of the increased adrenalin secretion; as a result of the elevated blood sugar her insulin-producing glands secrete insulin which knocks the blood sugar down again often too low and too rapidly.

The stress of going through this frustrated fight or flight reaction and its attendant strain on carbohydrate metabolism is one of the ways for hypoglycemia to get started. If the insult to the carbohydrate metabolism is increased by eating highly refined foods, including sugar, the whole mechanism grows more brittle, and the emotional life of the patient tends to break down rather quickly in many instances. It is not for nothing that we refer to modern life as a rat race, the surprising thing is that the rats hold up as well as they do.