this is your mind on plants

Michael Pollan’s work caught my eye because I am on a journey of questioning my relationship with caffeine. I hoped to learn more about what my body and brain experience when I drink coffee. In this book, he discusses his research and experimentation with the poppy plant, caffeine, and mescaline. You will be taken on a journey of history and culture for each plant before Pollan discusses his own experience using them. He covers the war on drugs, European culture, the American revolution, capitalism, and Native American history amongst many other topics. Although Pollan does cover some science for what happens in the body with these substances, it is more historic and autobiographic than I expected. However, I found the history fascinating—such as how clever these plants are for surviving and thriving. In the caffeine chapter, he references Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker, which so happens to be on my shelf already. I look forward to that. Perhaps the part of Pollan’s book that stood out most is what a Native American quoted—”Sometimes, sometimes if you respect something, you just have to leave it alone.” (p. 210). There are also interesting references in the mescaline chapter to how the body and heart can hold onto trauma. I do recommend for anyone using these substances or working with clients who use these substances.

The Grieving Body

“This can be painful, facing the reality of how things are now, but can also bring a sense of deep authenticity and purpose.” (p. 232)

I found this to be a more challenging read than The Grieving Brain. However, it was still fruitful and informative. Dr, O’Connor discusses the heart, the immune system, the endocrine system, the liver, the lungs, the brain, and of course the sympathetic nervous system to begin. She discusses research on how those grieving are more likely to develop certain physical disease immediately after loss due to their lower window of tolerance in grief. She goes further into attachment theory in the body—how in grief our motivation to explore and socialize is lower because our lost loved one (our secure base) is no longer there fueling our competence. In acute grief, our body is reacting to the loss days and weeks following. Dr. O’Connor explains how those reactions are not a choice and we have no control over what our cortisol levels are doing. Long term, we learn to regulate, but “[r]egulation cannot be forced…we can set up the conditions that make new, healthy self-regulation most likely” (p. 215). As with the prequel to this book, Dr. O’Connor not only explains what is going on in our systems during grief, but how we can more effectively navigate it. The second half of the book explains how we can intervene with awareness and intention. Understanding how our energy and motivation levels are shifting within grief allows for better knowing and doing. I’d definitely recommend reading The Grieving Brain before cracking this one open. It will help you move through her chapter on the brain better, and give a good background on her research with grief first.

Click for more on Dr. O’Connor and this book if interested!

Category

Contact Me
Therapy Modalities

Merch
Client Portal

Faith Carlson, MS, LCP

200 East Joppa Road Suite 402 Towson, MD 21286