An important understanding from the seven intelligences (7Qs) is that what happens in one part of our life/person affects other parts. Some recent research has shown a clear causal link between physical actions (PQ) and our emotional state (EQ), particularly depression.

A news item on ABC’s NewsRadio station 2.10.08 showed a strong link between smoking and depression.

Often it has been thought that people smoke because they are depressed, using cigarettes as some sort of self-medication. Research has shown that the effect actually goes strongly the other way. People who smoke have a marked increase in risk for depressive episodes, because they smoke. You can listen to the program by clicking on the link below.

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/newsradio/audio/20081002-depression.mp3

Later that same day, NewsRadio aired another program which showed a similar causal link between sleep deprivation and depression. Again, it had been thought that people who were depressed had sleeping difficulties due to the depression. Research has shown the link actually goes the other way. If you have poor sleep, either in length or quality, then you have a marked increase in risk of depression. That item can be listen to using the link below.

http://mpegmedia.abc.net.au/newsradio/audio/20081002-sleep.mp3

The kernel to take away and consider from these two items is how is our physical health helping or harming our emotional, mental or spiritual health?