What is PNI? Watch Dr. Chris’s short explainer video about why it’s such an exciting field to learn about! It really affects us in our day-to-day lives!
Psychoneuroimmunology is the growing field of study that blends behavioural science with neurological, endocrine, and immune processes. It is at the wildly fascinating intersection between mind and body.
Instinctively we have known for a long time that how we think affects how we feel. This new field explains the scientific understanding of how psychology and physical body processes interact.
What we are discovering is that there is a bi-directional conversation happening between the body and the mind, meaning that the body can affect the thoughts we have, while our thoughts can also affect our physical bodies through the immune, hormone and neurological systems.
Starting with the mind, the brain communicates with the body through the autonomic nervous system, which is composed of the sympathetic and the parasympathetic systems. Generally, the sympathetic system is known as the excitatory “flight or flight” system. The parasympathetic nervous system is the more relaxed “rest and digest” system. Both systems are necessary, and what is most important is the balance between the two. You need to be stimulated enough to wake up in the morning, to focus and work, and to exercise and be energized, while you also need to be restful enough to sleep at night, recover energy, and to properly digest food.
When the balance is off, the body gets a one-sided signal from the brain that has downstream effects on many systems. A constantly stressed brain will create changes to the physical structure of the brain and lead to decreased immune function. It does this by creating neuropeptides within the brain that travel to the blood stream and reduce the number and the effectiveness of immune cells, as well as change the balance of hormones in the body to reflect a more stress-responsive state. This is how our thoughts and worries can lead to physical changes that have real consequences like getting sick more often, decreased ability to fight serious infections, and increased inflammation, digestive issues, and pain.
This pathway can work the other way around as well. Having chronic inflammation or from auto-immune conditions, recurrent infections, or even from chronically elevated blood sugar levels, also affects the functioning of the brain. These inflammatory states create molecules called cytokines that carry the signal to the brain that causes a person to experience things like stress, anxiety, worry, and repetitive thoughts.
When someone is experiencing physical or mental symptoms it’s now becoming very apparent that both the mind and body need to be addressed if we want to get to the root cause. Psychoneuroimmunology explains how interconnected our systems truly are, and how we must look at the person as a whole to make real changes to our health and wellbeing.
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I have never ever heard of this but I’m so interested and looking for a program that offers this.
Hi Sherita – I offer a program called: Moving Beyond in which I teach this subject: https://drchristinabjorndal.com/coaching/ – I hope you find it helpful.
Do I need a psychologist or a neurologist? I cannot find a psychoneuroimmunology doctor in Arizona. I woke up the other morning with extreme pain in my hands which I am thinking might have been a sudden onset of rheumatoid arthritis. Never had this before but a week later it is still very painful in all my joints. Making a fist is impossible. Someone mentioned it might be psychosomatic and I am wondering. Could it be? The day before my pain started I put down my seven-year-old goldendoodle dog who started limping in one leg and within three weeks became totally lame. Extensive tests pointed to auto immune disease, RA. I do have trouble expressing grief. Distress is bottled up inside me some of the time. I have spent the day looking for help on the computer to no avail. Who do I go to?
Sandra,
I just happen to be researching neuro immunology myself and stumbled upon this message wrote. Have you considered looking into Lyme disease. Your symptoms sound very similar to just that. Especially when you mentioned that your dog became I’ll and had to be put down. I have a family member with neurological Lyme disease and just came from Arizona where they received 4 months of IV antibiotic and nutrient support. I met plenty at the clinic that all had a different story, since Lyme attacks everyone differently. If you decide to go down this road of checking into Lyme disease, make sure you seek a Lyme Literate Doctor. Most general Lyme tests don’t detect.
The tests are expensive but at least you would have answers. Note: Lyme disease is the biggest imitator of all other diseases and health issues.
Most people spend many years before realizing that’s what it is. Hope you get some answers soon and feel better as well. Many blessings
Hi! Thank you for reaching out. If you reside in Alberta, Canada, please complete this form to work with Dr. Chris, ND. Alternatively, you can call 587-521-3595 and schedule an appointment with Dr. Michael Mason-Wood. If you like outside of Edmonton or the province of Alberta, please visit cand.ca to find a licensed naturopathic doctor. We wish you all the best on your health journey.
Thank you for this nice video, I have a bachelor degree in clinical psychology
How and where can I study master degree in psychoneuroimmunology?
Hi! I would recommend contacting the schools you are interested in to see if they offer courses in psychoneuroimmunology. Here is a masterclass that is available: https://ce.muih.edu/browse/ce/courses/the-psychoneuroimmunology-masterclass-shell – I hope that helps! Dr. Chris.nd
Do you know someone in the Dallas area?
Hi Nora, You can find a listing of naturopathic doctors at https://naturopathic.org/ – I hope that helps! My apologies for the late response, Dr. Chris.nd
Hi Nora – We recommend searching on the American Association of Naturopathic Physicians website to find a naturopathic doctor in Dallas.
2 years ago I was diagnosed with Degenerative Spondylosis with narrowing l4 &l5. Over these past 2 years I have been searching how to improve my mental, physical & spiritual self. What I used to see as a curse I now realize is a blessing. My work will continue by studying psychoneuroimmunology in hopes of helping others realize their diagnosis is not their prognosis. Thank you for all of your hard work Dr. Christina. You’re amazing !❤️
Thank you! Much love to you