Book Review: "The Balanced Brain" by Camilla Nord

Do you see what I mean when I say I go on reading binges of certain types of books? There was one on horror anthologies, there was one on urban horror, there was one on 18th century French Enlightenment Politics, there was one on disasters on the sea and finally, there's this one on mental health nonfiction. I hope we can all understand that I enjoy doing these deep dives but as of yet, I am not sure why. From this book by Camilla Nord, I have managed to learn more about the brain than I ever did at school. Biology was the only science I ever enjoyed when at school and let's just put it this way - there's a difference between doing it as a teenager and honing your focus in your biology hobby as an adult.

Camilla Nord opens her book by redefining how we think about mental health and illness. She argues that mental health issues should not be considered solely as disorders of thought or behaviour but also as conditions rooted in the brain’s physical and chemical processes. Nord positions her work at the intersection of neuroscience and psychology, aiming to dispel myths about mental health while fostering a nuanced understanding of its biological underpinnings. I like the way she interweaves actual neurology into her arguments whilst maintaining the whole and more holistic look at mental health - this makes for a book that can definitely sit on both sides of the fence and cheer them both on.

She provides a comprehensive exploration of how brain structure impacts mental health. She explains the roles of key brain regions, such as the prefrontal cortex (responsible for decision-making and impulse control), the amygdala (linked to emotional responses), and the hippocampus (central to memory and stress regulation). By linking these regions to specific mental health conditions, such as anxiety, depression, and PTSD, Nord offers a biological framework to understand the symptoms many people experience. I love learning about the different functions of the brain and the more I learn about it, the more interesting it gets. To be honest though, if it got any more biochemical than this, I probably wouldn't understand much more but I'm enjoying it now!

A significant portion of the book is dedicated to the role of neurotransmitters—chemical messengers in the brain. The author explains how serotonin, dopamine, and other neurotransmitters influence mood, motivation, and cognition. She delves into how imbalances in these chemicals are associated with various conditions, such as depression or schizophrenia, and critiques the oversimplified “chemical imbalance” narrative often used to explain mental illness. I've read so many books about the roles of serotonin and dopamine that they are practically coming out of my ears. But I think that this one offers the most detail on not just their roles, but the way in which imbalances can have strange consequences on our thought processes. There's one about building a model of the Tower of London in which she talks about how to test for brain damage whilst also testing for depression even though they are two different things.

She examines the profound impact of chronic stress on mental health. She discusses how prolonged exposure to stress hormones like cortisol can shrink the hippocampus, impair memory, and increase susceptibility to anxiety and depression. The book links this scientific insight to practical implications, suggesting that reducing stress is not merely a lifestyle choice but a critical factor in preserving mental health. I think that this is important for the 'mindfulness' crowd because they do treat the whole thing like a lifestyle choice and more than often, stress is so common in everyday life that we don't see it happening. Therefore, how can we know when or whether to do 'mindfulness'? I think if you're lucky enough to have time for mindfulness, you're probably not as stressed as you think you are.

Nord highlights the role of lifestyle factors—such as diet, exercise, and sleep—in maintaining a healthy brain. She presents compelling evidence showing that physical activity can stimulate neurogenesis (the creation of new neurons) and improve mood. Similarly, she explores the impact of nutrition on mental health, particularly the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and the risks of processed foods. Her discussion on sleep emphasises its role in memory consolidation, emotional regulation, and overall mental resilience. Yes, I was reading it at nighttime, what is your point? I get that sleep is great and all, but there are some people (like you and me) who perhaps are not as good as it as we would like to be.

In conclusion, she reflects on the future of mental health care, advocating for an integrated approach that combines neuroscience, psychology, and social factors. Her book stresses the importance of moving away from one-size-fits-all treatments toward personalised care informed by both biology and lived experience. She also calls for a societal shift in how we view mental health, urging greater compassion and understanding to reduce stigma. I like this idea, because it echoes what I have been reading lately. But with this much reading available and yet hardly anything being done, I wonder whether this is going to be the case for mental health in the near future, or even in my lifetime. Progress is slow.