The quiet cure

By Herman M. Lagon

A colleague once joked that the cheapest therapist in the country was a Jollibee Chickenjoy meal. It was funny—but only because it was a little too true. When things get rough, most of us do not reflect or take a walk. We eat. And often, not out of hunger, but habit. I have seen fellow teachers dig into heavy rice meals at 4 p.m., not because they were starving, but because they were running on fumes. Then I stumbled on a viral Facebook post titled “6 Unheard Facts Everyone Should Know.” It was short, scrollable, and strangely profound. It listed six claims—about food, water, fasting, exercise, sunlight, and gut health—not as trends, but as overlooked truths. It made me pause. What if the real cure for our exhaustion is not some wellness hack, but a return to the things we once knew?

“Food is the most abused anxiety drug,” the post began. And indeed, when we are tired, sad, or frustrated, we reach for snacks. It is not just comfort—it is chemistry. Sugar and salt stimulate dopamine, the brain’s reward hormone. A 2020 study by the Philippine Society of Endocrinology confirmed that emotional eating surged during the pandemic, especially among teachers and BPO workers. Food becomes therapy. But the danger is in the quiet trade-off: a moment of calm now, health problems later. The irony is that we eat to feel better, but end up feeling worse.

The second line hit close to home: “Water is the most underrated superfood.” We drink everything—milk tea, coffee, soft drinks—except plain water. According to a 2022 DOH survey, eight in ten Filipinos do not meet the daily hydration standard. But water does more than quench thirst. It keeps our joints supple, aids digestion, and improves mental clarity. I once asked my students who brought water bottles to class. Only a handful did even if water is available for free via our water dispenser. Most said it was easier to buy something sweet. And yet, if we treated water not as filler but as fuel, maybe our minds and moods would not feel so sluggish.

“Fasting is the most forgotten cure.” This one stirred memories. My Lolo used to say, “Paayaw anay sang tiyan.” At the time, I thought it was just his way of saving money. Now, science backs him up. Intermittent fasting—short, regular breaks from eating—gives the gut time to rest and repair. Harvard researchers have found that it helps lower blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and boost cell renewal. In a culture where every occasion calls for food—even office meetings—choosing not to eat feels radical. But maybe fasting is not about deprivation. Maybe it is about listening.

Then came exercise. “The most underused antidepressant,” it read. I could not agree more for I am one guilty culprit. I have seen how some teachers who take morning walks or do a quick stretch between classes carry less tension. Movement, no matter how small, sparks the release of feel-good hormones like serotonin. One colleague began dancing again during the lockdowns—just him, an old YouTube playlist, and the living room floor. She told me, “Parang bumalik ‘yung kabataan ko.” Perhaps that is the reason why my daughters continue to urge me to walk often in Esplanade. And that is the thing—exercise does not have to be perfect. It just has to be honest.

“Sunlight is the best medicine.” It sounds ironic for a country bathed in sun, but many of us live in shadows—curtains drawn, indoors all day. We forget that sunlight helps our bodies produce vitamin D, essential for mood, bone strength, and immunity. The Lancet in 2021 linked low vitamin D levels to higher depression risks. And yet, we spend more time under LED lights than actual sun. I remember a sixth grader sitting on the school steps one morning. When I asked why, he simply said, “So my eyes will wake up, Sir.” Sometimes, our bodies ask for healing in ways words cannot.

The last point made me sit up: “Gut health is the foundation of well-being.” We rarely think of our stomachs beyond hunger or indigestion. But scientists now call the gut our “second brain.” It hosts trillions of microbes that influence everything from our immunity to our mood. A 2019 study in Nutrients found direct links between gut balance and mental clarity. In practical terms? The food we eat—like fiber, local greens, and even fermented dishes like ginamus or sinamak—feeds not just the body, but also the brain. The problem is that we now rush meals, rely on fast food, and punish our gut with stress.

What these six ideas share is their simplicity. They are not new. They are just neglected. In classrooms, where many of us are stretched thin, these are not luxuries. They are survival tools. A teacher who feels foggy or drained might not need another cup of coffee. Maybe they just need water, sunlight, or a break from sugar. We speak often about burnout, but sometimes the root is physical, not just emotional. The body, after all, keeps the score.

That said, let us be clear. These are not miracle cures. They do not replace medical care or therapy. They do not solve poverty, trauma, or broken systems. But they remind us of something essential: healing does not always have to be grand. Sometimes, it starts with noticing—how we eat, how we move, how we rest. And from there, with intention, we begin again.

As educators and parents, we often model grit. But maybe we should also model grace. The kind that pauses, nourishes, drinks water, and steps outside. The kind that chooses balance over burnout. If we want to teach resilience, we must live it—gently, honestly, and in full color.

In the end, the post went viral not because it shocked us, but because it did not. These truths were always with us. We just forgot. And maybe, in remembering, we return to ourselves.

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Doc H fondly describes himself as a ”student of and for life” who, like many others, aspires to a life-giving and why-driven world grounded in social justice and the pursuit of happiness. His views do not necessarily reflect those of the institutions he is employed or connected with.