With depression and anxiety on the rise, Functional Medicine can help you unlock key nutritional deficiencies to boost your mental health

Prior to the outbreak of COVID-19, mental health was already one of the nation’s top health concerns. Today, we are navigating a new normal that for many of us includes rising levels of stress, isolation, and dramatic life changes.

These shifts may impact your ability to enjoy daily life, sleep, and focus. From a personal perspective, our problems can seem situational and purely external. From a medical approach, we know that emotional health includes an internal science and in-depth look at what’s happening with our neurotransmitters and their impact on our mood.

When it comes to emotional health, Functional Medicine looks for the underlying factors at play within your body. This approach can complement your current emotional health strategies and may help you manage symptoms more naturally, which may reduce dependency on medications to treat depression, anxiety, and mood disorders.

Functional Medicine can help us learn which nutritional deficiencies may be contributing to poor production of brain chemicals that regulate our mood, sleep, enjoyment and pleasure.

To help you unlock the important role that nutrition plays on your neurological and mental health, we encourage you to consult with a provider.

Our integrative team includes Functional Medicine practitioners and registered dietitians who take the time to understand your complete health history. Utilizing advanced diagnostics, we offer a data-driven approach and an individualized blueprint for your health goals that optimizes your foundational wellbeing and helps your body thrive as it naturally should!

Signs you are deficient in three important neurotransmitters

Many medications for mental health are based on these three neurotransmitters – Serotonin, Dopamine, and GABA. We can help you understand which micronutrients you need to improve and regulate your body’s production of these important brain chemicals.

SEROTONIN

What does it do? Sometimes called “the happy chemical,” serotonin is responsible for many functions and controls mood, enjoyment, and sleep.

Symptoms of deficiency

  • Anxiety, depression, irritability
  • Low self-esteem
  • Impulsive behavior
  • Decrease of pleasure for hobbies, interests, and seeing friends
  • Feelings of being overwhelmed all the time
  • Aggression – inner rage, or unprovoked anger
  • Low self-esteem
  • Paranoia or sadness for no apparent reason
  • Insomnia – inability to fall into deep sleep or getting restful sleep
  • Poor appetite

DOPAMINE

What does it do? Dopamine is vital for physical and mental wellbeing. It impacts brain functions like mood, sleep memory, and our ability to focus. It gives us drive and motivation in life.

Symptoms of deficiency

  • Depression
  • Lack of motivation or concentration
  • Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness
  • Inability to finish tasks
  • Memory issues
  • Self-destructive thoughts
  • Anger and aggression under stress
  • Isolation
  • Changes in coordination
  • Restless leg syndrome
  • Low sex drive
  • Symptoms of ADHD

 

GABA

What does it do? GABA inhibits certain chemical activity in the brain decreasing activity in the nervous system. GABA reins in impulsive brain activity and can provide the necessary inhibitory effect that blocks out excessive brain activity that may lead to depression.

Symptoms of deficiency

  • Anxiety, nervousness, panic
  • Restless mind
  • Chronic stress
  • Muscle pain and headaches
  • Overwhelmed and disorganized attention
  • Guilt for no reason

If you, or a loved one, are experiencing symptoms, we are here to support.

Many emotional health concerns are common and manageable. If you are ready, we can help you regain control of your health and happiness today! Fill out the form below to get started.

Schedule

Please fill out the form to request an appointment at our health and wellness center for the service and location of your preference. We try to get back to all requests as quickly as possible. If you need immediate assistance, please call 773-598-4387.

Location Service Preferred Time

Your safety comes first: we are operating with heightened safety measures in our clinics and offer telemedicine for those unable to visit in person.

   
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