Are you feeling anxious? Are you finding it harder and harder to just relax and enjoy life? You’re not alone. Anxiety disorders are the most common mental illness in the United States, affecting 40 million adults. If you’re like most working adults, you probably don’t have time to spare when it comes to your mental health. And if you’re a parent, you know that every day is a balancing act between taking care of your family and taking care of yourself. So it’s no wonder that so many people are turning to functional medicine as an option for treating anxiety.
Functional medicine is all about looking at the body as a whole and finding the root cause of any problems. This can be a great way to treat anxiety because it allows your doctor to look for any underlying issues that may be causing your anxiety symptoms. Functional medicine can also help you learn how to better manage your stress, which is often a major contributor to anxiety.
What is Anxiety?
Anxiety is a normal emotion that we all feel at times. It’s what we feel when we’re worried or nervous about something. But for some people, anxiety disorders can be much more than just an occasional feeling. For them, anxiety is a constant and overwhelming feeling that can interfere with their daily lives.
Anxiety disorders can make it hard to concentrate, sleep, or even just relax. And in some cases, anxiety can lead to physical symptoms like a racing heart, sweating, or chest pain. An anxiety disorder can also be associated with other disorders, such as a panic disorder. This is when a person is experiencing recurring panic attacks at unexpected times.
Mental health plays a big role in our physical health. If you’re dealing with anxiety that’s interfering with your life, it’s important to seek help.
What Are The Signs That You May Be Struggling With Anxiety?
Anxiety disorders can be different for everyone. Some people may only feel anxious in certain situations, while others may feel anxious all the time. And some people may have anxiety that comes and goes, while others may have a generalized anxiety disorder or chronic anxiety.
There are a number of different signs and symptoms that can indicate you’re struggling with anxiety. If you’re feeling any of the following, it may be time to seek help:
- You’re always worried or anxious about something
- You’re having trouble sleeping
- You’re feeling irritable or on edge
- You’re avoiding things or situations that make you anxious
- You’re feeling fatigued
- Your heart is racing, or you’re having trouble breathing
- You’re sweating or trembling
- You have a hard time concentrating
If you’re struggling with anxiety, it’s important to seek help. Other mental health conditions may share features of anxiety disorders – like post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder. There are a lot of different treatment options available when it comes to mental health, and working with a qualified healthcare professional can help you find the right one for you.
What is Functional Medicine?
Functional medicine is a type of healthcare that focuses on finding the root cause of illness and disease. It’s based on the belief that the body is a whole, and that all the systems in the body are interconnected. This means that if one system is not working properly, it can affect other systems.
Functional medicine practitioners look at the whole person, not just the symptoms. They take into account a person’s lifestyle, diet, environment, and genetics when trying to find the root cause of illness or disease.
How Can Functional Medicine Help Treat Anxiety Disorders?
Functional medicine practitioners believe that the root cause of anxiety is often a combination of physical, mental, and emotional factors. By looking at the whole person, they can develop a treatment plan that addresses all of these factors.
One of the most important things that functional medicine can do for people with anxiety disorders is to help them learn how to manage their stress and relieve symptoms associated with anxiety. Stress is often a major contributor to anxiety, and managing it can be a key part of treatment.
Underlying Conditions Causing Anxiety?
Functional medicine practitioners can also help people with anxiety disorders by looking for any underlying physical issues that may be contributing to their symptoms. For example, they may order tests to check for thyroid problems, neurotransmitter levels, gut health, vitamin deficiencies, or blood sugar imbalances.
They may also recommend lifestyle changes, such as getting more exercise, eating a healthy diet, and getting enough sleep. These lifestyle changes can help reduce stress and improve overall health.
In some cases, if someone has an imbalance in their gut bacteria, this could be causing their anxiety. Since 80% of serotonin (the “happy” neurotransmitter) is produced in the gut, treating the gut can often help reduce anxiety symptoms.
If you’re struggling with anxiety, functional medicine may be able to help. Talk to your healthcare provider or mental health professionals about whether it’s right for you. Mental health plays a very serious role in our overall well-being.
Reduce Anxiety Symptoms
There are many ways that functional medicine can help reduce anxiety symptoms. One of the most important is by helping the person manage their stress. Stress is often a major contributor to anxiety, and managing it can be a key part of treatment.
Functional medicine practitioners can also help people with anxiety disorders by creating a personalized treatment plan using functional medicine principles. This can include changes to diet and lifestyle. For example, if someone has an imbalance in their gut bacteria, this could be causing their anxiety. Treating the gut can often help reduce anxiety symptoms.
Further Treatment Options to Reduce Anxiety
Anti-anxiety medication can help to relieve symptoms as well, however, there are genetic and environmental factors that play a role. In the same way that mental health problems can manifest into physical symptoms, physical health problems can lead to mental symptoms.
Talk therapy, support groups, relaxation techniques, or alternative treatments like herbal remedies or acupuncture, can be used to ease anxiety and symptoms of anxiety disorders.
The Importance of Self-Care in Managing Anxiety
Self-care is an important part of managing anxiety according to the Anxiety and Depression Association. It includes things like getting enough sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. It also includes finding ways to cope with stress.
Functional medicine practitioners can help people with anxiety disorders by teaching them self-care techniques that can help reduce their symptoms. For example, they may teach them how to meditate or do breathing exercises.
Meditation and breathing exercises are just two of the many self-care techniques that can help reduce anxiety symptoms.
The Role of Gut Health in Anxiety
Gut health is an important part of managing anxiety. Many people with anxiety disorders have an imbalance in their gut bacteria. This can be a cause of their anxiety.
Functional medicine practitioners can help treat anxiety by looking for any underlying gut issues and addressing them. This may involve changes to diet, supplements, and probiotics.
Using Supplements and Other Natural Remedies for Anxiety
There are a variety of supplements and natural remedies that can help treat anxiety disorders. Some of the most popular include omega-3 fatty acids, magnesium, probiotics, and herbal remedies like ashwagandha and lavender.
Functional medicine practitioners can help people with anxiety disorders by recommending supplements and natural remedies that may help reduce their symptoms. The benefit of using natural supplements and remedies is that they’re often much safer than medications.
Talk to Us Today
Functional medicine is a holistic approach to medicine that looks at the whole person. It’s based on the principle that all systems in the body are interconnected, and that imbalances in one system can cause problems in another.
Treating mental health conditions, like anxiety, with functional medicine often requires a well-rounded approach. This may include a functional medicine practitioner, a therapist, and even a coach in some cases. In all cases, it requires the patient to continue their practices outside the doctor’s office and use the tools they learn when they’re on their own.
Functional medicine practitioners use a variety of different tools to treat their patients. This can include lifestyle changes, dietary changes, supplements, and natural remedies.