Many people have become used to living life in a “blah” state of mind. Uninspired in anything, hardly interested in the most important people in their lives. Can you imagine what it would be like to feel really inspired again? Believe that your most genuine dreams and desires are possible? It is very likely that people living in a chronic state of mild depression or persistent anxiety have given up the pursuit of a meaningful life. Despite what they want to give the world, despite how God wants to use them to make this world brighter … they are caught in a web of mediocrity, compromise, stagnation, blankness, and perhaps isolation.
Does this sound familiar to you? While a good diagnosis and treatments for anxiety and depression, such as counseling and medications, are very important … I wonder if you have considered some of the more physical causes of these conditions. It is very important to monitor for anemia, thyroid disorders, and other neurological conditions that can cause depressive symptoms. But did you know that certain microbes, bacteria, and fungi that live in our intestines can also cause these symptoms?
Our intestines are filled with millions of organisms, some of which help us feel good and thrive, and others can make us sick, anxious, angry, depressed, or mentally confused. Some of these bacteria and fungi cause chronic inflammation that can cause not only mental symptoms, but also body aches and difficulty digesting, which doctors have a hard time explaining. Did you know that there are tests that some doctors can do to find out exactly what germs live in your gut? Are there treatments to get rid of the bad ones and increase the number of beneficial gut bacteria? These treatments have been successful, not only for depression and anxiety, but also for mental deficiencies caused by Alzheimer’s disease, autism, ADHD, and more.
You owe it to yourself to find a functional medicine or naturopathic doctor to dig deeper and find the possible root causes of discomfort, fatigue, depression, or anxiety. Doctors can use specialized laboratories to order organic acid tests, which show the doctor your nutritional status. Are you at sufficient levels for all the vitamins and cofactors your body needs for the thousands of chemical reactions that occur at any given time? There are markers of overgrowth of yeast or pathological bacteria. There are markers that show whether you have had high exposure to specific metal and environmental toxins and markers that show how well your body is detoxifying. There are neurotransmitter metabolism and neurotransmitter markers that guide the doctor on the causes and the best treatments for your specific condition.
My advice to you would be to trust your body, trust that God will never abandon you, and find a doctor who can help you figure out what exactly is causing your current symptoms. God wants more for you. He wants you to be free to express your happiest self. He has a plan for your life and it is more wonderful than you can imagine.