Mental health is becoming a mainstream topic these days and for good reason.

It’s estimated that over 50 million adults and 5 million children in the United States suffer from mental illness, making it a serious issue for our growing population and the happiness of it.

So what can we do about it?

One answer may surprise you and it’s called functional psychiatry.

A type of functional medicine practice, functional psychiatry searches for the root cause of an individual’s mental illness and then treats that underlying issue in addition to symptoms.

It maintains that a bio-chemical imbalance in the body (sometimes paired with genetic pre-disposition) may be responsible for the development of an individual’s mental disorder and that addressing the cause(s) properly can lead to a more successful outcome.

This customized care affirms that there are many different things that can manifest mental illness such as, but not limited to:

          – genetic pre-dispositions
          – unhealthy diet
          – malnutrition
          – poor nutrient absorption
          – stress
          – big life transitions
          – undiagnosed disorders such as celiac or thyroid disease

that can develop into such issues as:

          – anxiety
          – depression
          – eating disorders
          – ADHD
          – autism
          – obsessive compulsive behavior
          – substance use disorder
          – cognitive decline

Functional psychiatry strives to discover why mental health challenges are present (yes, it searches for an actual reason!) and then treats the condition appropriately; many times, biochemical mediators (specific nutrients) and herbal supplements are recommended to support pathways and receptors in the brain (in addition to medication if needed).

Interested in learning more?

Here are a few insights into this type of mental health care:

It’s all about an individual’s bio-chemistry.

Contrary to western medicine, it’s not a case of “You have that, so take this,” mentality.

Functional psychiatry can include a variety of tests in order to analyze each case individually.

Considering all of our systems are uniquely our own, this practice allows treatment of the person not just the diagnosis and many times includes custom-blended supplements specifically for an individual.

It’s for all ages and mental disorders.

From kids to adults, searching for and treating the root cause of mental illness can be valuable at any age for almost any illness.

It’s not opposed to medical prescriptions.

For some, medication may be necessary to function each day.

Rather than being an either/or type of practice, functional psychiatry respects that prescriptions may be necessary in some cases and works to complement it.

In addition, it can help mitigate side-effects of psychiatric drugs, which for some may be significant and lead to a person not taking their medications.

It can be especially beneficial after a big transition in life.

Mental illness can be particularly noticeable during or after such life experiences as puberty, pregnancy, and menopause (not to mention outward stress such as moving, job change, and death of a loved one).

Such times in life can require an increase in nutrient demand (think of the body growing and changing). This can leave the brain depleted and susceptible to pre-disposed genetic weaknesses, triggering a mental disorder.

During and after such events, functional psychiatry can help replenish nutrients that have waned. If there is a family history of mental health issues, a preventive educational approach may go a long way towards avoiding full manifestation of a mental illness.

Understanding that mental illness may have a direct relation to a chemical imbalance and/or genetic pre-disposition can change the way we not only look at mental health, but how it is treated as well.

If you, or someone you know in the Boulder or Denver metro area is suffering from a mental disorder and could benefit from testing and functional medicine care, please call me at (720) 340-0193 or contact me here.

Together, we can treat the whole you – not just the issue at hand.

REFERENCES:

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/mental-illness-children