So many people have gotten used to living life in a “blah” state of mind. Uninspired by anything, hardly interested in even the most important people in their lives. Can you imagine what it would be like to feel truly inspired again? To believe your most genuine desires and dreams are possible? People who live in a chronic state of mild depression, or nagging anxiety have most likely given up on the pursuit of a meaningful life. Despite what they want to give to the world, despite how God wants to use them to make this world brighter… they are stuck in a web of mediocrity, compromise, stagnation, inexpression, and perhaps isolation.
Does this sound familiar to you? While good diagnosis and treatments for anxiety and depression, like counseling and medications, are very important… I wonder if you’ve considered some of the more physical causes of these conditions? It is very important to be checked for anemia, thyroid disorders, and other neurological conditions which can cause depressive symptoms. But did you know that certain microbes- bacteria and fungi- living in our intestines can cause these symptoms too?
Our intestines are filled with millions of organisms- some of which help us to feel well and thrive, and others which can make us sick, anxious, angry, depressed, or mentally fuzzy. Some of these bacteria and fungi cause chronic inflammation which can cause not only mental symptoms, but also body aches and pains, and difficulty digesting, which doctors have a hard time explaining. Did you know there are tests some doctors can do to find out exactly which microbes are living in your gut? There are treatments to get rid of the bad ones and to increase the numbers of beneficial gut bacteria? These treatments have been successful, not just for depression and anxiety, but also for the mental impairments 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 possible root causes of malaise, fatigue, depression, or anxiety. Doctors can use specialty labs to order organic acid testing, which shows the doctor what is your nutritional status. Are you at sufficient levels for all of the vitamins and cofactors your body needs for the thousands of chemical reactions that are going on at any given time. There are markers for overgrowth of yeast, or pathological bacteria. There are markers which show if you’ve had high exposures to specific metal and environmental toxins and markers which show how well your body is doing at detoxifying itself. There are markers for neurotransmitters, and neurotransmitter metabolism which guide the doctor on causes, and best treatments for your specific condition.
My advice to you, would be to trust your body, trust God to never desert you, and find a doctor who can help you find out what exactly is causing your current symptoms. God wants more for you- He wants you to be free to express your most joyful self. He has a plan for your life, and it is more wonderful than you can imagine.