The Role of Functional Medicine in Managing Stress and Anxiety

With the rise of mental health issues, there has been an increasing need for effective treatments. Functional medicine is a treatment that is gaining more attention due to its focus on the causes of stress and anxiety. Most people with anxiety are prescribed anti-anxiety medications and antidepressants, which work by manipulating your brain chemistry to reduce the severity of your symptoms. However, many drugs have serious side effects and are difficult to stop taking. Getting functional medicine near you can help you holistically manage your mental health issues.

Functional medicine practitioners look beyond symptoms and focus on identifying the underlying factors causing stress or anxiety. They use a combination of lifestyle changes, diet, supplements, and other therapies to restore balance in the body and mind. With this approach, they can create personalized treatment plans tailored to each individual’s needs and help them achieve long-term relief from their symptoms.

How Can Functional Medicine Help With Stress And Anxiety?

Rather than treating a disease, functional medicine practitioners seek to uncover the root cause of a patient’s illness. They do this by examining your lifestyle, genetic makeup, and environment. They also examine heavy metal toxicity, neurotransmitter imbalances, and nutritional deficiencies.

A functional medicine doctor can also provide stress management techniques, such as meditation or a gratitude journaling practice. These are great ways to help slow your mind down and focus on the present moment, which can be especially helpful for patients who find their anxious thoughts constantly racing.

The best part is that a functional medicine doctor in Louisville, CO, can provide a personalized plan for your health needs. This makes them partners in your journey to improve your health and prevent future illness.

What Are the Benefits of Functional Medicine for Stress and Anxiety?

Stress is a common symptom of many illnesses, including anxiety. It can affect the way you think and behave, as well as your physical health. Learning how to manage your stress to avoid symptoms and maintain good health is important. Functional medicine offers great benefits:

• Rather than focusing on a single medication to fix anxiety symptoms, Functional medicine looks at the cause. This helps people with the condition feel better and live happier, healthier lives. The root causes of anxiety are complex and often different for everyone, but they can be traced to several factors. These include environmental and dietary exposures, genetic makeup, and biochemical individuality.
• Focuses on a holistic approach. Another option is to try acupuncture, which has been shown to relax the nervous system and improve sleep. It’s often recommended for those with anxiety because it increases blood flow and releases endorphins that help soothe the mind and body.
• Cutting out toxic and inflammatory foods can also positively affect anxiety. This includes eliminating processed foods, alcohol, caffeine, sugar, and top inflammatory foods such as wheat, dairy, soy, eggs, and nightshades. This gives your digestive system a break and allows your body to reset.

Regardless of the type of therapy you choose, it’s critical to work with a doctor near you to ensure you have the best chance of recovering from your stress and anxiety. Combining various therapies can be effective and ultimately help you achieve your goals.

How Does Functional Medicine Differ from Conventional Medicine?

In an age of increasing chronic disease and illness, it’s important to understand what functional medicine is, how it differs from conventional medicine, and why it’s the future of healthcare.

• System-based approach

Rather than treating symptoms, which is the prevailing conventional approach, functional medicine uses a systems-based approach to treat the root causes of your health concerns. This holistic approach helps you achieve primary disease prevention and a long, healthy life!

• Your Doctor and You:

Unlike a conventional doctor, functional medicine doctors take time to get to know you. They ask about your family history, lifestyle, and health and wellness goals.

They gather detailed information about your history and current conditions, as well as any lab tests you may have, so they can create a treatment plan that addresses multiple factors in your lifestyle.

• Tests That Aren’t Usually Used in Conventional Medicine:

In contrast, functional medicine physicians use lab tests that aren’t commonly used in conventional practices, such as organic acid testing, amino acids testing, salivary hormone and food allergy testing, and nutrient assessment. These tests allow Dr. Matthew T Reddy to identify underlying issues before they lead to disease.

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Visit Reddy Natural Medicine for more information about functional medicine and how it works.