Stress... The way we live our lives often forces us to keep going, and going, and going - often powering through horrible fatigue, sadness, frustration, and hopelessness. One of the first things to suffer is our ability to get restful sleep. About 60 million Americans have problems with insomnia.
And regarding depression and anxiety - tens of millions of Americans suffer from disorders like OCD, Major Depressive Disorder, PTSD, Social Anxiety Disorder, Adrenal burnout, and Generalized Anxiety Disorder.
Standard medical practice approaches these issues with drugs - without testing, and without re-evaluation. In fact, most people with a similar diagnosis get the same drugs. And even though most of those drugs are only meant to be taken for 4-6 months, people are sometimes left on them for decades. This is "one size fits all" medicine.
But, not everybody is the same.
Many people don't get better - in fact they get worse. These drugs lead to further imbalances, some that after continuous treatment, are extremely difficult to correct. The underlying issues aren't addressed. They're still there!
Functional Medicine includes testing to find out exactly where the imbalances are - neurotransmitters (like serotonin and norepinephrine), adrenals (cortisol), thyroid hormones, etc. Functional Medicine also includes checking the function of the gut (where 80-90% of neurotransmitters are produced), evaluating the liver (where hormones and neurotransmitters are broken down), and multiple other systems.
Find the cause. Fix the Problem.
After thorough testing, a multi-factorial approach towards treatment takes place. We learn which hormones and neurotransmitters need to be treated (sometimes none - and sometimes many). We also learn what systems that affect mood and sleep need to be treated. Then we go after them!
Lifestyle changes, stress management techniques, nutrition, repairing the gut, and many other approaches restore overall function and improve sleep, energy, and mood - often without the need for medication.
Need more information about Functional Medicine in Portland, Salem, or the Willamette Valley?
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