Do You Have Mental Health Concerns?

A loss of control, or feeling powerless. This is often how those dealing with anxiety and other mood disorders describe how they feel.  If this is the case for you, you’re not alone.  There could be many causes, including anxiety and depression, which are two of the most common types of mental disorders in Canada. Sadly, they often have a major impact on the daily lives of those affected.  Constant feelings of sadness, nervousness and worry make it difficult to relax and focus on work or school.  If you are struggling with this, you may also notice many physical symptoms as well including:  Heart palpitations (irregular heart beats), the feeling of numbness or tingling, nausea, chest pain, shortness of breath, tension headaches and difficulty sleeping, just to name a few. In more advanced cases, anxiety can lead to panic attacks which is the feeling of imending doom. Panic attacks are terrifying to experience, and often results in a visit to the emergency room because the symptoms are so similar to having a heart attack.

What Are My Treatment Options? 

The good news is that there are always options. You could talk to friends and family about your concern(s), read related self-healing books, and/or work on your stress management skills. If you choose to work with a professional, then you can choose from your family doctor, a psychotherapist or psychologist, or you could also seek out care with a Naturopathic Doctor.  Read below for things to consider when seeking advice from a conventional doctor vs taking a more natural approach.

The Conventional Approach To Treating Mood Conditions

A visit to your family doctor may result in a discussion about whether or not taking a medication is the right approach for you. SSRI’s (e.g. effexor, celexa, cipralex and paxil) are a commonly prescribed class of medication. They work by regulating levels of serotonin, which is your “feel good hormone”. When used properly, many find these medications to be a helpful temporary solution. However, the downside is that they often come with common side effects including weight gain, nausea, fatigue, headaches, hair loss, changes in sexual behaviour (erectile dysfunction and lower libido). Many also report the sensation of their feelings being numbed, i.e. as if they are zombie like.  There are also the withdrawal effects that occur once coming off the medication to consider.

The Natural Approach To Treating Mood Concerns

Identifying the cause of your mood concern is an important first step of any assessment process. Once uncovered,  it can help to create a much longer lasting solution.  At KIH clinic we have Registered Psychotherapists and Naturopathic Doctors who are all trained in investigating this root cause. The following are integrative care approaches they use to improve your mood: Comprehensive lab tests including nutrient and hormone analyses, acupuncture, relaxation massage therapy, natural supplementation, Psychotherapy, nutrition and IV Vitamin Drips.  Along with these treatments, they also include recommendations on stress management and lifestyle changes including exercise, yoga, deep breathing, health routines such as the importance of getting a proper sleep and other rebalancing strategies to help you deal with the stresses of life.

If you are interested in using the natural approach, read more below about our Healthy Moods treatment plan. We also welcome you to request a free consultation in the green form below.