Is Your Mental Health Actually a Symptom of a Physical Problem?

Our Naturopathic Approach to Finding the Root Cause at Movability

Mental health struggles like anxiety, depression, brain fog, and mood swings are often treated as purely psychological issues. But what if your symptoms are not just in your head? What if they are signals from your body that something is out of balance?

At Movability, we take a naturopathic approach to mental health, recognizing that mood and brain function are deeply connected to nutrition, hormones, gut health, inflammation, and more. Instead of just managing symptoms, our naturopath works to identify the root causes of mental health concerns, helping you restore balance naturally.

Let’s explore some of the most common physical causes of mental health struggles and how Movability’s naturopathic approach can help.

1. Nutrient Deficiencies: A Hidden Cause of Anxiety and Depression

Your brain needs the right nutrients to function properly. If you are deficient in key vitamins and minerals, your neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine will not work as they should, leading to mood imbalances.

Common Nutrient Deficiencies That Affect Mental Health:

  • Vitamin B12 Deficiency - Linked to depression, fatigue, brain fog, and even paranoia

  • Iron Deficiency (Anemia) - Can cause anxiety, irritability, low motivation, and poor concentration

  • Magnesium Deficiency - Often leads to anxiety, panic attacks, and sleep issues

  • Omega-3 Deficiency - Connected to depression, ADHD, and cognitive dysfunction

How Movability’s Naturopath Can Help:

A blood test can check for these deficiencies. If identified, we use targeted supplementation and dietary changes to improve mental clarity and mood.

2. Hormonal Imbalances and Mental Health: More Than Just Mood Swings

Your hormones are powerful chemical messengers that influence your mood, energy levels, and cognitive function. Even small imbalances can lead to significant mental health symptoms.

Key Hormonal Imbalances That Affect Mood:

  • Thyroid Dysfunction (Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism)

    • Low thyroid function (hypothyroidism) - Can cause depression, fatigue, and brain fog

    • Overactive thyroid (hyperthyroidism) - Can lead to anxiety, restlessness, and panic attacks

  • Adrenal Dysfunction (Cortisol Imbalance) - Chronic stress can lead to cortisol dysregulation, causing anxiety, depression, and brain fog

  • Sex Hormone Imbalances (Estrogen, Progesterone, Testosterone) - PMS, perimenopause, and low testosterone can all lead to mood instability and depression

How Movability’s Naturopath Can Help:

Comprehensive hormone testing (blood, saliva, or urine) can reveal imbalances that are affecting your mood. Once identified, we use herbal medicine, lifestyle changes, and targeted supplementation to restore balance.

3. Blood Sugar Imbalances: The Anxiety and Depression Rollercoaster

Blood sugar fluctuations can directly impact your mental health.

  • Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) - Triggers anxiety, irritability, dizziness, and even panic attacks

  • Insulin Resistance and Diabetes - Can lead to depression, fatigue, and brain fog

Many people experience anxiety and mood swings due to poor blood sugar regulation, often caused by a diet high in processed carbohydrates and sugar.

How Movability’s Naturopath Can Help:

Through fasting glucose, insulin, and HbA1c testing, we assess your blood sugar health. A personalized plan that includes dietary adjustments, natural supplements, and lifestyle changes can help stabilize blood sugar levels and prevent mood fluctuations.

4. Gut Health and Mental Health: The Brain-Gut Connection

Your gut and brain are deeply connected through the gut-brain axis. When your gut health is compromised, it can directly impact your mood, stress levels, and cognitive function.

Common Gut Issues That Affect Mental Health:

  • Leaky Gut (Increased Intestinal Permeability) - Leads to chronic inflammation, which is linked to depression and brain fog

  • Dysbiosis (Imbalance in Gut Bacteria) - Low beneficial bacteria can reduce serotonin production, worsening anxiety and depression

  • Food Sensitivities (Gluten, Dairy, etc.) - Can trigger mood disturbances, brain fog, and fatigue

How Movability’s Naturopath Can Help:

Using stool analysis, food sensitivity testing, and gut microbiome assessments, we identify disruptions in gut health and create a personalized plan to heal your digestive system and restore mental clarity.

5. Chronic Inflammation and Toxic Exposures: The Silent Mental Health Triggers

Many people struggle with unexplained anxiety, depression, or brain fog due to chronic inflammation and toxic exposures.

Hidden Triggers of Mental Health Symptoms:

  • Chronic Infections (Lyme, Epstein-Barr, Mold Toxicity, etc.)

  • Heavy Metal Toxicity (Mercury, Lead, etc.)

  • Environmental Toxins (Pesticides, Air Pollution, Household Chemicals)

How Movability’s Naturopath Can Help:

Specialized lab testing can detect chronic infections, toxic load, and inflammation markers. We then create a detoxification protocol using functional medicine, herbal treatments, and dietary strategies to reduce your toxic burden and improve mental well-being.

6. Sleep Disorders: The Overlooked Cause of Depression and Anxiety

Poor sleep is one of the biggest contributors to mental health struggles. Conditions like sleep apnea, chronic insomnia, and circadian rhythm disruptions can cause or worsen depression, anxiety, and fatigue.

How Movability’s Naturopath Can Help:

By assessing sleep patterns, melatonin levels, and nervous system health, we recommend natural strategies such as adaptogenic herbs, sleep hygiene practices, and relaxation techniques to restore deep, restorative sleep.

Why Work with a Naturopath for Mental Health?

Traditional mental health treatment often focuses on symptom management, but if your mental health issues are rooted in a physical imbalance, no amount of therapy or medication will fully resolve the problem until the root cause is addressed.

Movability’s Naturopathic Approach:

  • Comprehensive lab testing to identify underlying imbalances

  • Targeted nutritional and lifestyle interventions

  • Natural treatments to restore hormonal, gut, and neurological balance

  • A personalized approach that treats you as a whole person

If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, brain fog, or mood swings—and you feel like something deeper is going on—it is time to investigate the root cause.

At Movability, our naturopath specializes in uncovering these hidden imbalances and creating a customized healing plan just for you.

Book an appointment today and take the first step toward uncovering the true reason behind your symptoms. Your body has the answers. We will help you find them.

Sina Yeganeh