What is the cause of my depression and mood changes?

27 May What is the cause of my depression and mood changes?

What is the cause of my Depression and Mood Changes?

I struggle with brain fog and concentration, and my mood is ever changing.
I am exhausted and I don’t know why,
My anxiety is constant,
and I always struggle coping with stress.
Why is my mood fluctuating?
I eat well BUT still have no energy!
Looking for answers? Investigating the following areas through naturopathic testing can help:

• Neurotransmitter biochemistry
• Hormone balance: Thyroid, adrenal and sex hormones
• Nutritional status
• Digestive health
• Environmental factors: Chemical and heavy metal exposure
• Genetic factors

 

Are my neurotransmitters in balance?
Neurotransmitter testing can tell us how the body is working, in a biochemical nature, specifically, which out of balance neurotransmitters are responsible for your changing your mood, low energy or any other symptoms.

Neurotransmitter imbalance can be due to:

• Adrenal dysfunction
• Poor blood sugar balance
• Food sensitivities
• Heavy metal exposure
• Chemical and drug exposure
• Hormone imbalance
• Nutritional deficiency
• Underactive or overactive thyroid function

 
Conducting a urinary neurotransmitter test will show what levels of excitation (exciting) and inhibitory (calming) neurotransmitters you have in the body, and therefore what is influencing your mood. Knowing the answers to your body’s biochemistry can help to guide a specific treatment protocol to achieve the appropriate balance for you.
How are my hormones involved?
Low energy, stressed or experiencing low moods? This could be due to adrenal fatigue, thyroid dysfunction, issues with melatonin production or an imbalance in sex hormones.
Here’s a quick run-down on each:
Thyroid gland: The thyroid gland produces hormones that influence essentially every organ, tissue, and cell in the body. It responds to stimulation by thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH); a hormone secreted by the pituitary gland in the brain. It is linked with weight gain or loss, energy changes, stress and many other unexplained symptoms.
Adrenal glands: The adrenal glands are primarily responsible for the body’s adaptations to stress. Chronic adrenal stress affects communication between the brain and hormone-secreting glands, including the thyroid. Therefore, untreated chronic stress can lead to adrenal fatigue and can greatly affect the functioning of the thyroid gland. Testing cortisol can be an indicator of adrenal health and stress adaptation.
Melatonin: This is produced in our deep sleep. If you are not reaching a deep sleep you will not produce sufficient melatonin to rest and recharge your body at night and feel refreshed in the morning.
Sex hormones: Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone and many other sex hormones are closely linked with many of the symptoms mentioned above. A full sex hormone profile can provide a snapshot of what is happening inside your body.
Why digestive health and nutrition is so important
We require many nutrients to produce the neurotransmitters and hormones within our body, that are required for optimal nervous system function.
For key nutrients, see our Blog: Smoothie Secrets For Mood Regulation
We also require a proper functioning digestive system to absorb these nutrients from our food.
Further, serotonin, our mood-regulating neurotransmitter, lives in the lining of our gut. Therefore, a permeable gut wall will impair serotonin status and can be one reason for your depression. A leaky gut test can indicate whether the gut wall is permeable and requires healing.
Still haven’t found the answer? Consider the environment and genetics
Heavy metal testing through hair sample or urine.
Testing for kryptopyrroles to diagnose pyroluria,
and genetic testing for polymorphisms such as MTHFR can be other areas to investigate.
 

Can these tests help diagnose your Mood?

Test	What Can The Test Reveal?
Hormones Sex hormones (estrogen, testosterone, LH, DHEA, progesterone) Adrenal (cortisol) Melatonin Thyroid (TSH, T3, T4, rT3, fT3, fT4) Insulin	Stress adaption Metabolism Energy production Fatigue states Sleep quality
Neurotransmitters GABA Glutamate Dopamine Serotonin Adrenaline Noradrenaline	Balance of excitatory and inhibitory neurotransmitters Neurotransmitter deficits
Digestive health & Nutritional Status Intestinal permeability (leaky gut) Dietary analysis Blood sugar control (HbA1C, insulin, glucose)	Permeable gut wall Nutrient absorption Gut inflammation Potential immune response Nutritional status Diabetes risk
Genetic & Environmental Pyroluria MTHFR Heavy metals	Diagnosis of pyroluria (genetically low zinc and vitamin B6 levels, both required for healthy nervous system functioning) Effective methylation Ability to convert B vitamins in the body Agonistic and antagonistic metals and minerals Heavy metal status

Note: Collection sample required includes blood, urine or hair

If you would like support investigating your body’s biochemistry and begin your journey to feeling better,
Call our clinic on 9339 199 to book an appointment with NatMed’s Clinical Nutritionist, Amy Lloyd.
Your Mood Matters!