We’ve spent the last few weeks focusing on PCOS, but today I feel called to share my story with severe Depression & hopefully touch even just one heart that needs hope & healing 🦋
Know this, If you’re;
😔Sad a lot of the time
🪞Struggling with negative self image or guilt
😢You find yourself crying a lot or highly sensitive
😒Lost interest in things you used to enjoy
🥱Struggle with sleep or sleep a lot
😓Feel hopeless & broken
That’s not normal.
But also know this: 👇
Depression is NOT a character flaw (even though your mind tells you it is)
YOU are NOT broken and unlovable
You DON’T have to suffer forever - there is hope. I’m living proof of that.
🔥Depression is often caused by a combination of factors:
Brain chemical imbalances 🧠 (often due to nutrient deficiencies)
Gut Health…or lack thereof 💩 (bloating, indigestion, headaches, allergy-like symptoms anyone??)
Nutrient Deficiencies 🥕 (spoiler: most people have deficiencies even if you eat a healthy diet)
Hormone Imbalances 🧬 (yep, your menstrual cycle can affect your mental health - especially for women with menstrual disorders like PMDD)
Symptoms are you body’s way of saying
I NEED SOMETHING - PLEASE HELP ME🥺
We’ll dive into those causes above, but first I feel called to share a bit of my story.👇
📢 If you’re struggling with SI or feel unsafe, don’t remain alone. Crisis Support.
My Depression Story (the short version)
My health challenges began at an early age. At the age of 11 I suffered daily migraines, so painful that all I could do was sleep it off.
By the age of 12, I struggled with unexplainable and sudden bouts depression, severe insomnia & debilitating menstrual pain.
I appeared to be a healthy, but my symptoms were telling a different story.
Mostly, I was a happy and positive little person. Yet for no apparent reason I would fall into deep emotional distress. All my family could do was attribute it to my highly sensitive personality.🤷♀️
I tried many herbal remedies, but nothing was strong enough to cover the chronic deficiencies I had.
After a series of traumatic events, I could no longer hide my symptoms. I fell into a cycle of severe depression and anxiety. 😢
Eventually my therapist referred me to an OB/GYN & Psychiatrist with suspected PMDD. I was prescribed all sorts of medication. Nothing worked.
🥀The hopelessness was crushing. I didn’t want to continue living if why whole life was going to be this painful.
🦋 I tried all sorts of lifestyle changes and random vitamins to no avail. I finally came across a Registered Dietician in the US who specialized in depression & PMDD.
She took one look at my bloodwork and pinpointed some severe mineral and vitamin deficiencies, blood sugar dysregulation and near adrenal exhaustion. This is where I first learned that "normal" blood test results don't mean "optimal". You can still be very ill and have totally "normal" blood results! 🤯
After implementing strategic changes to my diet, lifestyle and supplement routine, I slowly began to experience relief from the crippling depression and anxiety. 🌸
After less than a year of implementing sustainable lifestyle changes, I was 99% symptom free! (bearing in mind PMDD is a chronic condition and can’t be cured, depression caused by other factors can certainly resolve much quicker and more permanently!) ✨
Throughout my own struggles, I realized my passion for holistic health. I'm forever fascinated with the body's resilience, the power of food & herbal medicine.
🧠 Root Cause #1: Brain Chemical Imbalances
Brain chemicals are sensitive, and nutrient deficiencies can significantly impact the delicate balance of brain chemicals, ultimately contributing to the onset or exacerbation of depression.
Essential nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B6, B12, and folate play crucial roles in neurotransmitter synthesis and regulation.
For instance, omega-3 fatty acids are vital for maintaining the integrity of cell membranes in the brain and facilitating the transmission of neurotransmitters (those feel-good happy hormones!).
Meanwhile, B vitamins are essential cofactors in the synthesis of neurotransmitters such as serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which are key players in mood regulation.
Deficiencies in these nutrients can disrupt neurotransmitter production and function, leading to chemical imbalances that contribute to depressive symptoms.
Therefore, ensuring adequate intake of these nutrients through a balanced diet or supplementation may help support optimal brain function and alleviate symptoms of depression.
I’ve spent more hours than I care to count doing all the geeky certifications & research so you don’t have to!
You don’t have to figure it out alone. That’ll take too long.
🚀👉I specialize in assessing nutrient status & guiding women back to health using a PERSONALIZED approach, because you’re unique and your treatment plan should reflect that!
Skip the struggle bus…you’ve suffered long enough!
I know how hard it is to reach out for help. It took me years to reach out.
❌You feel like you SHOULD know how to figure this out.
❌You haven’t tried hard enough.
❌You need to try ONE more thing on your own.
❌You’re convinced everyone will think you’re a failure.
❌You’re terrified of being “medicated”.
❌You don’t feel worthy of help.
I’ve been there. I know🫂
I suffered for years because of all that. It nearly took my life.
It doesn’t get any better on it’s own.
Dear suffering soul, please don’t wait ❤️🩹
💩Root Cause #2: Gut Health
Emerging research suggests a profound connection between gut health and brain chemistry, with implications for depression.
The gut contains a complex ecosystem of bacteria, collectively known as the gut microbiota, which plays a crucial role in regulating various physiological processes, including the production of neurotransmitters.
Serotonin, often referred to as the "happiness hormone," is primarily synthesized in the gut, where the majority of the body's serotonin receptors are also located.
Disruptions in the balance of gut bacteria, known as dysbiosis, can lead to alterations in serotonin production and signaling, contributing to mood disorders like depression.
🚀👉Maintaining a healthy gut ecosystem through food choices, nutrients (vitamins) & probiotics (where necessary) can be lifechanging to alleviate symptoms of depression.
This is complex stuff…you don’t have to figure it out alone!
🥕Root Cause #3: Nutrient Deficiencies
You’ll notice that Nutrients came into every single other one so far…basically nutrients affect EVERY bodily system.
Enough said.😉
🚀👉 Again, I specialize in assessing nutrient status & guiding women back to health using a PERSONALIZED approach, because you’re unique and your treatment plan should reflect that!
🧬Root Cause #4: Hormone Imbalances
Reproductive hormone imbalances have significant influence on brain chemistry, contributing to depression.
Estrogen, for example, enhances the activity of serotonin, a neurotransmitter implicated in mood regulation, while progesterone can modulate the function of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which has calming effects on the brain.
Fluctuations in these hormones, such as those experienced during the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, menopause, or relationships & stress can disrupt neurotransmitter balance, leading to symptoms of depression.
Hormonal changes can influence other physiological processes, including stress response and inflammation, further contributing to mood disturbances.
🚀👉 This stuff is freaking complex. I don’t recommend anyone tackling hormones alone. Trust me, I tried. It was a disaster.
Endless hours of holistic training later, I LOVE helping women heal their hormones and feel amazing!
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