The Benefits of Choosing a Functional Medicine Psychiatrist

September 1, 2024

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) reports, around 57.8 million adults live with some or other form of mental illness. Americans have a long-standing history of prioritizing mental health, and if you are one of them and want to achieve overall well-being, many people are seeking alternatives to conventional psychiatric approaches. In case you are one of them, consulting a functional medicine psychiatrist is a great option. However, what is this approach, and why is it the right choice for you? Well, here’s a guide (Source: https://www.usa.edu/blog/mental-health-statistics/)!

What is Functional Medicine Psychiatry?

From the theoretical perspective, functional medicine psychiatry is an innovative approach that combines the context and applications of functional medicine with traditional psychiatric care. Unlike traditional procedures that focus on symptom management through medication, the functional approach focuses on the root causes of mental health issues. Seasoned functional medicine psychiatrists conduct comprehensive assessments of different factors that could be influencing your mental well-being, including genetics, lifestyle, diet, environmental factors, and other aspects of your routine life.

A Holistic Approach to Mental Health

The best part about functional medicine psychiatry is instead of isolating the symptoms or just treating the mental aspect, the functional medicine approach considers comprehensive health. For instance, a professional medicine psychiatrist can consider how imbalances in your gut microbiome, nutritional deficiencies, or chronic stress could be contributing to conditions such as depression or anxiety. The professionals can address the underlying issues, and the goal is to promote overall mental and physical health.

Personalized Treatment Plans

Functional medicine psychiatrists can customize treatment plans according to your specific needs. This means that your treatment plan will be based on your medical history and unique requirements. During your initial consultation, the psychiatrists will evaluate you with detailed questions about your lifestyle, diet, sleep patterns, and more, and from there, they will create a personalized treatment plan that will include a combination of dietary changes, nutritional supplements, lifestyle modifications, and, if necessary, medication.

Prioritizing Preventive Care

Rather than waiting for symptoms to escalate, functional medicine practitioners emphasize early intervention and proactive strategies to prevent mental health issues from developing or worsening. This approach often includes recommendations for stress management techniques, regular physical activity, and healthy eating habits, all of which contribute to long-term mental health and resilience.

Addressing the Root Causes

Traditional psychiatry often manages symptoms with medications, which can be effective but may not address underlying causes. Functional medicine psychiatry, on the other hand, seeks to uncover and treat these root causes. For instance, if you are experiencing chronic anxiety, a functional medicine psychiatrist might investigate whether hormonal imbalances, inflammatory processes, or nutrient deficiencies are contributing factors.

The Bottom Line

There’s no denying that the functional approach to psychiatry involves a holistic approach to empower you in your healing journey. However, to achieve the best results, you need to find effective treatments and professionals who specialize in functional medicine in Cedar Rapids, IA. Are you looking for experts who can offer a comprehensive and individualized approach to mental health through functional medicine? If the answer is yes, reach out to the team at Holistic Wellness & Psychiatry today! Led by Dr. Laurie McCormick, a well-known Integrative/ Holistic Psychiatrist and Family physician, Holistic Wellness and Psychiatry is backed by over two and a half decades of expertise and training in psychedelic-assisted therapy and a proven track record of clinical research.

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