If I asked you what was the cause of depression and anxiety, you’d most probably answer “a chemical imbalance in the brain” or a “lack of serotonin”. What may shock you is that this is NOT scientific fact, but actually just a theory reverse-engineered from how we understand anti-depressants to work: they block the reabsorption of serotonin in the brain so that more of this mood-boosting chemical is available. But that doesn’t mean there was ever an imbalance or lack of serotonin in the first place (otherwise like most “diseases” you’d be able to be tested for it, right?), and in fact mental health is far more complex. (I’m going to cover the whole chemical imbalance myth with scientific references in a future post, but for now you can find out more in this great article by The Mighty.)

The truth is, like most things in life, it’s just not that black and white and there’s no single “silver bullet” or “magic pill” that cures anxiety or depression for everyone. As a naturopath I was trained to look for the root cause(s) behind disease and to treat the individual not just symptoms, and mental health is no different. Below are 9 potential causes of anxiety and depression, and it’s usually a unique blend of several of them that are behind most people’s symptoms.

1. Blood-Sugar Dysregulation

While studies such as this one have shown a direct relationship between depression and diabetes, you don’t have to be diabetic to have unstable blood-sugar levels. Reactive hypoglycaemia is the term used to describe fluctuating levels of sugar in the blood – and therefore the brain – which can result in mood swings, anxiety, palpitations, headaches and panic attacks. (All those jokes about being “hangry” are for real!) Our modern processed diets high in refined carbohydrates and low in fibre and essential minerals like chromium are largely to blame, and I usually start every patient with simple diet changes to keep these fluctuations under control.

2. Nutrient Deficiencies

The biochemistry of neurotransmitter function is dependent on “precursors”, specific nutrients required to produce optimal levels of our brain chemicals. Key nutrients such as tryptophan, tyrosine, vitamin D, vitamin B12, magnesium and essential fatty acids are all crucial for proper functioning of the nervous system, and deficiencies can trigger or worsen anxiety and depression symptoms.

3. HPA-Axis Dysfunction

Commonly called “adrenal fatigue” in the natural health world, the correct term “HPA-axis dysfunction” refers to changes in the signalling of the brain to the adrenal glands resulting in changes to stress-hormone production (particularly cortisol). Cortisol production can become too low which often manifests as depression, exhaustion, burnout, and even fibromyalgia and other chronic pain syndromes; or too high which can manifest as anxiety, panic attacks, feeling “tired but wired” and insomnia. These changes can be the result of both lifestyle stressors (eg.overwork, financial burdens) or “biological” stressors such as  blood-sugar imbalance, chronic inflammation or underlying gut issues.

4. Poor Sleep and Altered Circadian Rhythms

Getting enough good quality sleep is absolutely essential for the health of our nervous systems and moods. Unfortunately our high-stress modern day lifestyles coupled with unnatural lighting can wreak havoc on melatonin, a hormone needed to keep our sleep-cycles in check that also has anti-depressant and anti-anxiety functions.

5. Systemic Inflammation

There is so much new research that anxiety and depression are very much linked to “systemic inflammation”. Like all organs in our body, our brains cannot function optimally when there is widespread inflammation. Where are these inflammatory compounds coming from? Many places such as chronic metabolic disease and underlying gut dysfunction for example, but in fact, modern day life – so high in stress and processed foods and so low in movement, connection and true relaxation – is inflammatory in itself! We can say that we are living “inflammatory lives” so to speak, so lifestyle changes as well as anti-inflammatory herbs and nutrients are often at the core of most natural mental health treatment protocols.

6. Hormonal Imbalance

This can include both thyroid imbalance (including thyroid autoimmune disease) and reproductive hormone imbalance. Women are often aware of the effect hormones can have on their moods and stress levels, with depression and irritability a frequent hallmark of PMS, pregnancy and post-natal life; and depression, anxiety and palpitations are not at all uncommon in menopause. But it’s not just the ladies,”andropause” or changes in androgen production can cause brain fog, depression, mood swings, fatigue and low libido in men too.

7. Underlying Gut Issues

This is a biggie and really common! The gut is often referred to as the “second brain” for a reason…in fact most of our serotonin production occurs in the digestive tract, NOT the brain! And if you’ve ever suffered from anxiety or even just nervousness, it’s not unusual to experience some kind of GI symptoms from IBS to diarrhoea to stomach ulcers to nausea, or even just “tummy flutters”. But one of the main sources of inflammation I referred to earlier that can lead to anxiety and depression is underlying gut infections or “dysbiosis” – an overgrowth of “bad” bacteria that can release inflammatory toxins as well as inhibit neurotransmitter production. And these infections often don’t produce any gut symptoms, so most people are unaware that this is even going on! Thankfully, they can be tested for at nutritional/functional medicine labs, and I’ve seen remarkable clearing of mental health symptoms once dysbiosis has been sorted out.

Also a factor in systemic inflammation and gut issues, food intolerances and intestinal permeability (“leaky gut syndrome”) are very common and can cause many symptoms including brain fog, irritability, palpitations, panic attacks, fatigue and depression. The most  common ones affecting mood are gluten, dairy and sugar and less common ones include the nightshades (tomato, eggplant, potato, peppers), corn, soy and chemical additives and food colourings.

8. Medication Side-Effects

Unfortunately with many drugs, the benefits often come with unwanted side effects. Common drugs that can cause depressive side effects in particular include birth-control pills, cholesterol medications, antacids, NSAIDs and even everyday pain medications such as paracetamol/acetominophen (Tylenol).  It’s always important to read the insert of any medications you are prescribed so that you are aware of potential side-effects, as GPs rarely have time to explain all of them.

9. Psychological Trauma

Patients who have experienced some kind of trauma either in childhood or later in life, are more likely to suffer from anxiety and depression. Psychotherapy is an important part of the healing journey in this instance, however, even though the cause of symptoms may be psychological/situational in nature, many of the nutritional and lifestyle interventions used for the above examples can also really help to lesson symptoms and give the body/mind a signal of safety so that the nervous system can return to normal functioning again.

So as you can see, there is SO much more to anxiety and depression than the overly-simplistic (and never proven!) “chemical imbalance” theory. If you’d like help uncovering the causes of YOUR symptoms as well as a simple plan to overcome them naturally, check out my 1:1 service here.

And if you have any questions or comments please post them below!

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