myFM: Exploring the Physical Causes of Anxiety

It's a staggering fact that around 31% of all adults are estimated to experience an anxiety disorder at some point in their lives, according to numerous studies. Anxiety disorders manifest for a myriad of reasons, encompassing genetics, environmental stress, and lesser-known physical triggers.

For those who may be unfamiliar, anxiety disorders—including General Anxiety Disorder, Panic Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, and PTSD—exhibit a range of symptoms. These encompass excessive worrying, envisioning the worst-case scenarios, recurring headaches, difficulty concentrating, sleep disturbances, irritability, racing heartbeat, hyperventilation, dizziness, fatigue, sweating, avoidant behavior, and gastrointestinal issues. The latter can be a significant indicator of anxiety as the released stress hormones notably impact gut health.

Dr. Shauna, a renowned Naturopath and Functional Medicine Specialist, has shed light on eight physical causes of anxiety that often go unnoticed and undiscussed. These include:

• Iron Deficiency: It's vital to monitor iron and ferritin levels.
• Hypoglycemia: Maintaining blood sugar balance is essential.
• Insulin Resistance: A fasting insulin test can confirm this condition.
• Low Cortisol Levels: It’s important to assess how stress is impacting your life.
• Hormonal Imbalances: This includes low estrogen and progesterone levels, particularly evident during PMS, contraceptive pill usage, and perimenopause.
• Hyperthyroidism
• Post-Natal Depletion
• Genetic Factors

Dr. Shauna delves deeper into how these factors can contribute to anxiety, the specifics of testing for them, and the subsequent steps to address them in episode 172 of our series. Tune in to uncover a wealth of insights and explore the multifaceted nature of anxiety disorders.

Listen to segment below!