Mental Health

Physical and mental health are deeply intertwined, so it’s important to find a medical care practice that understands every aspect of your whole-person wellness. At N-of-1 Medicine in Santa Monica, California, you don’t just get mental health care: You get personalized lifestyle medicine and Precision Prevention programs that address all the factors influencing your mental health. Click the online scheduler or book your appointment at the Los Angeles-area practice by phone today.

Do I need mental health help?

Mental health is critical for your general well-being, but it’s common to ignore signs of struggle. Recognizing that you’re having difficulties is the initial all-important step to healing. Signs you need support are:

• Prolonged sadness
• Uncontrollable anxiety 
• Severe mood swings 
• Avoiding your family and friends
• Eating habit changes
• Weight changes
• Sleep changes
• Thoughts of death or suicide

If you’re struggling, it’s important to know that it’s okay if you’re not okay right now. N-of-1 Medicine is here to support you as you restore your mental health.

How does mental health connect to physical health?

Mental and physical health intersect in many ways, including: 

Mental health and weight 

Mental health and weight struggles frequently occur simultaneously. 

Studies show that depression and anxiety are meaningfully connected to carrying significant extra weight. 

Mental health and nutrition

Separate from the mental health-weight connection, mental health and nutrition are also connected. For example, if you have a nutritional deficiency, like too little B12, you could experience depression or other mental health challenges. 

The Western diet (which strongly focuses on processed foods) is connected to a higher risk of depression, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and other mental and brain health problems. 

Mental health and sleep disorders

Sleep and mental health also share a close connection. 

When you have too little sleep, bad quality sleep, or other sleep disruptions, you can experience anxiety, depression, and other mental health difficulties. For example, studies show that chronic insomnia may increase your risk of developing an anxiety disorder.

Mental health and chronic conditions

Chronic conditions significantly increase your risk of mental health difficulties. For example, people with diabetes are up to three times as likely to experience depression. 

This connection is sometimes related to physical problems. For instance, people with thyroid disease have too little or too much thyroid hormone, which can directly affect mental health. In other cases, chronic diseases cause mental health issues because they’re stressful. 

What is the best mental health treatment approach?

Treatment planning starts with the Precision Prevention program. It uses specialized testing to identify your individual challenges so the practice can customize your mental health care.

N-of-1 Medicine then uses lifestyle medicine focusing on:

• Restorative sleep
• Physical activity plan
• Nutrition
• Stress management

Your mental health support also includes education, counseling, and medication where needed. 

Book your appointment online or call N-of-1 Medicine for mental health help now.