Anxiety and depression aren’t just in your head – they start in your gut.
At The Healing Center in Denver, we know that physical health is deeply connected to emotional well-being. One of the most common drivers of mood issues we see is low hormone levels – because your brain relies on a finely tuned system of hormones, neurotransmitters, and brainwave activity, all of which require significant energy and metabolic support to function properly.
When your microbiome becomes imbalanced there is a direct correlation to your mood and mental state. In fact, studies show that even a single round of antibiotics lead to depression in 20% of patients, and two or more rounds in a year raise that to 43%. Now, we know its way more complex than this, but restoring gut and hormone balance is a powerful place to begin.
Common Patterns We See in Our Patients
- Struggling with anxiety, depression, or persistent mood swings
- Living with chronic fatigue or low energy that doesn’t improve with rest
- Dealing with food sensitivities, digestive discomfort, or sugar cravings
- Feeling stuck in cycles of overwhelm, burnout, or emotional reactivity
- Carrying unresolved trauma, emotional pain, or a history of emotional abuse or loss
- Seeking alternatives to medication and feeling a deep knowing that true healing starts within
How the Gut Influences Anxiety and Depression
You’ve probably heard of the gut being called the second brain – and it’s true. Your gut contains over 500 million neurons and produces more than 90% of your serotonin, the neurotransmitter that influences mood, motivation, and sleep. When your gut microbiome is out of balance due to antibiotics, poor diet, or chronic stress, it can directly affect your mental health.
At The Healing Center, we take a functional approach to anxiety and depression, looking at:
- Gut permeability (leaky gut)
- Inflammation in the GI tract
- Gut flora diversity and balance
- Nutrient absorption for neurotransmitter production (especially B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc)
- Infections like candida or parasites
By restoring the health of your gut, we can often dramatically improve emotional stability and reduce symptoms of both anxiety and depression, without solely relying on medication.
Anxiety and the Nervous System
Many of our patients come to us experiencing anxiety – racing thoughts, tension, restlessness, and a sense of being constantly “on edge”. In functional medicine, we understand that anxiety is often a signal that the body is stuck in a sympathetic (fight-or-flight) state and unable to shift into the parasympathetic (rest-and-digest) mode. This imbalance in the nervous system has deep physiological roots.
Common contributors to anxiety include:
- Low progesterone levels – Often tied to blood sugar crashes and hormonal imbalance, especially in women.
- Poor vagus nerve tone – Impairs the body’s ability to regulate stress responses and digestion.
- Low microbiome diversity – A disrupted gut can impair neurotransmitter production and increase inflammation.
- Mind-body disconnection – Chronic stress and trauma can override the body’s natural calming mechanisms.
- PTSD and unresolved trauma – Keeps the nervous system in a hypervigilant state/
Depression and the Gut-Brain Connection
Depression is often misunderstood as purely a psychological issue. But at The Healing Center, we see depression as a physiological state that impacts (and is impacted by) your gut, hormones, mitochondria, and nervous system. When your body’s systems slow down, your brain’s ability to produce and regulate mood-stabilizing chemicals like serotonin and dopamine is diminished.
Common root causes of depression we see include:
- A depleted microbiome – Antibiotic use (even from years ago), pesticides, and poor diet can sterilize gut bacteria that is vital for mood regulation.
- Exposure to herbicides and food toxins – Many act like antibiotics in the body, further harming gut flora.
- Trace antibiotics in meat and dairy – Constant low-dose exposure contributes to microbial imbalances.
- Low mitochondrial function – Reduces the body’s ability to generate energy needed for neurotransmitter synthesis (serotonin & dopamine).
- Elevated homocysteine levels – A marker of poor methylation, which is critical for brain chemistry and emotional stability.
You still have to heal the emotional wounds, but if you don’t also heal the body it will leave you frustrated and on drugs perpetually.
How We Address the Root Causes of Anxiety and Depression
At The Healing Center, we focus on restoring balance to the body’s systems to address the root causes of anxiety and depression. By healing the physical imbalances, we create a foundation for lasting emotional relief.
Here’s how we do it:
1. Comprehensive Assessment
We start by evaluating your health history and symptoms to identify physical imbalances like hormone disruptions, gut health issues, or nervous system dysfunction.
2. Gut Health Restoration
We restore gut balance, supporting neurotransmitter production and hormone regulation through targeted nutrition, probiotics, and gut-healing protocols.
3. Nervous System Regulation
Techniques like breathwork and neuro-emotional release help regulate the nervous system, shifting you from chronic stress to a state of healing.
4. Hormonal and Mitochondrial Support
We balance hormones and support mitochondrial function to improve energy production, serotonin, and dopamine synthesis.
5. Personalized Nutrition and Supplementation
Customized plans and supplements address deficiencies and support mood regulation, providing the body with the nutrients it needs to heal.
6. Ongoing Monitoring
Regular check-ins ensure progress and allow for adjustments to your plan, ensuring continued improvement.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can healing the gut really help with anxiety and depression?
Absolutely! The gut and brain are deeply connected, and an imbalance in the gut microbiome can directly impact mood and mental health. A healthy gut produces more than 90% of your serotonin, which helps regulate mood, sleep, and stress levels. By healing the gut through proper nutrition, probiotics, and targeted protocols, you can restore the balance needed to improve emotional well-being and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
How does emotional healing connect to physical health?
True emotional healing involves more than just working through past trauma – it requires addressing the physical imbalances that fuel anxiety and depression. Chronic emotional stress can disrupt the gut, nervous system, and hormones, creating a vicious cycle that perpetuates these conditions. By healing the physical body (especially through gut restoration, nervous system regulation, and hormone balancing) we break this cycle, supporting the body’s natural ability to heal and providing lasting relief from anxiety and depression.
I’ve tried therapy and medication. How is this different?
While therapy and medication can provide temporary relief, they often don’t address the root causes of anxiety and depression, which can be physical imbalances in the body. Our approach focuses on healing the body’s internal systems (like the gut, hormones, and nervous system) using functional medicine techniques. By restoring balance in these systems, we provide a more holistic, lasting solution to emotional healing that complements therapy and reduces reliance on medication.
What role does trauma play in depression and anxiety?
Trauma, especially unresolved emotional trauma, can have a profound effect on the body’s nervous system. It often keeps the body in a constant state of fight-or-flight, leading to anxiety and depression. This imbalance can disrupt hormone regulation, gut health, and overall nervous system function, contributing to anxiety and depression. Addressing these physical imbalances through gut health restoration, hormone balancing, and nervous system regulation is essential for breaking the cycle of trauma’s impact and supporting emotional healing.
How do I know if functional medicine is right for my anxiety or depression?
If you’ve tried therapy or medication but still feel stuck in cycles of anxiety, depression, or emotional exhaustion, your body may be holding the root of the issue. Common signs include digestive problems, hormone imbalance, fatigue, or chronic inflammation. When emotional symptoms don’t fully resolve through mental health care alone, it’s often a sign that deeper healing is needed – starting with the gut, hormones, and nervous system. If this sounds familiar, we encourage you to reach out and explore how our root-cause approach can help you find lasting relief.