Aren’t our moods affected by financial stress, social issues, gender bias, hunger, hormones, and a bad night’s sleep?! Just for starters.
Focusing just on “your mood” is to ignore than many factors that impact, cause, or may be the result of that mood.
Our lives are multifactorial and interwoven. And the root cause of many symptoms can be traced back, often, to more than one issue.
Consider that low blood sugar can mimic anxiety and panic symptoms. Caffeine intake can impact sleep, but so can exercise, alcohol, and worried thoughts. Some people are more prone to migraines, but diet is a factor along with environmental factors and stress management. Low sex drive can be a symptom of depression, but also a side effect of many medications, or a result of poor body image or communication breakdown in a relationship, or hormones…or time management.
Dr. Giardina will inquire about multiple aspects of your life, which may seem unrelated to the anxiety you came in seeking treatment for. But he will then help you unravel the mystery of the interplay of these many domains, and piece together a puzzle that makes more sense and causes less distress.
It begins with knowledge, information, and awareness. And then we move to action items, plans and behavior change. (And, in some cases, a push for systemic and social changes.)
And when the doctor is unable to intervene, because the medical or financial or whatever aspect may be out of his scope of practice, then you will receive a referral to a trusted professional in the community.
It takes a village! Just as our moods are affected by many factors, so we may need a team of peers and professionals to assist in building a happier, healthier life!
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