Feeling depressed or anxious? If you seek help from a primary care physician or a traditional psychiatrist, you’re likely to walk away with a prescription for antidepressants or antianxiety medication and not much else. But pills aren’t enough to deliver optimal mental health. In fact, because most conventional healthcare provides make diagnoses based on symptom clusters alone, it’s not uncommon to be misdiagnosed or given the wrong treatment. This can make your mental health problems worse.
In order to have a healthy mind, you must first have a healthy brain. To do that you must optimize the 4 circles of a whole life—biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. Integrative psychiatry helps you do it.
In order to have a healthy mind, you must first have a healthy brain. To do that you must optimize the 4 circles of a whole life—biological, psychological, social, and spiritual. Integrative psychiatry helps you do it. Share on XIntegrative psychiatry, a form of integrative medicine or functional medicine, takes a whole-person approach to mental health by helping you enhance all these areas of your life to promote better psychological well-being and cognitive function. Integrative psychiatry is based on solid science, and as science advances, so does this form of mental health with more sophisticated diagnostic testing, more effective therapies, and more powerful solutions. Integrative psychiatrists assess, diagnose, and treat patients based on the most cutting-edge scientific findings.
Treatment may include standard-of-care options in addition to science-backed complementary and alternative therapies to foster healing. One study in the journal Psychiatric Services found that 35% of people use at least one form of complementary and alternative medicine for mental health, and that was over 10 years ago. That percentage is estimated to be much higher now as integrative psychiatry continues to grow in popularity.
Here are 7 ways integrative psychiatry can help your mental health.
1. Discover brain health issues that are holding you back.
Many people who are experiencing psychological issues have underlying brain health problems that are contributing to their anxiety, depression, lack of focus, memory loss, or brain fog. Integrative psychiatrists who use brain SPECT imaging can help identify undetected issues, such as traumatic brain injury, areas that are overactive, and areas that are underactive. With these insights, an integrative psychiatrist can provide precision treatment plans to enhance brain health.
2. Identify biological causes for mental health problems.
Issues such as mood swings, short attention span, and anxiousness can be related to physical issues. With integrative psychiatry, diagnostic lab tests can help root out biological problems that cause mental health symptoms. For example, Lyme disease, hormonal imbalances, and blood flow problems have been linked to psychiatric symptoms. In addition, comprehensive testing can reveal if there are any toxic substances that may be affecting your brain and mental health.
3. Find the best healing foods and nutritional supplements for your needs.
The foods you eat can either drive depression and anxiety or they can promote positive moods and calm. Psychiatrists who take an integrative approach to treatment evaluate your diet and assess any micronutrient deficiencies and make food and supplement recommendations based on your individual needs.
4. Provide strategies to improve the health of your mind.
For many people, negative thinking patterns and an undisciplined mind can fuel symptoms associated with mental illness. As part of a whole-person treatment plan, trained integrative psychiatrists provide patients with scientifically proven strategies to challenge the ANTs (automatic negative thoughts) that steal your happiness and gain control of your mind. And sophisticated neuropsychological testing performed by integrative psychiatrists can provide valuable insights into your cognitive function.
5. Develop routines that help reduce stress.
A highly stressful lifestyle can keep you stuck in psychological hell. Integrative psychiatrists provide people with evidence-backed relaxation protocols that help your brain and your mind. Learning to manage stress is an important part of any integrative treatment plan.
6. Learn how to create a support network.
Integrative psychiatrists know that who you spend time with matters. If you surround yourself with people who are negative or conflict-driven, or who engage in bad habits such as heavy drinking or drug abuse, it can drag you down. Working with a professional to assess your social circle and identify the “accomplices” who harm your psychological well-being and the “friends” who support your brain healthy habits can make a big difference.
7. Find your “why.”
Experts understand that having a sense of purpose in life can provide the motivation to get and stay healthy. An integrative psychiatrist can work with you to pinpoint what gives your life meaning.
When you have a personalized integrative treatment plan that addresses all of your needs—biological, psychological, social, and spiritual—it helps put you on a faster path to a lifetime of healing.
Symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues can’t wait. During these uncertain times, your mental well-being is more important than ever and waiting until life gets back to “normal” is likely to make your symptoms worsen over time.
At Amen Clinics, we’re here for you. We offer in-clinic brain scanning and appointments, as well as mental telehealth, remote clinical evaluations, and video therapy for adults, children, and couples. Find out more by speaking to a specialist today at 888-288-9834 or visit our contact page here.
What is the best way to treat GAD?
Comment by Sandra Anderson — January 11, 2021 @ 4:13 AM
Is there a list of therapists one can hire?
Comment by david collie — January 11, 2021 @ 4:28 AM
Would you consider opening a clinic in OKC area?
Comment by Kyle McGraw — January 11, 2021 @ 4:47 AM
We live in Canada and want to know where we can find an Integrative psychiatrist. We live 2 hours from London, Ontario if that helps.
Comment by Gail — January 11, 2021 @ 4:56 AM
When will the clinics be open for inperson sessions?
Comment by Judith Fulks — January 11, 2021 @ 5:01 AM
Interested in brain SPECT imaging, however, I live in Melbourne Australia
Comment by Sofia Kayne — January 11, 2021 @ 5:17 AM
How does one combat ANTs?
Comment by Gretchen C Johnson — January 11, 2021 @ 7:38 AM
I would love to hear where this can be done as well.
Comment by Trent — January 11, 2021 @ 8:46 AM
Is there a payment plan option or do you accept or willing to accept care credit?
Comment by Elvia — January 11, 2021 @ 8:49 AM
How can I find a integrative psychiatrist in my city?
Comment by Ansley — January 11, 2021 @ 9:00 AM
Does anyone know of integrative psychiatrists practicing in the Pittsburgh PA area?
Comment by EDWARD FEIGEL — January 11, 2021 @ 9:23 AM
Is there a clinic in South Dakota 57701 area!! Thank you!!!
Comment by Dawn Mcgill — January 11, 2021 @ 11:17 AM
I thought I saw EMDR on your website today. Did I? Do you believe in it?
Any plans for a clinic in Eden Prairie MN?
Thank you.
Comment by Patricia Hoffman — January 11, 2021 @ 3:09 PM
Wish they had brain spect imaging in Canada-we need it badly.
Comment by Donna Renouf — January 11, 2021 @ 5:48 PM
Hello Patricia, yes we have EMDR listed under the Services on our website: https://amenclinics.com/services/emdr/. At this time, we have 9 clinic locations: https://amenclinics.com/locations/. For information about scheduling an appointment, please contact our Care Coordinators: https://amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/. Thank you for reaching out!
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 11, 2021 @ 7:32 PM
Hello Dawn, thank you for reaching out. At this time, we have 9 clinic locations: https://amenclinics.com/locations/. If you are unable to travel to one of our clinics, our Care Coordinators may be able to assist you with additional resources or referrals: https://amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/.
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 11, 2021 @ 7:33 PM
Hello Elvia, thank you for reaching out. We do offer financing options through Care Credit. Our Care Coordinators can assist you, please contact us here: https://amenclinics.com/schedule-visit/.
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 11, 2021 @ 7:35 PM
Hello Gretchen, thank you for reaching out. Here are some additional articles related to ANTs that may help:
https://amenclinics.com/blog/why-are-we-so-negative/
https://amenclinics.com/blog/gain-control-over-negative-self-talk/
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 11, 2021 @ 7:37 PM
Hello Judith, thank you for reaching out. At this time, all 9 of our clinics are following CDC guidelines and limiting exposure within our clinics as much as possible. We’d be happy to contact you directly to discuss this further and assist where possible. We look forward to speaking with you.
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 11, 2021 @ 7:38 PM
Hello Kyle, thank you for reaching out. We just opened our 9th location in Dallas, TX and we do plan to continue to expand. Stay tuned!
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 11, 2021 @ 7:39 PM
Hello David, thank you for reaching out. We’d be happy to contact you directly to provide additional resources or possible referrals. We look forward to speaking with you.
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 11, 2021 @ 7:40 PM
Really want to take my 12 year old son to be seen / look at his brain.We are so desperate but we live in New Zealand. There’s any chance he can be seen soon .Looking forward to hearing from you soon.thanks.
Comment by Lopa — January 11, 2021 @ 9:34 PM
Had a really bad experience with your Los Angeles clinic. They fail to listen and treat me as a whole person.
Comment by L — January 12, 2021 @ 4:19 AM
What is your closest office near Jackson, Mississippi?
Comment by Suzette Jennings — January 12, 2021 @ 9:07 AM
Hello Lopa, thank you for reaching out. We’ll contact you directly. We look forward to speaking with you!
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 12, 2021 @ 10:20 AM
Hello Suzette, thank you for reaching out. We currently have 9 clinic locations: https://amenclinics.com/locations/. If you’re unable to travel to one of our clinics, our Care Coordinators may be able to offer additional resources or referrals closer to you. We’d be happy to contact you directly.
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 12, 2021 @ 10:22 AM
What if hormones are not right, but cannot take hormones due to cancer.
Where to seek answers?
Comment by Pamela Whaley — January 13, 2021 @ 8:58 AM
Hello, thank you for reaching out. We’ve contacted Amen Clinics Los Angeles, and they’d be happy to speak to you and set up an appointment. To reach our Clinic Director, please contact Amen Clinics Los Angeles: https://amenclinics.com/locations/los-angeles-metro-area/.
Comment by Amen Clinics — January 13, 2021 @ 12:02 PM
I found it helpful when you said that an integrative psychiatrist could provide precision brain health treatment plans. This is something that I will share with my sister who has been suffering from the signs of depression. Her emotions have been uncontrollable since she lost her favorite 5-year old dog.
Comment by Shammy Peterson — January 10, 2022 @ 10:45 PM
Great read! I really like your point about supplements and foods. Not all should be based on medication, simple changes in someones lifestyle go a long way to better mental health. 🙂
Comment by Alejandro Alva — April 1, 2022 @ 9:10 PM
The information you provided is much informative and helpful for the society thank you
Comment by Next Level Psychiatric — January 17, 2023 @ 3:29 AM