For many people, the journey through the mental health care system can feel like chasing shadows. You may have been told you have anxiety, depression, ADHD, or a mood disorder, yet something about the diagnosis doesn’t quite explain it all. When mental health feels like a mystery, it’s time to reconsider the lens through which we evaluate the mind and body.
This is where integrative mental health offers something profoundly different. Instead of asking “What label fits this collection of symptoms?” it begins with a better question:
“Why is this happening in the first place?”
Dr. Diana Baralt employs functional psychiatry and integrative diagnostics to investigate the hidden contributors to mental health challenges, from nutritional imbalances to chronic infections and environmental toxins. This approach is especially valuable when conventional psychiatry has fallen short.
If you’ve ever felt like your symptoms don’t make sense or that no one is seeing the full picture, this article is for you.
The Problem with Symptom-Centered Psychiatry
Traditional psychiatry is largely built around observable symptoms. You describe what you’re experiencing, and a clinician determines which diagnosis in the DSM (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) matches your profile. Treatment typically follows standard protocols, often involving medication and follow-ups.
For some people, especially those with persistent, fluctuating, or atypical symptoms, this model can leave major questions unanswered. Consider the following:
- You’ve been diagnosed with anxiety, but no one has explored whether your symptoms could be related to blood sugar fluctuations, high cortisol, or nutrient deficiencies.
- You’re labeled as depressed, but no one has considered the possibility of chronic inflammation or an unresolved infection like Lyme disease.
- You’re treated for ADHD, yet no one has inquired about your iron or magnesium levels, or considered sleep quality, thyroid function, or gut health.
- You’ve been told your fatigue is “just stress,” but no one has evaluated for mold exposure or mitochondrial dysfunction.
These are not fringe considerations. They’re evidence-based, physiological factors that can drive psychiatric symptoms. When these remain unexamined, treatment often becomes a cycle of trial-and-error, rather than resolution.
Why Symptoms Alone Aren’t the Whole Story
The brain is a highly sensitive organ that responds to signals from every system in the body. In fact, many of the neurotransmitters that govern mood, cognition, and behavior are regulated by biological processes far beyond the central nervous system.
This means that symptoms like panic attacks, brain fog, depression, insomnia, or irritability may not originate in the brain at all. They could be:
- The result of inflammatory cytokinescrossing the blood-brain barrier
- A downstream effect of gut dysbiosisimpacting serotonin production
- A reaction to hormonal imbalancesor blood sugar instability
- Caused or exacerbated by latent infectionsor environmental exposures
That’s why root-cause psychiatry, which is the heart of integrative and functional approaches, doesn’t stop at the surface. It investigates how interconnected biological systems influence mental wellness.
Common Hidden Contributors to Mysterious Mental Health Symptoms
Below are some of the most common, yet under-recognized, contributors to psychiatric symptoms that can present as anxiety, depression, brain fog, mood swings, or even psychosis.
1. Chronic Inflammation
Inflammation is now recognized as a major factor in the development of depression, fatigue, and cognitive dysfunction. Systemic inflammation, whether due to autoimmune disease, infection, or poor diet, can disrupt neurotransmitter signaling and increase neurotoxic stress.
Key signs: Achy joints, poor sleep, digestive issues, fluctuating moods
2. Hormonal Imbalances
Fluctuations in estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, thyroid hormones, and cortisol can significantly influence brain chemistry. These imbalances are particularly common in postpartum individuals, those experiencing perimenopause, or those with adrenal dysregulation.
Key signs: PMS or PMDD, burnout, hair loss, unexplained weight changes, insomnia
3. Nutrient Deficiencies
The brain depends on a wide range of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids for optimal function. Deficiencies in B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, iron, and omega-3s are well-documented contributors to depression, anxiety, poor memory, and mental fatigue.
Key signs: Tingling sensations, brittle nails, low energy, irritability, cognitive fog
4. Chronic Infections and Environmental Toxins
Persistent infections, like Lyme disease, Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), or reactivated herpes viruses, can trigger neuroinflammation and psychiatric symptoms. Similarly, exposure to mold, heavy metals, or endocrine-disrupting chemicals can silently sabotage brain health.
Key signs: Fluctuating symptoms, strange neurological sensations, chronic fatigue, immune dysfunction
5. Gut-Brain Imbalance
The gut microbiome plays a direct role in neurotransmitter production and regulation. Dysbiosis, intestinal permeability (leaky gut), and undiagnosed food sensitivities can lead to systemic inflammation and mood disruptions.
Key signs: Bloating, constipation or diarrhea, sugar cravings, skin issues
6. Mitochondrial Dysfunction
The mitochondria are the energy factories of our cells, including neurons. When they’re compromised by infections, toxins, oxidative stress, or nutrient depletion, brain fog, depression, and poor mental stamina often follow.
Key signs: Exercise intolerance, persistent fatigue, unrefreshing sleep, slow mental processing
7. Sleep Disorders and Circadian Rhythm Disruption
Unrecognized sleep apnea, insomnia, or misaligned circadian rhythms can wreak havoc on mental health. Lack of deep, restorative sleep impairs emotional regulation, memory consolidation, and stress resilience.
Key signs: Morning headaches, snoring, difficulty falling/staying asleep, daytime anxiety
8. Trauma Stored in the Body
Unprocessed trauma, whether from early life, relationships, or medical experiences, can become embedded in the nervous system, triggering hypervigilance, mood instability, and somatic symptoms. Often overlooked, this requires trauma-informed care, not just medication.
Key signs: Exaggerated startle response, flashbacks, emotional numbness, unexplained physical pain
9. Blood Sugar Instability
Frequent spikes and crashes in blood sugar can mimic or trigger anxiety, irritability, brain fog, and fatigue. It’s an especially common driver of mood symptoms in people who skip meals or rely on caffeine and sugar to get through the day.
Key signs: Shakiness, irritability between meals, energy crashes, sugar cravings
10. Genetic Variants (e.g., MTHFR, COMT, MAO-A)
Some individuals carry genetic polymorphisms that affect how neurotransmitters are metabolized, how efficiently the body detoxifies, or how nutrients are absorbed. While genes aren’t destiny, they can point to personalized interventions.
Key signs: Sensitivity to medications or supplements, paradoxical reactions, mood swings, family history of mental illness
Mental health symptoms don’t arise in a vacuum. They are often biological signals of deeper systemic imbalance. Because the root causes can differ widely from one individual to another, it’s important to consult with a qualified professional who can help uncover what’s really going on, so that healing is guided by insight, not assumptions.
Final Thoughts: You’re Not Imagining It & You’re Not Alone
It’s not uncommon for patients to say:
- “I don’t feel like I fit into any single diagnosis.”
- “I’ve tried everything and nothing really works.”
- “My symptoms change all the time.”
- “I’ve seen so many doctors, and no one has answers.”
If that resonates with you, it’s a signal that your body may be communicating something deeper. You may not need a new medication. You may need a new lens.
Integrative psychiatry doesn’t discard conventional wisdom. It expands it. It asks better questions. And it’s deeply patient-centered, valuing your experience as critical data, not an afterthought.
It is a way forward for individuals who’ve hit roadblocks in their mental health journey. If you are ready to get to the root of your symptoms, contact Dr. Diana Baralt today. Schedule a consultation and begin your journey toward clarity, balance, and resilience.