Why Getting To The Root Cause of Our Health Issues Is So Important

“I’m sick”…“Take a pill”…

“I’m in pain”…“Take a pill”…

“I’m depressed”…“Take a pill”…

It is a great frustration of mine that much of the medical industry, as a whole, addresses symptoms and rarely looks at the cause beneath the surface. Medications work acutely rather than long term which leads us right back to the beginning.

A lot of what is prescribed are band-aid fixes – meaning they are numbing the symptoms but not curing the cause. With that said, of course, there are instances where medications are needed. BUT, we need to look under the surface and address the root cause.

By getting to the root cause of our health issues, we can eliminate the overprescribing of medications and find lasting solutions.

Getting To The Root Cause of Our Health Issues

Whether you are struggling with anxiety, stress, depression, chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, etc. it’s rare that we are coached on how to fix the items in our lifestyle that are contributing to these issues. Things like diet, exercise and getting outside for vitamin D play an important role in our health. Yet, rarely are we told how to work on our nutrition and exercise by our medical providers.

If we don’t work on the root causes of our problems, we are leaving them to continue to wreak havoc on our lives.

When I was battling Epstein Barr, Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue, I was in pain, inflamed and drained of my energy. I was depressed, couldn’t get out of bed and thought it was the end of my life. I was suffering mentally, physically and emotionally, but somehow, I grew the strength to want to survive.

Things changed when I started a keto and paleo diet, introduced immune supplements and began moving. I started with moving around my house, then short walks, then light exercise and worked all the way up to being able to play volleyball and basketball.

Changing my lifestyle and diet helped me more than my medications but I’ll admit, it wasn’t easy. I had to go through an entire mindset shift. Once I came to the decision that I wanted to get better and that the medications weren’t going to be the solution, I had to get my mindset in the right place to heal.

Tips for Changing Your Mindset

1. Start with your why. Almost every decision in life can be made by asking: ‘is this serving my why or not serving my why?’
2. Remind yourself that it is about the journey, not the destination. As with every journey, there are going to be ups and downs—but by being present, we get to remain engaged, learn lessons and appreciate the process.
3. Understand that the fear of failure is much worse than failure itself. Successful people view everything as an experiment: you either hit the jackpot or you realize, “Nope, that wasn’t it, let’s try a different way.”
4. Adversity is an opportunity for growth. Getting out of our comfort zone is how we evolve and become stronger, smarter, faster, better. It’s a way to learn something new.
5. Have gratitude for where you are now. Success begets more wins and successes – even the smallest success.

Now that your mindset is in a better place it’s time to tackle the inevitable anxiety and stress that pop up throughout the days and weeks.

Keep Anxiety and Stress In Check

Here are some practices I use daily and some I alternate based on what my body needs at the time. Experiment and find what works for you.

Create a Morning Routine

This can include journaling, meditation, grounding or a cold shower. Sometimes it can just include spending 5-10 minutes by yourself enjoying a cup of coffee before starting your day. The goal here is to not start your day in a cortisol-filled fight or flight mode but find a routine that will help you start the day in a parasympathetic state.

Yoga, Meditation and Breathing Exercises

Yoga is a great way to get in exercise and also work through anxiety and stress. Starting a regular practice can bring many benefits to your health. Sometimes we don’t have time for a whole yoga session though, so a quick meditation or breathing exercise helps me in these cases. There are a lot of great apps out there that can guide you in meditation such as Calm.com or Headspace. There are also many YouTube videos that can guide you in box-breathing techniques.

Create Your Own Supplement Stack

Due to bio-individuality, we all benefit from a different supplement stack. People frequently ask what supplements they can take to ease their anxiety so here are my top supplements (you do not need to take all of them but rather try them and see what works best for you):

• Magnesium
• Skullcap
• L-Theanine
• Rhodiola
• 5-HTP
• Chamomile and Valerian
• Magnolia Bark
• Fish Oil
• Holy Basil
• Ashwagandha

Seek Professional Help If You Need It

If you find yourself at the point where your anxiety is interfering with your daily life, whether it’s in the form of panic attacks or just constant worry and dread over everything going on around you, seek professional help. In some cases, the best way to address your feelings may be through therapy or medication. It can also be helpful to speak with a professional who specializes in treating anxiety disorders—they’ll have tools and techniques specifically geared toward helping people overcome those issues.

Conclusion

If you’re experiencing any type of health problem, I encourage you to work with your physician and also take steps toward getting to the root cause of the issues. Find routines that will help your mental health, incorporate exercise, diet, and things like supplements and breathing exercises. It can have a huge impact. If you’ve had success with anything in particular, join me over in the ENERGY Formula Facebook Group and let me know what has worked for you. I’d love to hear about it.

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