Depression
At Clarity Brain and Body Clinic, we understand that depression is a complex and deeply challenging condition that can significantly affect both mental and physical health. While we do not diagnose or treat clinical depression, we often find that functional neurology can be an effective complement to traditional depression care, especially when depression occurs alongside other neurological conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic pain, concussion, and traumatic brain injury (TBI).
Your Symptoms Are Not “All in Your Head”
It’s common for individuals experiencing both neurological symptoms and depression to feel like their concerns are dismissed as simply psychological. If you have been told that your symptoms are "just depression" or "just anxiety," we want to reassure you that your symptoms are real, and they may have underlying neurological causes that deserve attention.
At Clarity Brain and Body Clinic, we understand the frustration that comes with having neurological symptoms dismissed as purely emotional. Neurological conditions such as fibromyalgia, chronic pain, concussion, POTS, and traumatic brain injury (TBI) can significantly impact your mood, energy, and mental health. These conditions may trigger symptoms of depression, anxiety, or mood disturbances, making it hard to differentiate between the psychological and neurological contributions to your symptoms.
If you feel like your neurological symptoms have been overlooked or minimized,
we are here to offer a second opinion.
We take a comprehensive, holistic approach to understanding the root causes of your symptoms. Our functional neurology treatments are designed to explore and address underlying neurological conditions that may be contributing to mood symptoms, such as:
Vestibular Disorders: Imbalance, dizziness, and spatial disorientation can cause significant distress and trigger anxiety or depressive symptoms.
Chronic Pain & Fibromyalgia: Persistent pain can lead to feelings of frustration, helplessness, and depression, as well as impact sleep and overall mood.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome & Myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME/CFS): This condition is characterized by persistent fatigue, cognitive dysfunction, and sleep disturbances, often co-occurring with depression due to the physical and emotional toll of the illness.
Concussion & Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI): Even mild brain injuries can cause long-term neurological changes, leading to emotional instability, mood swings, and cognitive issues.
Dysautonomia and POTS: Conditions that disrupt the autonomic nervous system can lead to symptoms of dizziness, heart palpitations, and anxiety, which can often be misattributed to emotional causes.
A Comprehensive, Collaborative Approach
By taking a holistic approach, we can help you understand how neurological dysfunction might be influencing your mood and emotional health. If you’ve been told that your symptoms are just “in your head,” we invite you to reach out for a second opinion at Clarity Brain and Body Clinic. Our goal is to help you uncover the root causes of your symptoms, improve your overall health, and ensure that your treatment plan is as comprehensive and effective as possible.
We are here to listen, evaluate, and work with you to develop a personalized care plan that supports both your neurological and emotional well-being.
Connection Between Depression & the Frontal Lobe
Research has shown that depression is closely linked to reduced activity in the frontal lobe, the part of the brain responsible for functions such as decision-making, planning, and regulating emotions. Low frontal lobe activation is often associated with symptoms of depression, including feelings of hopelessness, low energy, and difficulty focusing or completing tasks.
Functional neurology can help address this by targeting and stimulating the frontal lobe through specific exercises, sensory inputs, and brain training techniques along with treating any other underlying neurological conditions contributing to your depression. By improving the activation and function of the frontal lobe, we can help enhance emotional regulation, cognitive clarity, and overall brain health—key components of managing depression.
How Functional Neurology Can Help
While we work alongside traditional therapists to provide comprehensive care for depression, functional neurology offers a unique approach that focuses on optimizing brain function and restoring balance within the nervous system.
Specific treatments we use to address brain function include:
Cognitive Training and Rehabilitation: Targeted exercises designed to improve memory, attention, and emotional regulation, which can help counteract symptoms of depression.
Frontal Lobe Exercises: Techniques that specifically aim to enhance frontal lobe activity, helping to improve mood, brain fog, and cognitive function.
Neuromuscular Re-education: Aimed at improving coordination and motor function, which can support the nervous system's ability to regulate emotions and response to stress.
Sensory Integration: Exercises designed to balance sensory input to the brain, helping to enhance overall brain function and reduce feelings of overwhelm that can contribute to depression.
A Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Approach
At Clarity Brain and Body Clinic, we emphasize a collaborative, multidisciplinary approach to treating depression. We recognize that depression is not just a neurological issue, but also involves emotional, psychological, and social factors. Therefore, we work closely with traditional therapists—including psychologists, counselors, and other mental health professionals—to ensure that our patients receive comprehensive, well-rounded care.
If you don’t already have a therapist or are unsure where to start, we can help connect you with a talk therapist from our network of vetted mental health providers. We are committed to ensuring you have the support you need, both from a neurological and emotional standpoint.
By integrating functional neurology with traditional therapeutic approaches, we aim to provide patients with the support they need to address both the neurological and emotional aspects of depression.
You Are Not Alone
If you are struggling with depression and suspect that neurological factors may be contributing to your symptoms, we invite you to schedule a consultation at Clarity Brain and Body Clinic. We will work alongside your existing providers to develop a personalized plan that combines functional neurology with traditional therapy to help you manage and improve your mental health.
We are committed to helping you regain control of your life by providing a comprehensive, collaborative approach to care.