Maybe It’s Not ‘In Your Head’

Written By Daniela Hess

I came across a post in another Facebook group this morning that broke my heart a little.
It simply said:

‘Who else here struggles with anxiety/depression and just doesn’t know why?’

And the comments came pouring in.

Dozens and dozens - probably at least 75 comments - of heartfelt, thoughtful replies offering:

  •  Plant medicine journeys

  •  Ancestral clearing

  •  Inner child work

  •  Hypnotherapy

  •  EFT tapping

  •  Reiki

  •  Somatic release

  •  Nervous system regulation

  •  Chakra balancing

  •  Shadow work

  •  Trauma resolution


Every one of these can be supportive, and for many people they are.
They absolutely have their place.

AND…

NOT ONE PERSON IN THAT ENTIRE COMMENT THREAD MENTIONED THE PHYSICAL BODY ‼️‼️‼️

Not a single one.

No one asked:

  • What’s your ferritin?

  • What’s your B12 status?

  • How’s your blood sugar stability?

  • Do you have Hashimoto’s?

  • Have you looked at your gut bacteria or checked for hidden parasites?


Because sometimes the root cause of emotional suffering is NOT spiritual or energetic!!!

Sometimes it’s biochemical!!!

Sometimes depression and anxiety don’t come from something that needs to be released - they come from something that needs to be REPLENISHED.

They come from:

  • A depleted nervous system

  • A burned-out endocrine system

  • A crashed adrenal system 

  • A starving brain

  • An inflamed gut

  • A chronically stressed liver

  • A history of dieting and restriction

  • A build-up of toxins the body can’t excrete on its own

These things will create the sensations of hopelessness, detachment, panic, racing thoughts, shutdown, and overwhelm.

And as members of spiritual communities, when we feel those sensations every day, it’s very easy to assume something is wrong with our psyche or energy body or our chakras or our vibration. 

So today, let’s name just a few physical contributors to anxiety and depression - the ones I wish someone in that thread had said out loud, which I did address in that comment thread, with facts and warmth. 

Here’s a list of possible root causes through the lens of functional medicine:

▪️ Low iron/ferritin - common in menstruating women, vegans/vegetarians, and anyone with poor absorption

▪️ B vitamin imbalances - especially B12, B6, and folate (especially if MTHFR or other SNPs are present)

▪️ Thyroid dysfunction - including Hashimoto’s and sluggish conversion of T4 to T3

▪️ Low progesterone - especially in perimenopause, leading to estrogen dominance

▪️ Unstable blood sugar - hypoglycemia can mimic panic attacks

▪️ Parasites or gut infections - disrupt the microbiome and inflame the gut-brain axis

▪️ Leaky gut (intestinal permeability) - contributes to systemic inflammation

▪️ Heavy metals - like mercury, lead, or aluminum stored in tissues

▪️ Mycotoxins/mold exposure - especially if fatigue and brain fog are also present

▪️ Chronic inflammation - from food sensitivities, infections, or environmental exposures

▪️ Histamine intolerance or MCAS - may appear as random panic, rashes, fatigue, digestive issues

▪️ Poor liver detox pathways - estrogen overload, sluggish bile flow, toxin accumulation

▪️ Copper excess/zinc deficiency - affects neurotransmitters and hormone balance

▪️ Nutrient-depleted diet - not enough amino acids, minerals, fats, or phytonutrients to support optimal function

▪️ Mitochondrial dysfunction - low cellular energy = low vitality = low mood

▪️ Insomnia/sleep dysregulation - breaks every hormonal rhythm in the body

▪️ Low stomach acid - leads to malabsorption of nutrients

▪️ Electromagnetic sensitivity - in some people, EMFs truly disrupt calm

▪️ Blood sugar crashes from caffeine on an empty stomach - see this week’s coffee post

▪️ Unaddressed viral load (like EBV reactivation) - steals your energy, depletes reserves

▪️ Impaired methylation pathways (such as MTHFR variants) – affecting detoxification, neurotransmitter production, and mood regulation

And this is just the beginning.

You cannot 'mindset' or 'chakra realign' your way out of a body that’s physiologically inflamed or depleted

You can’t journal your way out of methylation issues or nutrient imbalances

You can’t affirmation your way out of unrecognized mold or bacterial overgrowth

Sometimes the most spiritual thing you can do is run labs and get answers.

And when you do - PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE interpret them through the lens of functional medicine optimal ranges, not conventional ones.

  • Because ‘normal’ lab values are based on averages from sick populations.

  • We’re not here to feel average.

  • We’re here to feel vital, awake, alive, and empowered.


So please don’t bypass the body in the name of ‘emotional healing.’

Sometimes the problem isn’t trauma - it’s ferritin under 30.

Or a hidden parasite you picked up on vacation that never got cleared.

Or that your cells haven’t had magnesium, B6, or choline in weeks.

  • You’re not broken.

  • You might just be missing information.


This is why I teach what I teach - because Great Energy begins with wholeness across every layer:

  • Physical

  • Emotional

  • Mental

  • Spiritual

  • Energetic


If we leave the body behind - we’re bypassing one of the most sacred portals to awakening.

With UnReasonable Love,
🙋🏻‍♀️ xoDaniela

📌  PS; Is it time to run labs and stop guessing?

What’s one thing your body might be trying to tell you - through the language of your symptoms?

One pathway forward with labs is through www.FunctionHealth.com

Or; www.ParsleyHealth.com

Or; www.PalomaHealth.com

If you have questions about any of these three, please feel free to ask me in the comments.

📌  PPS; A study published in the Journal of Affective Disorders found that approximately 64% of individuals diagnosed with depression were also anemic, compared to only 16% in the healthy control group!!!

This significant overlap suggests that iron deficiency may be an underlying factor in many cases of depression!

Moreover, a large-scale cohort study indicated that individuals with iron deficiency anemia have a 52% higher risk of developing psychiatric disorders, including depression and anxiety. 

Importantly, iron supplementation in these individuals was associated with a decreased risk of psychiatric disorders.

These findings underscore the importance of evaluating iron levels, particularly ferritin, in individuals experiencing symptoms of depression or anxiety.

Functional medicine practitioners often consider ferritin levels below 50–70 ng/mL as suboptimal, even if they fall within the conventional ‘normal’ range.

Addressing iron deficiency can be a CRUCIAL step toward alleviating mental health symptoms and improving overall well-being.

To your health!

xoDaniela

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