Mental Health
An Integrative Approach to Mental Health
Do you feel like you’ve been anxious or stressed forever?
Have you suffered depression for much of your life, but nothing seems to help? Have you tried various antidepressants and still the clouds never clear?
Has PTSD been holding you back and the only thing on offer seems to be medication and therapy and they never seem to help enough?
Or perhaps you have kids who are struggling with anxiety, depression, ADHD, sensory or behavioural challenges?
You may have read about approaches beyond medication but aren’t sure where to start.
Mental health is a HUGE area with many interconnecting parts.
That’s why our founder, Jo Grabyn, started training with IMMH (Integrative Medicine for Mental Health) in the USA many years ago. Most GPs are still focussing on little more than which type of medication to prescribe and offering a 5-10 session mental health plan to see a psychologist.
For many people, this approach just doesn’t cut it. It’s not individualised or thorough enough to look at everything going on behind the scenes. Mental health is impacted by many different systems in our bodies, as well as our genetics.
That’s why at Bounce Matters, we use a holistic approach to treat mental health issues.
We look at everything including your gut microbiome, diet and genetics, biochemistry, the toxins you’re exposed to at home or work as well as your relationships and the emotional challenges you’ve experienced throughout your life. Once we’ve figured out your unique puzzle, we figure out a plan and start your road to recovery.
We’re here to support you every step of the way.
It’s a process. A journey.
It takes some effort, but with a WHOLE Health approach you’ll find out what works for you. Making changes to your diet and lifestyle habits can positively affect you so you can get better for the long term.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you help with anxiety and depression even if I’m on medication?
Absolutely! Medication does help but it is far from being the whole solution to mental health issues. The approach we take helps people who either don’t want to take medication, or those who do use medication, but are looking to reduce how much they take slowly over time.
How does what I eat or the way my gut works affect my mental state?
Your brain and digestive system are connected by the longest nerve in your body – the vagus nerve. When something happens at one end of the nerve, a message travels to the other end creating a response. For example, if you feel nervous you might feel sick, or if you’re excited, you might feel butterflies. Also, approximately 75% of the chemistry your brain needs is made in your gut, so if it’s not working well, it can’t produce the right neurotransmitters to keep you feeling happy and stable.
Does using this approach mean I don’t need therapy?
Not everyone who comes to us uses talk therapy. For some, working through this functional approach helps them feel better and get back into life to a point where they don’t feel the need to talk to anyone. For others they get better faster by combining our approach and talk therapy.
Can we fix my anxiety or depression just with food?
We’d love to say yes, but if you’ve struggled with mental health issues for a long time it means your body has been using nutrients faster than you can replace them with food alone. Anxiety and long-term chronic stress deplete nutrients such magnesium, zinc and B vitamins, among others, so supplements are usually needed to bring your body back to an optimalas state faster.
Our bodies are complex, and the reasons behind mental imbalances are complex, therefore we need to address all parts of the picture and not just one. Sleep, exercise and stress management also need to be adjusted to help you get back on track.
Contact
Suite 4, Ground Floor
200 Pittwater Rd, Manly
1800 940 950
0438 504 744
Jo Grabyn
BHSc (Nutritional Medicine)
ReCODE 2.0 Certified Practitioner
Member of the Institute of Functional Medicine
Member of Integrative Medicine Mental Health
