Bloodwork & The Chemical Imbalance Myth: A Physiology-First Approach To Healing Anxiety & Depression (Back to the Basics Series – Part 8)
Episode 108: Spotify | Apple Podcasts | YouTube
View transcript on Buzzsprout
If you’ve ever been told you have a “chemical imbalance” in your brain and handed a prescription—without a single lab test to back it up—you’re not alone. The idea is still everywhere, despite decades of research that disproves it. And while medication can be part of healing, there’s so much more to the story.
In this episode, Amanda breaks down the outdated chemical imbalance theory, shares how underlying physiology contributes to symptoms, and explains why comprehensive labwork is a missing (and necessary) piece in most mental health care.
What We Cover in This Episode
- What We Cover in This Episode
- The real history behind the “chemical imbalance” narrative—and why it’s flawed
- Why we take a physiology-first (but not physiology-only) approach
- How nutrient deficiencies, hormone issues, and inflammation impact mental health
- What labs we run for clients in RESTORE, our 1:1 coaching program
Why The Chemical Imbalance Theory Falls Short
It sounds tidy: depression is caused by low serotonin, so take a med to increase serotonin. But this theory has never actually been proven. It emerged in the 60s and 70s alongside the rise of SSRIs, and stuck around because it was simple, comforting, and helped sell prescriptions.
More recent studies, including a major 2022 review, show no consistent link between low serotonin and depression. And plenty of people with “normal” serotonin still struggle deeply. So why is this idea still being repeated? Because it’s easier to tell someone they’re chemically broken than to explore their full context: their physiology, nervous system, trauma history, or daily stressors.
Physiology First—Not Physiology Only
Your mind and body are in constant communication—but 80% of the signals flow from body to brain. That means when your body is depleted, undernourished, or in chronic stress, your brain function changes. Mood, focus, energy, motivation, sleep—it all gets impacted.
A physiology-first approach says: let’s stabilize and support the body first, so your system has the capacity to do deeper healing work later. It’s not about skipping mindset work or therapy—it’s about sequencing it wisely.
Amanda shares the story of a teen client told he had a chemical imbalance. His “treatment” involved doubling meds despite minimal improvement. But his actual life? He was underslept, underfed, emotionally unsupported, and overloaded with pressure. Addressing those root contributors made way more sense than another dosage increase.
What Comprehensive Bloodwork Can Reveal
In the RESTORE program, every 1:1 client gets a custom lab panel designed to look beyond basic disease screening and explore optimal function. Because “normal” lab ranges are based on a wide average—not what your brain and body need to thrive.
Here’s what we look at:
- Nutrient Status: Vitamin D, B12, iron, magnesium, zinc, omega-3s
- Hormone & Thyroid Health: Full thyroid panel, cortisol, sex hormones
- Inflammation: CRP, ESR, gut-related markers
- Metabolic Function: Blood sugar regulation, insulin, lipids, leptin
- Additional Tests (when needed): Food sensitivity, gut health, environmental toxins
These markers impact mood, energy, resilience, and stress load. Without this info, you’re often guessing. With it, you can make strategic, targeted shifts that lighten your stress bucket and improve mental health from the inside out.
Why This Matters
So many of our clients have been told their labs are “normal” despite still feeling awful. That’s usually because they’re not being tested thoroughly, or the reference ranges aren’t looking at what’s optimal. And part of why we began running labs through our practice in the first place was because over and over again doctors were telling our clients they wouldn’t order certain labs or that “they didn’t need them” while they wrote out a prescription for psych meds.
When we address physiology, the ripple effects are real: less reactivity, more stability, and more capacity for deeper emotional healing. It’s not about finding a magic pill—it’s about creating a foundation your system can heal on.
If you’re tired of guessing, of chasing surface-level symptom management, or of being told your anxiety or depression is “just who you are” – RESTORE may be the right next step. It’s where we combine nervous system education, personalized labwork, and deep, integrative coaching to help you feel more like yourself again.
Three Tangible Takeaways
- Physiology First, Not Only: There’s an interplay between physiology and psychology but if your body is depleted or stressed, it changes how your brain functions. You can’t mindset your way out of a nervous system stuck in survival mode.
- The Chemical Imbalance Theory is outdated and debunked. This oversimplified narrative can prevent people from exploring the root causes of their symptoms and keeps many stuck in medication-only treatment plans that don’t fully support their healing.
- Comprehensive Lab Work can take out some of the guesswork. It helps uncover hidden imbalances—like nutrient deficiencies or hormone issues—that may be driving anxiety or depression. It gives you clear, personalized data to support your healing.
**Referenced Sources: Moncrieff, J., Cooper, R. E., Stockmann, T., Amendola, S., Hengartner, M. P., & Horowitz, M. A. (2022). The serotonin theory of depression: A systematic umbrella review of the evidence. Molecular Psychiatry, 28(8), 1–14. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41380-022-01661-0
Looking for more personalized support?
- Book a FREE discovery call for RESTORE, our 1:1 anxiety & depression coaching program (HSA/FSA eligible & includes comprehensive bloodwork)
- Join me inside the Regulated Living Membership, a mental health membership and nervous system healing space (sliding scale pricing available)
- Join my Release Class – Monthly guided nervous system regulation class
- Order my book, Healing Through the Vagus Nerve today!
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
