We’re digging into depression and the link to a fertility diagnosis.
Many people have dealt with depression for years before they were even trying to conceive.
Conventional medicine will give you a diagnosis and perhaps even medication, which many people take for years without digging deeper to figure out why it happened in the first place.
The conversation around mental health is changing.
But what if it’s not depression?
The gut-brain connection is well-studied and documented.
This is a red flag and a missed healing opportunity if you have low AMH/high FSH, DOR/POI or are on the fertility journey.
If you are dealing with depression and/or anxiety, let’s get to the root cause to improve pregnancy success.
Today I'm welcoming Dr. Achina Stein. Dr. Stein is an Amazon international bestselling author of "What If It's NOT Depression? Your Guide to Finding Answers and Solutions", a certified practitioner of the Institute for Functional Medicine and a board-certified psychiatrist.
In this episode, you'll learn:
- The difference between situation and clinical depression
- Antidepressants and if and why it is appropriate to taper off medication
- The mind-gut connection. Which testing can help identify healing opportunities
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HIGHLIGHTS:
3:37 WELCOME DR. ACHINA STEIN
4:21 DR. ACHINA’S JOURNEY INTO FUNCTIONAL MEDICINE
- How her son’s mental health crisis led to Dr. Achina’s discovery of functional medicine
- Dr. Achina’s crisis of faith in the conventional medical system
- The dramatic difference that diet and lifestyle made for Dr. Achina’s son
- Dr. Achina’s functional medicine practice
- When it comes to chronic disease, you need the functional medicine approach.
12:46 WHAT IS DEPRESSION?
Many people on the fertility journey have situational depression connected to their diagnosis Anyone with a chronic disease will have some form of depression or anxiety. Symptoms of true depression Depression is more than the psychological and the social aspects. There are biological, physiological and functional factors. Depression exists on a spectrum.
17:41 SITUATIONAL DEPRESSION
- What to do if you are suffering from depression stemming from a traumatic event
- The Internal Family Systems model
- Richard Schwartz’s Book | No Bad Parts: Healing Trauma and Restoring Wholeness with the Internal Family Systems Model
- Identifying and shifting your unconscious patterns
27:44 TTC WHILE ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS
- Important considerations around being on medication while pregnant
- What you need to know about coming off of SSRIs
- How restoring the gut can improve mood and help with tapering off medications
32:44 IVF, BIRTH CONTROL & MOOD
- Hormonal birth control can cause severe mood changes.
- Where possible, Dr. Achina recommends exploring other options
- Supplements that can support your mood and sleep while on medications
- DIYing this is just going to lead to confusion.
36:05 THEMES AROUND DEPRESSION
- How your diet impacts your mood
- Addressing gut issues will ultimately improve your mood
- We often don’t recognize how much internal stress our body is under
- Stress is often the hardest thing for people to manage.
- Bessel van der Kolk’s Book | The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
- Recognizing that your body is not working against you
- When was the last time you felt safe?
- Part therapy and how it can help address feelings of safety and break the cycle of trauma
- How therapy can play a major role in your fertility journey
- You have to surrender to the process.
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RESOURCES:
Fab Fertile Method - https://fabfertile.com/pages/what-we-do
Connect with Dr. Achina Stein
- Dr. Achina Stein’s Website | AchinaSteinDO.com
- Dr. Achina Stein’s Book | What If It's NOT Depression?: Your Guide to Finding Answers and Solutions
- Dr. Achina Stein on Instagram @Dr.AchinaStein
Ultimate Guide to Getting Pregnant This Year If You Have Low AMH/High FSH
Eating for your fertility does not have to suck and it is not about deprivation. It’s about eating food that tastes amazing and nourishes your body as you prepare for pregnancy success.
I’m excited to announce that our Summer Fertility Recipe Guide is ready! I worked with a chef/nutrition background to prepare these summer recipes. In this 5-day challenge you’ll learn how food impacts your body while enjoying delicious meals - no you will not be drinking green juice and starving! Start this challenge today with your partner.
Your free guide includes a meal plan, grocery shopping list and everything you need to get started with nourishing foods that improve your chances of pregnancy success.
I'm excited to introduce you to the Inito fertility monitor, an easy, at-home fertility tracker that gives accurate results, while cutting down on your time and expenses.
Inito not only tells you when you're the most fertile by measuring estrogen and LH but also confirms if you’ve actually ovulated by measuring progesterone.
If you’re ready to start tracking your fertility easily at home, go to Inito.com and use code FABFERTILE15 to save 15% on your fertility tracker.
Get Pregnant Naturally | Related Episodes
- Episode 383: How To Know For Certain If You Need To Eliminate Gluten
- Episode 364: Why This is My TOP Suggestion For Anyone On The Fertility Journey
- Episode 389: Want to get pregnant this year?
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Join my FREE Facebook group and get my training on How To Improve Pregnancy Success With Your Own Eggs.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/451444518397946
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Book your Supercharge Your Fertility Discovery call here with your partner
During our call, we’ll be discussing what you have tried so far and where you’ve faced challenges. This can feel stressful but is designed to help us get to the root cause of your fertility issues and will help me to give you the best possible action plan at the end of the call. However, to reassure you – on this call we won’t be digging into the trauma associated with infertility/miscarriage/loss – rather we are focused on solutions and an ACTION PLAN as to how our Fab Fertile Method can help you get pregnant naturally.
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Connect with Sarah on social media and learn more about functional fertility solutions that will help you have your baby.
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Twitter: https://twitter.com/fabfertile
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarahclarkfertilitycoach/
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