Below is a list of the most important blood tests for mental health. This list is by no means exhaustive - but it is a good start to rule out some basic deficiencies or other causes for poor mood, energy or anxiety.

Please note: blood tests are a moment in time. Some of these levels (such as TSH) may fluctuate daily and even at different times of the day. Discuss the results with your doctor and have them re-tested if necessary.

Remember - everyone is an individual! There is not one solution to depression, anxiety or other mental health issues.

Are you a GP, nurse or other health professional struggling with your current position within the medical model?

There's an awakening (without being woke) from the general public and healthcare professionals that maybe there is more to medicine than what we have been led to believe.

And this is causing a gentle, but fast passed uprising from people who want better knowledge, better prevention and better, safer forms of treatment.

And some physicians and nurses and wondering 'Where does this leave me?'

Find it a struggle to exercise? I have good news!

I recently listened to a book called “No Sweat” by Michelle Segar.

Another coach had recommended it.

I had a belief for a very long time about exercise -.we’re often made to believe that exercise has to be:

• Hard

• Uncomfortable

• Sweat inducing

• Something you ‘do’

But actually, unless you are training or want to achieve a specific goal, exercise didn’t need to be uncomfortable, difficult or even ‘exercise’. In fact, it’s everyday movement that is important when it comes to physical and mental health.

Did you know there is no physical test to diagnose mental health issues?

There are some biological markers that have been associated with poorer mental well-being (depression and anxiety for example).

Because the way we feel mentally - is highly governed by our physical body - sometimes we feel 'low' due to a physical cause (hormones anyone??).

Physical illness causes us to want to withdraw, not be social and have low energy.

What is the relationship between gut health and mental health?

How do we understand IBS?

How does the microbiome impact mental health?

IBS can be triggered by many different things, including poor digestion, dietary triggers or food sensitivities, lack of digestive enzymes, hypochlorhydria (low stomach acid), gut dysbiosis (an abnormal balance of bacteria, viruses or fungi in the gut), thyroid issues, stress, parasites…

Therefore the diagnosis of ‘IBS’ or undiagnosed gut issue require further investigation. 

In the last three weeks - and indeed 3 years has been a lot going on around us.

Even if we are not directly involved with events, seeing the images and hearing the stories on the news and social media can feel incredibly overwhelming.

This can cause us to feel stressed, which can lead to difficulty concentrating, can affect our sleep pattern and contribute to us feeling irritable.

And. This in itself can lead us to feel more overwhelmed.

SO WHAT DO WE DO & HOW DO WE COPE WITH OVERWHELM?

AND HOW DO WE COPE WITH THE FEELINGS OF GUILT AS WE CARRY ON OUR LIVES AS NORMAL?

I have been eating and making a version of this muesli since I was about 16 years of age. It’s morphed over the years - and got better, more nutritious and I would like to think more delicious as time has gone on. I make a batch about every two weeks or so. We have it most days.

It's so good! And good for you too!

It was an absolute pleasure to work with Megan from @vetthrivecollective in this podcast interview.

Megan is a veterinarian who has taken it upon herself to support, promote and care for colleagues in her industry. Unfortunately, vets have a high incidence of poor mental health - including depression and anxiety.

Megan had participated in the Nutrition and Mental Health course and since then we've had a few conversations about how we can improve the mental health of the professionals in her workforce.

Listen to the full podcast for more information and hear what she has done to support the health of the people she works with in her clinic.

Do you remember the children’s storybook ‘We’re going on a Bear Hunt’? It is a 1989 children's picture book written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury.

It’s a story about a family who goes ‘searching for bears’. And along the way, they stumble across a number of obstacles.