Preventing Misdiagnosis in Counseling | Holistic Health
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Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes presents a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted nature of mental health diagnosis, emphasizing the importance of considering both psychological and physiological factors. She advocates for a holistic bio psychosocial approach, warning against cognitive biases such as framing and confirmation biases that can lead to misdiagnosis. Dr. Snipes discusses the complexity of diagnosing symptoms like fatigue and depressed mood, which can stem from a variety of causes including hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, medication side effects, and substance use. She highlights the role of the Hypothalamic Pituitary Adrenal (HPA) axis and its interconnectedness with the thyroid and gonadal axes, which can affect emotional balance and mood. The impact of neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and endorphins on mood is also explored, along with the influence of Vitamin D levels, iron deficiency anemia, dehydration, and gut microbiome health. Dr. Snipes identifies sleep dysfunction, particularly sleep apnea, as a significant contributor to mood disorders and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive blood work to test for various hormonal levels. She also discusses the relationship between PTSD, sleep apnea, chronic inflammation, and depression, advocating for addressing underlying causes of inflammation for effective treatment. The psychological and physiological aspects of anger and anxiety are described as threat responses that can lead to exhaustion and trigger the HPA axis, impairing sleep and contributing to a depressed mood. Dr. Snipes warns against pathologizing normal grief as depression and notes the role of nutritional imbalances, medication side effects, and addictions in energy levels and mood. She plans to explore the importance of hydration in an upcoming video. The impact of disrupted sleep and circadian rhythms on hormonal balance is addressed, along with the effects of addiction withdrawal and medication side effects on fatigue. Dr. Snipes explores the emotional and cognitive toll of anger, anxiety, and depression, which can be exhausting and lead to feelings of hopelessness and helplessness. She emphasizes the need for understanding and addressing various factors to improve sleep and overall well-being. The importance of nutritional balance for neurotransmitter production, the link between thyroid and estrogen imbalances and anxiety, and the effects of sleep deprivation on mental health are also discussed. Dr. Snipes highlights the need to consider diverse factors when addressing sleep disturbances and their subsequent effects on mental health. She concludes by discussing factors contributing to restlessness, social withdrawal, depression, anxiety, low motivation, and cognitive dysfunction, emphasizing the importance of addressing the whole person and recognizing the interactions between the HPA axis, stress, and the balance of hormones and neurotransmitters.
Dr. Dawn-Elise Snipes presents a comprehensive examination of the multifaceted nature of mental heal