Toxicities and Anxiety or OCD

'Detox' and toxins have become trendy marketing terms in recent years. Awareness surrounding the toxic world we live in is great, but having a common sense approach to how we can navigate it and what needs priority for an individual is key. Anxiety or OCD can be caused or worsened by a number of different reactions related to toxic exposures. Having a physician that can evaluate, test, and propose data backed options is critical when trying to avoid the 'noise' regarding toxins and the all too often questionable detoxification products being marketed.

Common Toxicities:

• • • Mold - Many mycotoxins are neurotoxic and can lead to tremendous anxiety symptoms.
    • Heavy Metals - Heavy metals, like mercury or lead, can block and disrupt neurotransmitter metabolism.
    • Chemical Exposures - Environmental exposure to chemicals that disrupt our body systems, such as endocrine disrupters.
    • Metabolic Toxins - Metabolic processes that are disrupted.
    • Detoxification Issues - Genetic mutations, nutrient deficient, or burdened pathways.
    • Infections - Conditions like gut infections can create toxins from within our body.

Practical Guidance

Our modern world comes with many benefits that would have been unthinkable centuries ago, but also with new challenges. Our modern 'saber tooth tiger' is endocrine disrupting chemicals or heavy metals. We need to create an approach that allows us to benefit from modern life while also managing its impact on our current and future health.