Uncovering Potential Roots: Fits of rage + Impulsive behavior
Let’s start out by looking at a common scenario:
Carol is a 34-year-old female who complains of “fits of rage, impulsive eating, exhaustion, and an inability to lose weight.” She is told by her primary care provider that her labs look fine, and she should go home and eat less and exercise more. Carol returns months later with worsening symptoms, and is offered a pill for her mental health.
Now, let’s take a closer look:
Looking at Carol’s case more closely reveals she has a history of frequent antibiotic use due to chronic UTI’s and infections. She was on birth control for 14 years, and now frequently uses ibuprofen due to chronic joint pain. She also has a stressful job she has to balance while being a single mom.
A few of the most commonly overlooked root causes in this scenario are candida overgrowth, food sensitivities (especially gluten due to glyphosphate), and disruption of the gut lining.
How do these things occur?
When an individual is chronically stressed - and on top of that is using ibuprofen consistently - it leads to a disruption in the gut lining, which increases a person’s likelihood of food sensitivities. Due to the good bacteria being wiped out in the gut with frequent use of antibiotics, candida (a fungal infection caused by yeast) and other organisms often begin to overgrow.
The problem with this is that, while yeast is a normal part of the human microbiota, when it is overgrown it can begin to cause an individual to experience symptoms like fits of rage, insatiable food cravings (carbohydrates, sugar, cheeses and even wine), bloating, weight gain, exhaustion, and brain fog. When measures are not taken to support the stress response, healing of the gut lining and management of the overgrowth, they hide as underlying root causes and play a role in misdiagnosis.
Long-term use of antibiotics depletes the body of essential nutrients needed for the liver to detoxify appropriately (especially B6). (If you’re not sure just how much a congested liver affects your body, check out my previous post on liver health.)
In Carol’s case, if her body is having difficulty with liver health in addition to her other ailments, her body will also have a difficult time clearing and breaking down histamine, which will cause it to build up and eventually worsen her food sensitivities and explain many of her symptoms.
So, what is the solution?
First, it is helpful to test and not guess. Food sensitivity testing is helpful. However, be cautious because many practitioners rush to restrictive diets as a solution. While elimination diets can be beneficial in the healing process, I do not recommend them longterm, and I have personally seen clients improve without using a restrictive approach.
It is also important to treat the individual person, not just the disease or bacteria. Beginning any recommendations by supporting the host (the uniquely designed person) first is a more efficient approach than strictly jumping to killing protocols and detoxification.
If your body is not strong enough to handle a detox protocol, it will likely lead to more issues in the long run. It is also important to remember that you can do all of the detoxes in the world, but the overgrowth and its symptoms will likely return if not done in the correct environment.
Risk Factors for Candida:
Candida, like all forms of yeast, feeds on sugar and carbohydrates. While it is naturally occurring, the yeast becomes a problem in the God-designed body when it grows uncontrollably, which often occurs in people who eat a diet high in sugar or processed carbs. An overgrowth of candida can also occur when a person has:
frequent use of antibiotics (which kill the good bacteria in the system, leaving room for candida to grow)
longterm use of oral contraceptives
blood sugar issues
chronically high stress levels
frequent illness
past or current history of alcohol use
cellular hypothyroid function (history of back-and-forth dieting puts many at risk)
Looking Back at the Example:
In the scenario with Carol, she had all these risk factors. She also had a symptom many people are shy to admit but actually struggle with in silence - an insatiable craving for carbs, cheese, pasta and pastries. This is very common in people with candida overgrowth and will often result in a “feel good” feeling after consuming these foods.
This is why simply recommending someone go home and lose weight without taking into consideration the entire picture is not effective.
Helpful testing to explore with your provider:
If you’re feeling like Carol, these could be helpful tests to run with your healthcare provider. Although, be aware that these can typically only be drawn with a Functionally Trained Provider.
IgG food sensitivity panel or elimination diet trial (not a longterm solution, but it can be helpful for plan of care)
GI map - gives an incredible overview of the gut
liver function tests - histamine has to be detoxed from your body, so, if your liver is sluggish, it will worsen
Full Monty Panel
whole blood histamine
full thyroid panel
What’s the point?
According to a report published by the National Institutes of Health, misdiagnosis rates are at 65.9% for major depressive disorder, 92.7% for bipolar disorder, 85.8% for panic disorder, 71% for generalized anxiety disorder, and 97.8% for social anxiety disorder.
Many mental health disorders are misdiagnosed. When that happens, people begin to identify with and are held captive by their diagnosis. This often leads to a feeling of defeat and worsening quality of life.
It is vital to not give a diagnosis power and to ensure you are fighting and advocating for yourself.
**As always, the above information is not medical advice. This - and all other information I share - is for educational purposes only. For medical advice, please seek out the assistance of your own primary healthcare provider.
