7 Sneaky Things Sabotaging Your Mental Health (That No One’s Talking About)

You eat reasonably well. You’ve tried therapy. Maybe you even meditate or exercise regularly. And yet... your mood is still flat. You feel anxious for no clear reason. Brain fog clouds your thoughts. Or you’re just not bouncing back the way you used to.

If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

As a Functional Medicine practitioner specialising in brain and mental health, I see many clients who feel they’ve hit a wall with conventional approaches. They’ve done “all the right things” but something still isn’t clicking.

That’s often because no one has looked deep enough.

Here are seven often-overlooked, evidence-based root causes that could be sabotaging your mental health—and what you can do about them.

1. Blood Sugar Imbalances

Mood swings. Irritability. Energy crashes. These may all trace back to unstable blood glucose levels—even in people without diabetes or insulin resistance. Glucose is the brain’s primary energy source, and large fluctuations can trigger adrenaline and cortisol surges that feel just like anxiety.

What helps: Focus on balanced meals that include protein, healthy fats, and fibre. Avoid high-sugar breakfasts or snacking on ultra-processed foods throughout the day.

2. Silent Inflammation

Low-grade, chronic inflammation is now considered a major contributor to depression, anxiety, and cognitive decline. Inflammatory cytokines can interfere with neurotransmitter function and impact the brain’s ability to regulate mood.

What helps: Look for and address hidden sources of inflammation—such as food sensitivities, gut dysbiosis, mould exposure, or chronic infections. Functional testing can help identify the root.

3. Nutrient Deficiencies You Can’t Always See

Low levels of critical brain nutrients—like zinc, magnesium, B6, B12, folate, and omega-3s—can severely affect mental health. Yet many deficiencies go undetected with standard blood tests, especially if nutrients aren’t getting into the cells where they’re needed.

What helps: Consider functional blood or urine testing to assess actual nutrient status and utilisation. Nutritional repletion can be transformative.

4. Toxic Load from Mould, Metals, and Chemicals

Living in a damp home, having amalgam fillings, or exposure to environmental chemicals (like pesticides or plastics) can all burden your detox pathways and brain. These toxins can disrupt mitochondrial function, increase oxidative stress, and trigger immune dysfunction—affecting mood and cognition.

What helps:Investigating and addressing environmental toxins is a core part of my root-cause approach. This might include heavy metal panels, or organic acid profiles or investigating CIRS.

5. Genetic Variants Affecting Brain Chemistry

Genetic polymorphisms (SNPs) such as MTHFR, COMT, and MAOA affect how you produce and metabolise neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin. They also impact your need for nutrients such as folate, B12, and SAMe. These differences can influence anxiety levels, stress response, and even motivation or focus.

What helps: Nutrigenomics testing can help personalise your nutrition, supplements, and lifestyle support based on your unique biochemistry.

6. The Gut-Brain Axis Is Out of Sync

The gut is often referred to as the “second brain” for a reason. Around 90% of serotonin is produced in the gut, and the microbiome plays a major role in mental health. Gut dysbiosis, leaky gut, or overgrowths like SIBO or candida can all trigger mood issues, anxiety, and brain fog.

What helps: A comprehensive stool analysis can reveal imbalances, inflammation, and digestive insufficiencies. Restoring gut health is often one of the fastest ways to shift mood and mental clarity.

7. Nervous System Dysregulation and Chronic Stress

Many people live in a chronic fight-or-flight state without realising it. This persistent sympathetic overdrive depletes resilience, disrupts sleep, and interferes with hormone balance. Over time, it can contribute to anxiety, burnout, and even depression.

What helps: Support the parasympathetic nervous system with breathwork, vagus nerve stimulation, body-based therapies, and targeted adaptogenic or nervous system supplements.

You Don’t Need to Settle for “Managing” Symptoms

If you’ve been told “everything looks fine” but you don’t feel fine, it’s time to go deeper. These seven factors are just a starting point in a truly root-cause approach to mental health.

We combine advanced testing, personalised nutrition, targeted supplementation, and lifestyle strategies to uncover what’s really driving your symptoms—and help you move forward with clarity.

Next Step

Want to explore whether this approach is right for you?

Book a free discovery call to discuss your mental health concerns and how we might support you with a comprehensive, evidence-based plan.