Depression is a complex and often misunderstood condition that affects how you think, feel, and function in everyday life. If you’re struggling with low mood, lack of motivation, or a persistent sense of sadness that seems to cloud every aspect of your life, you may be experiencing depression. This condition can lead to serious disruption in your appetite, sleep, energy levels, and relationships. While often labeled as a psychiatric illness, depression typically results from a multifactorial interplay of underlying root causes, such as hormonal shifts, metabolic imbalance, blood sugar dysregulation, gastrointestinal dysfunction, and environmental influences.
The symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, and often involve a combination of mental, physical, metabolic and hormonal disturbances. You may not even recognize them as being part of the same condition. Common symptoms include:
Dr. Michael Rothman is a Functional and Metabolic Medicine Specialist with over two decades of holistic practice. Drawing on his personal experience with Crohn’s disease, he is passionate about utilizing metabolically directed functional medicine to address complex health conditions, like depression. Dr. Rothman’s comprehensive method considers dietary habits, genetic predispositions, and environmental factors to identify and treat the metabolic imbalances at the root of health issues.
Certified by the National Board of Medical Examiners and the New Jersey State Board of Medical Examiners, he also holds board certifications in Internal Medicine and previously in Emergency Medicine. His unique approach integrates knowledge from nutrition, biochemistry, physiology, and physics, alongside extensive training in environmental illness, medical acupuncture, naturopathy, Reiki, qigong, and oriental martial arts. Patients can expect a thorough, individualized approach aimed at restoring and maintaining lasting well-being.
A depressive episode can feel like being weighed down by an invisible force. You may feel persistently sad, empty, or emotionally numb. It can be difficult to get out of bed, complete daily tasks, or feel any motivation. Activities that once brought you joy may now feel pointless. You might cry easily, withdraw from social interactions, or experience intense guilt, even without a clear reason. These episodes often affect not only your mental state but also your physical energy, appetite, and sleep patterns.
Occasional sadness is a normal emotional response to life events and typically resolves on its own within a short period. Clinical depression, however, is a chronic and disabling condition that persists for weeks or months. It affects your thoughts, emotions, physical health, and ability to function. Unlike temporary sadness, clinical depression does not always have a clear external trigger and is often linked to deeper physiological imbalances such as hypothyroidism, hormone dysregulation or impaired metabolic function.
Yes. Fatigue and brain fog are often overlooked signs of depression, especially when sadness isn’t the primary complaint. You may feel mentally sluggish, have difficulty concentrating, or experience memory lapses. These symptoms can stem from disrupted neurotransmitter activity, hormonal imbalances, or poor metabolic health—all common contributors to depression.
Absolutely. Hormonal imbalances, such as low thyroid function, high estrogen, low progesterone, or disrupted adrenal hormones, can significantly impact your mood, energy, and mental clarity. These imbalances can alter your neurotransmitter function, affect your sleep, and contribute to feelings of anxiety or sadness. Addressing your hormone health is a key component of our functional and metabolic medicine approach to your depression.
Nutrient deficiencies can directly affect your brain chemistry. For example, low levels of magnesium, B vitamins, or essential fatty acids can impair your production of serotonin and other neurotransmitters that regulate your mood. Inadequate intake of these nutrients, or poor absorption due to gut issues, may worsen your depressive symptoms. Replenishing these deficiencies through targeted nutrition is an essential step in restoring your emotional and cognitive health.
Your metabolic health influences everything from blood sugar stability to hormone production and energy regulation. When your metabolic system is out of balance, it can disrupt your mood, impair brain function, and trigger symptoms like fatigue, irritability, and depression. At Michael Rothman MD, we focus on restoring your homeostatic control system to support stable energy, emotional resilience, and long-term well-being.
In many cases, yes. While medication can provide short-term relief for some individuals, it does not address the root causes of depression. Functional and metabolic medicine offers a drug-free alternative that focuses on identifying and correcting the physiological imbalances driving your symptoms. This includes addressing your blood sugar fluctuations, hormonal shifts, nutrient deficiencies, and environmental stressors.
We recognize that every person’s experience with depression is unique. That’s why your treatment plan is tailored to your specific biology, lifestyle, and symptom profile. We conduct comprehensive testing to evaluate your hormonal, metabolic, digestive, and nervous system function. Based on these results, we create a personalized treatment plan that may include dietary modifications, targeted supplementation, metabolic therapies, and lifestyle adjustments—all designed to support your long-term mental and physical health.
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“Dr. Rothman’s research confirmed what I already suspected was the big lie about fat and cholesterol purported by so-called experts. If you want the truth, read this book. The recipes are fabulous!” – Diane W.
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