New Mexico Mental Health
The Gut-Brain Connection: What Albuquerque Patients Should Know
By Dr. Stacey Forbes, DNP, APRN, PMHNP-BC
Your gut and your brain are in constant conversation. When that dialogue goes off track, mood and anxiety can suffer.
What is the gut-brain axis?
The gut-brain axis is the two-way communication network linking your digestive system and your brain. Most of the body’s serotonin is produced in the gut, and the gut microbiome influences inflammation, stress response, and mood.
Signs it may be affecting you
- Mood or anxiety symptoms alongside digestive issues
- Symptoms that haven’t fully responded to medication alone
- Fatigue, brain fog, or inflammation
How integrative psychiatry addresses it
An integrative evaluation can include nutrition, targeted lab testing, and gut-health strategies alongside conventional treatment. Albuquerque patients can access this care via telehealth.