Today you’re going to learn how to resolve anxiety and depression by healing your gut and thyroid, as I share the story of a patient who did just that—along with resolving fatigue, brain fog, and insomnia. If you find this information helpful, please like and subscribe so more people can watch this video.
My name is Dr. Tom Rofrano from the Natural Medicine Clinic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, and author of the FreeDiet®. Over the last 38 years, I’ve been blessed to have seen over 100,000 patient visits, many involving gut and thyroid issues. This patient was one of them.
Patient Background: Anxiety, Depression & Multiple Chronic Symptoms
A 27-year-old woman came in with:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Insomnia
- Fatigue
- Brain fog
- Dizziness
- Itchy skin and breakouts
- Bloating
- Diarrhea and constipation
She had been on various antidepressants and anti-anxiety medications for three years and was still feeling terrible.
To uncover the root causes, I performed a full evaluation with comprehensive lab testing.
The Five Most Common Root Causes of Anxiety & Depression
Before reviewing her results, these are the five main categories I most often see contributing to anxiety and depression:
- Nutritional deficiencies — especially B6, B12, folate, magnesium, zinc, vitamin D, and iron
- Toxins — including heavy metals, mold, and environmental chemicals
- Infections — particularly gut infections like Candida yeast and bacterial overgrowth
- Hormonal imbalance — especially thyroid and adrenal dysfunction
- Food reactions — especially gluten sensitivity, which is linked to anxiety, depression, and leaky gut
Most patients have multiple root causes and addressing them together increases the speed and likelihood of recovery.
Lab Findings: Deficiencies, Gut Imbalances & Thyroid Dysfunction
Her lab results revealed several significant issues:
Nutrient Deficiencies
She was low in:
- B6
- B12
- Folate
- Magnesium
- Zinc
- Vitamin D
- Omega-3 fats
- Other key nutrients
All of these are associated with anxiety and depression.
Gut Infections
She had:
- Candida yeast overgrowth
- Bacterial imbalance in her gut
Her symptoms worsened after taking antibiotics for a UTI, which is common because antibiotics can disrupt the microbiome and contribute to leaky gut.
Hormonal Imbalance
She had:
- Below-optimal thyroid function (TSH 3.7 — normal range, but not optimal)
- Low adrenal function (low cortisol)
- Low melatonin, contributing to insomnia
Low thyroid function alone can cause anxiety, depression, fatigue, and brain fog.
Food Reactions
She had:
- Celiac genetics
- Very high gluten sensitivity
- Leaky gut
- Multiple food allergies, including wheat
She was sensitive to gluten and allergic to wheat—two separate issues.
The FreeDiet®: The Foundation of Her Recovery
To address the root causes, I put her on an anti-inflammatory diet called the FreeDiet®, along with targeted supplements.
The FreeDiet® is a plan I developed years ago while healing my own autoimmune Hashimoto’s thyroid condition, rheumatoid arthritis, IBS, fatigue, skin issues, and other chronic health problems.
What the FreeDiet® Removes
Phase 1 of the FreeDiet® is free of:
- Gluten
- Grains
- Sugar
- Yeast
- Dairy
- Eggs
- Soy
- Legumes
- Nightshades
- Processed foods
These are the foods most commonly responsible for inflammation, gut issues, thyroid dysfunction, and chronic health problems.
As symptoms improve, additional foods are added back in during Phase 2.
I’ll include a link below for the FreeDiet® Phase 1 food chart.
Results After 3 Months: Anxiety, Depression & Insomnia Better
At her 3-month follow-up, she came in feeling dramatically better:
- More energy
- No longer needed afternoon naps
- Anxiety improved
- Depression improved
- Insomnia resolved
- Brain fog lifted
- Dizziness gone
- Itchy skin cleared
- Bloating and diarrhea resolved
Her thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) improved from 3.7 to 1.41, moving from underactive to optimal thyroid function—critical for mood, energy, and mental clarity.
Over the following months, she continued to improve, and her prescribing doctor was able to discontinue her antidepressants.
Supplement Plan: The Functional Five & Targeted Support
Her supplement plan included the Functional Five:
- Multivitamin
- Fish oil
- Vitamin D with K
- Magnesium
- Probiotic
Additional support included:
- Gut-healing supplements
- Curcumin for healthy inflammation
- Adrenal support
- Nutrients she was low in, such as B-complex and selenium
The Body Can Heal When Root Causes Are Addressed
By addressing the five main root-cause areas—deficiencies, toxins, infections, hormonal imbalance, and food reactions—she was able to:
- Resolve anxiety
- Resolve depression
- Improve sleep
- Eliminate brain fog
- Restore energy
- Heal gut symptoms
- Get her life back
When you uncover and address the underlying causes, healing becomes possible.
Go here if you would like a free copy of the FreeDiet® phase 1 food chart.
