Managing Symptoms vs. Treating Root Causes
- Whole-Self Wellness
- Aug 6, 2025
- 3 min read
Are you subscribed to the Whole-Self Wellness YouTube channel? (Hint, hint.)
In today's video, Kammi introduces the concept of treating root causes vs. managing symptoms.
Most specialities focus on one thing. Some possible examples include:
A fitness coach focuses on your physical health.
A therapist focuses on your mental health.
If you're religious, your pastor (or the nearest equivalent in your faith tradition) focuses on your spiritual health.
Certain types of counselors specialize in your relationships.
But what happens when those "wires" get crossed? (And they will get crossed----your body and mind are interconnected.)
Scenario 1: Mental Symptom from Physical Root Cause
For example, imagine you injure your ankle. The injury makes it difficult for you to get around. Trapped at home, you become depressed. Your depression is a clear symptom that something is wrong, but treating it in isolation misses the bigger picture.
A better approach is to treat both, and perhaps the best approach is to acknowledge the root cause of the depression in the ankle injury and rearrange your treatment plan to reflect this. In the ideal outcome of this fictitious scenario, you seek medical attention to fix your ankle and adhere to the treatment plan. Restoring your mobility resolves your depression without further intervention.
That's just one example.
At Whole-Self Wellness, we support medical professionals and aim to supplement their treatment plans to serve your whole-person needs. We accomplish this by examining all parts of your health as listed above.
Mind
Body
Spirit
Relationships
You then become empowered; you gather your findings in one place and can bring new questions and insights to your appointments with your specialists.
That is how true healing happens, but it requires you to put in the work first and participate in a thorough and honest evaluation of your own life.
Once more, for emphasis: true healing begins by conducting a thorough and honest evaluation of your own life.
Scenario 2: Physical Symptom from Mental Root Cause
In another hypothetical, let's say you're trying to lose weight, but the pounds won't come off even though you're eating healthy. The first place you should start is your PCP. Please talk to your doctor first. A doctor can test for and rule out medical issues such as insulin resistance or a thyroid problem.
However, what if the reason you aren't losing weight is because of emotional eating due to unresolved trauma?
The diagnostic strategies are similar because your perceived inability to lose weight is a symptom in both approaches. However, this physical symptom stems from a root cause in your mental well-being, thereby requiring a plan that addresses your emotions first, most likely in talk therapy.
If you're going to a therapist, should you still visit your PCP? Yes. Even knowing the issue is emotional, your physical well-being remains highly relevant. A dietician is another fantastic addition to your care team because they can help you understand your body's nutritional needs. The idea is to combine these different approaches for a multi-pronged, all-encompassing treatment plan.
Take notes on what they say, set sustainable goals, seek support, and you'll be one step closer to achieving your best outcome.
Summary
It's time to stop managing symptoms in isolation and address the root cause of what ails you. You are not just your body; you're a beautiful blend of your mind, body, spirit, and relationships, and all of them play a part in your overall well-being.
If you're struggling to understand your mind-body connection and achieve your goals, we'd love to chat. Click here to book a free 30-minute consultation with one of our trauma-informed coaches.
Whatever it is, you've got this!
Reference
Mayo Clinic Staff. (2022, December 2). Weight loss: Gain control of emotional eating. Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/weight-loss/in-depth/weight-loss/art-20047342
Comments