Anxiety, Depression, Brain Fog, and Fatigue?

These symptoms are often signs of a deeper imbalance, but standard tests come back “normal”—you’re not alone.ur neurotransmitters, the brain’s chemical messengers that control how you feel, think, and function. At O'Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic in Saint Paul, we help people uncover the real, biological reasons behind their symptoms—and we specialize in restoring healthy brain chemistry through functional medicine.

What Are Neurotransmitters?

Neurotransmitters are the chemicals your brain and nervous system use to send messages throughout your body. They influence your mood, sleep, memory, energy, focus, and even how you handle stress.

When neurotransmitters become imbalanced or depleted, you might experience:

• Anxiety or panic

• Depression or low motivation

• Brain fog and memory issues

• Fatigue and burnout

• Trouble focusing or concentrating

• Irritability, mood swings, or insomnia

Why Doesn’t Mainstream Medicine Test for Neurotransmitters?

This is one of the most common—and most important—questions we hear.

In the conventional medical model, mental health symptoms are usually treated with diagnosis-based prescriptions, not functional testing. If you report anxiety, you may be prescribed an anti-anxiety medication. If you’re fatigued or depressed, an antidepressant is often the first line of treatment—without any lab work to determine if your neurotransmitters are actually the problem.

There are several reasons why:

1. Standard labs don’t routinely offer neurotransmitter panels
   Most hospitals and insurance-based clinics do not run specialty lab tests unless there's a clear diagnostic code. Neurotransmitter testing is considered "non-essential" or “experimental” by many insurers.

2. Medications are often prescribed based on symptoms, not biology
   Conventional psychiatry operates under the assumption that symptoms equal chemical imbalance—but rarely is this investigated directly.

3. Mainstream medicine focuses on managing, not investigating
   Time constraints, insurance limits, and protocol-driven care leave little room for in-depth root-cause analysis.

4. It’s not part of the medical school curriculum
   Most physicians were not trained in the use or interpretation of urinary neurotransmitter testing or functional diagnostics. This doesn't mean it isn’t valid—just that it falls outside the standard model.

At our clinic, we take the time to look deeper—because your symptoms deserve real answers.

What Causes Neurotransmitter Imbalances?

Several factors can affect your neurotransmitter function, including:

• Chronic stress and trauma

• Poor gut health (where most neurotransmitters are made)

• Nutrient deficiencies (especially B vitamins, magnesium, amino acids)

• Hormonal shifts

• Inflammation or toxic exposure

• Poor sleep or irregular circadian rhythm

• Genetics and medication use

How We Test Neurotransmitters

We use advanced functional testing to uncover what’s happening beneath the surface, including:

• Urinary neurotransmitter testing – serotonin, dopamine, GABA, glutamate, norepinephrine, and more

• Organic acid testing – evaluates precursors and byproducts of neurotransmitter activity

• Adrenal stress testing – cortisol and DHEA levels impact mood and energy

• Nutrient panels – identify missing building blocks needed to create neurotransmitters

• GI testing – since the gut heavily influences neurotransmitter function

Symptoms We Commonly Help With:

• Ongoing anxiety or restlessness

• Persistent fatigue that doesn’t improve with sleep

• Difficulty concentrating, ADHD-like symptoms, or mental scatter

• Low mood or depression

• Cravings or compulsive behavior

• Memory lapses or “brain fog”

• Sleep issues and feeling “tired but wired”

Our Functional Approach to Rebalancing Brain Chemistry

We don’t mask symptoms—we work to understand and support your body’s natural healing process. Your care plan may include:

• Targeted amino acid therapy (like tryptophan, tyrosine, GABA)

• Nutritional cofactors (B6, magnesium, zinc, vitamin C)

• Herbal adaptogens for stress response

• Gut repair and detoxification if needed

• Nervous system support with FSM (Frequency Specific Microcurrent) or acupuncture

• Sleep, circadian, and nervous system regulation tools

Every plan is customized to your symptoms, biochemistry, and life.

What Our Patients Say

“I had brain fog, low motivation, and trouble focusing for years. It turns out my dopamine and serotonin were way off. Once I started treatment, I felt clearer and more like myself than I had in years.”
— Brian C., Saint Paul

“I didn’t know gut health affected brain chemistry. The testing was eye-opening, and my anxiety and fatigue started improving within weeks.”
— Alicia R., Minneapolis

You’re Not Broken—You’re Just Out of Balance

If you've been told "everything looks fine" but you don't feel fine, neurotransmitter imbalance could be the missing piece. You don’t have to settle for medications without answers.

With the right testing and support, you can feel clear, calm, focused, and energized again.

Start Your Journey Back to Balance

O'Keefe Matz Functional Health Clinic
1053 Ashland Avenue, Saint Paul, Minnesota
📞 Call us at 651-292-8072
🌐 Visit: www.improveurhealth.com