Biohack Your Genes for Better Mental Health

A Genetic Test Will Change How You Think About Your Mental Health

Imagine for a moment the complexity of your human body – that each of your 30 trillion cells contains up to 2 trillion molecules – and that your body also contains 100 trillion bacterial cells (your microbiome) that continuously “talk to” those 30 trillion human cells – a vast and highly complex “molecular symphony” that constitutes your physical self. DNA resides inside each of those 130 trillion cells, and human DNA is comprised of 25,000 genes! These genes are both the “composer” and “conductor” of that vast symphony orchestra that constitutes the life processes inside you. The human genome is truly awesome and complex, but understanding your DNA is not just possible, it can change the way you think about your mental health. Through our genetic testing consultations, a simple cheek swab will begin to provide important answers.

Biohack Your Genetic Destiny

To truly comprehend this elegant symphony of life, I encourage you to watch the video below, which does an excellent job of visualizing the inner workings of our cells. As you’ll see, genes are sections of DNA that contain instructions for building proteins. Those proteins—made up of amino acids—will eventually determine everything from the color of your eyes to whether you might suffer from anxiety, depression, or other emotional conditions. As you watch and listen to this video, you might think that such a beautiful, mechanical process might point to a genetic predeterminism—that our fates are sealed in each of those genes (our cellular “code”) that get read and do their work.

20 seconds into the video, the narrator speaks a line that makes a different case. Did you catch it? “When the gene is switched on…”. Now, re-watch the video and consider those mechanical processes in a different light: like any good computer, the process of reading our genes in order to create the proteins that build and rebuild our very selves is one of inputs and outputs. You have a big say over those inputs. You can Biohack them. Isn’t that exciting! While you may be genetically predisposed to certain mental health conditions, there are innumerable inputs that you can control to tell your body to switch “on” or “off” certain genes. These inputs include everything from vitamins and supplements to targeted medications to a simple run in the morning.

Now, watch the video one more time and consider: your pattern of getting stressed out, your craving for just one more glass of wine, even your puzzlement over your own serious PTSD symptoms as opposed to friends who lack these traits—all of these personality characteristics are rooted in those proteins floating in your cell’s cytoplasm. And armed with the knowledge of your personal genome to select the inputs that drive healthier genetic outputs, you may just be able to alter those traits over time. Pretty amazing, isn’t it?

The next time you look at yourself in the mirror, I hope you realize that when it comes to the immensity of your “inner universe,” through the use of genetic testing you can develop the biohacking tools to promote the health of your own infinite complexity a little bit better—gene by gene. We can help you develop a scientific roadmap for your biohacking journey to feel better faster.

Related Information

Learn how to biohack your mental health genes
Learn how to biohack your physical health genes
Get more information about the benefits of genetic testing
Discover how Potomac Psychiatry’s second opinion program uses genetic testing to accelerate positive treatment outcomes

Would you like to make an appointment with Potomac Psychiatry?

Please call 301.327.1835 to discuss your needs and schedule an appointment. Our experienced professionals look forward to meeting you.

Our offices are conveniently accessible from the following communities:

Maryland (MD):
Bethesda 20814 - Bethesda 20816 - Bethesda 20817 - Chevy Chase 20815 - Colesville 20904 - Cabin John 20815 - Glen Echo 20812 - Gaithersburg 20855 - Gaithersburg 20877- Gaithersburg 20878 - Gaithersburg 20879 - Garrett Park 20896 - Kensington 20895 - Montgomery Village 20886 - Olney 20830 - Olney 20832 - Potomac 20854 - Potomac 20859 - Rockville 20850 - Rockville 20852 - Rockville 20853 - Silver Spring 20903 - Silver Spring 20905 - Silver Spring 20906 - Silver Spring 20910 - Takoma Park 20912 - Wheaton 20902

Washington DC:
Crestwood 20011- North Capitol Hill 20002 - Cathedral Heights 20016 - American University Park 20016 - Columbia Heights 20010 - Mount Pleasant 20010 - Downtown 20036 - Dupont Circle 20009 - Logan Circle 20005- Adams Morgan 20009 - Chevy Chase 20015 - Georgetown 20007 - Cleveland Park 20008 - Foggy Bottom 20037 - Rock Creek Park - Woodley Park 20008 - Tenleytown 20016

Northern Virginia:
McLean 22101- McLean 22102 - McLean 22106 - Great Falls 22066 - Arlington 22201 - Arlington 22202 - Arlington 22203 - Arlington 22205 - Falls Church 22041 - Vienna 22181 - Alexandria 22314

Washingtonian Top Docs

Dr. Bruce Kehr, founder of Potomac Psychiatry, was once again selected in 2019 as a Washingtonian Top Doctor by over 10,000 physicians. Dr. Kehr has been a Washingtonian Top Doctor since 2012.

Dr. Portillo was again selected for a third consecutive year in 2019 as a Washingtonian
Top Doctor, and, Dr. Carr was again selected for a second consecutive year in 2019 as a Washingtonian Top Doctor.