Home > Ailments > Anxiety > Anxiety Q&A > Suffering From OCD, Grief and Anxiety
Suffering From OCD, Grief and AnxietyPosted By WholeEarthMama (Texas) on 07/20/2026
Replied by Art (California) on 07/20/2026
I don't think this is quite what you were asking for, but I would like to suggest that you have your iron level tested. The test is called an iron panel. If you are deficient, you can experience the effects you have described. It is a simple blood draw test. It might be helpful for you to read about the multitude of symptoms across the body caused by iron deficiency in order to see if you have other symptoms beyond what you mentioned in your post. Here is such information :
Iron deficiency is best known for causing physical fatigue and anemia, but iron is also essential for the brain. The brain has a very high iron demand because iron is involved in dopamine production, mitochondrial energy generation, myelin formation, neurotransmitter regulation, and oxygen delivery. Cognitive and mental effects can occur even before full iron-deficiency anemia develops.
1. Reduced attention and concentration
Iron is needed for dopamine signaling in the prefrontal cortex, a region important for attention and executive function.
2. Memory problems
3. Slower processing speed
4. Executive function impairment
Possible difficulties with:
5. Depression-like symptoms
Iron deficiency has been associated with:
One reason may be reduced dopamine and serotonin activity.
6. Anxiety and irritability
Some people report:
7. Sleep disturbances
Iron deficiency is strongly linked with:
Low brain iron affects dopamine pathways involved in movement control and sleep regulation.
8. Restless legs syndrome
This is one of the strongest neurological associations with low iron stores. Symptoms include:
Brain iron deficiency can impair dopamine signaling even when blood hemoglobin is normal.
9. Reduced dopamine function
Iron is required for tyrosine hydroxylase, the enzyme that converts tyrosine into L-DOPA, the precursor to dopamine.
Low iron may contribute to:
This is particularly interesting in relation to Parkinson’s disease because dopamine biology and iron metabolism are tightly connected, although iron deficiency is not considered a cause of Parkinson’s disease.
Iron deficiency may contribute to:
However, in older adults, excess brain iron accumulation (rather than deficiency) is also associated with neurodegenerative diseases, so iron balance is important—not simply “more iron is better.”
A person can have symptoms with low iron stores before anemia appears. Common markers:
| Marker | Often concerning when low |
|---|---|
| Ferritin | Indicates iron storage; many clinicians consider <30 ng/mL suggestive of deficiency |
| Transferrin saturation | Low values suggest insufficient available iron |
| Hemoglobin | Falls later when anemia develops |
| MCV/MCH | May change with iron-deficiency anemia |
(Some experts argue that ferritin below ~50 ng/mL may be relevant in conditions like restless legs.)
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Art
Replied by ariley (USA) on 07/20/2026
I think your best bet of what your dealing with is an acupuncturist. Can calm OCD and grief and relieve depression. Don't know your health but the gut brain axis plays a role in these issue. Maybe a leaky gut protocol but at least probiotics. If you want to try yourself go to yinyanghouse.com and look at Auricular Therapy. You may have to do PTSD protocol for grief. Buy on Amazon an Auricular kit with probe and seeds. Take Methylated multivitamin/min. If your taking Ashwaghanda for a few months. Your Anxiety is probably coming from Kidney/Bladder or Heart. Acupuncture can help.
https://www.healthprofs.com/us/acupuncturists/texas?category=auricular-acupuncture
