Dr. Deepa Verma is double board-certified in family medicine and integrative holistic medicine. She graduated magna cum laude from The College of NJ and is a graduate of Rutgers Medical School in New Jersey (formerly known as Robert Wood Johnson Medical School). Dr. Verma completed her family medicine residency at Somerset Medical Center and was elected chief resident. She founded Synergistiq Integrative Health, her private practice, in 2013, during a very challenging time in her life. Haute Beauty integrative and anti-aging expert Dr. Deepa Verma discusses the correlation between mind-body-spirit and treating a person as a whole. 

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As we are approaching the holiday season, we must remember to take care of our mind-body-spirit. While it is a time to indulge, it can also be a very stressful time and take a toll on our mental health.

Mental health awareness is key to living a productive life. We often focus on physical health, but I want to take a moment to remind everyone that our physical and mental health are intertwined. If one is off, then the other will be affected. Mental health also comprises of emotional and sexual health. I make sure to address all these when I see a patient, no matter what the reason is that they are coming in for.

Getting a good and in-depth history is crucial. In order to treat a person as a whole, the physician should inquire about every facet of their life. For example, a woman may come to see me for weight gain and hormones, and upon further questioning, reveal to me that her libido is non-existent and it is painful to have sexual intercourse. She in turn has low self-confidence and feels unattractive which has caused her to feel depressed. By her telling me all this, I can now order her in-depth labs with hormones and neurotransmitters, discuss weight loss, offer laser vaginal rejuvenation, and create a plan for her optimal well-being. Addressing all the facets of a patient will benefit them and help them create a healthier and happier version of their existence. Treating the person as a whole is the best thing you can do for them.