Cedars Functional Medicine

Cedars Functional Medicine Dr.Juliana Nahas
Holistic Pediatric Mental Health 🧠
ADHD, Anxiety, PANDAS 🌱
📍FL | Telehealth 💻

Dr Juliana Nahas, is a board certified pediatrician for 30 years, and now also a Functional Medicine Certified Practitioner, who specializes in treating complex pediatric health conditions like Autism, ADHD,Autoimmune Disorders like PANS/PANDAS,Anxiety and Mood Disorders, and more…. For over 25 years, Dr Nahas has served her community in GA, and is now offering virtual visits for clients who live

at a distance in FL and OR. Dr Nahas is an integrative physician, experienced in both conventional,and functional and energy medicine, to help your children have the best overall health possible. After experiencing her own troubles with an autoimmune condition, Dr Nahas searched all types of conventional and alternative modalities to get well again. She knew that taking Advil everyday wasn’t the answer, and she found that energy healing, yoga and mindset meditations as well as a Functional Medicine approach led her to resume her vibrant energy and vitality, in a few short months. Now, she combines her knowledge and expertise with her pediatric and adolescent clients, to customize their treatment approach and help them restore their optimal health.

🌳Since I have gone completely virtual in my functional psychiatry services, and I don't have a team to manage the admin ...
05/30/2026

🌳Since I have gone completely virtual in my functional psychiatry services, and I don't have a team to manage the admin tasks, I am simplifying my processes. If you like what you have read so far on this FB page and you want to talk to me about your case, please reach out via the link in the 1st comment below 👇

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart." - Elisabeth Fol...
04/02/2026

"The most beautiful discovery true friends make is that they can grow separately without growing apart." - Elisabeth Foley

🌱💡 Dive into a world where wellness meets understanding. Our latest blog explores how functional medicine can boost your child's well-being, tackling ADHD with care and compassion.

Because just like true friends, we believe in growing together.

Healing doesn’t happen through willpower alone — especially for kids and teens.It happens because the brain is always le...
03/30/2026

Healing doesn’t happen through willpower alone — especially for kids and teens.

It happens because the brain is always learning, adapting, and rewiring in response to safety and support.

This process is called neuroplasticity, and it’s why real change is possible even after years of trauma, chronic stress, anxiety, or depression.

Here are 3 ways parents can support neuroplasticity at home:

✨ Support body‑based regulation in small, consistent ways.

Simple grounding, predictable routines, movement, and sensory support help calm the brain’s alarm system and strengthen pathways for emotional regulation.

✨ Create experiences that feel safe, steady, and supportive.

Healing doesn’t require pushing. It happens when kids feel heard, understood, and allowed to move at their own pace. These moments give the brain new “templates” for safety.

✨ Help shift old patterns with compassion — not pressure.

When a child begins to question beliefs like “I’m not safe” or “I can’t handle this,” gentle support helps new, healthier pathways take root over time.

Neuroplasticity is the brain’s built‑in reminder that healing is possible — and that with the right support, your child’s nervous system can learn a new way forward. 💛

Not all anxiety in children or teens is about what’s happening right now.Sometimes, it’s a nervous system response shape...
03/27/2026

Not all anxiety in children or teens is about what’s happening right now.

Sometimes, it’s a nervous system response shaped by past stress or survival patterns that are still active in the body.

Here are 4 signs your child’s anxiety may be rooted deeper than the present moment:

1️⃣ It seems to come “out of nowhere,” even when life feels relatively calm

2️⃣ Your child is extremely sensitive to tone, perceived rejection, or sudden changes

3️⃣ Anxiety looks more like panic, meltdowns, shutdown, or freezing — not just worried thoughts

4️⃣ They struggle to truly relax, even in safe, familiar environments

This type of anxiety often needs more than talk therapy alone. Supporting the nervous system — through trauma‑informed care, somatic approaches, and physiological stabilization — can be an essential part of healing.

If you’ve ever been told your child “just needs to cope better,” please know this:

There is another way to understand what’s happening — one that looks beneath behavior, honors biology, and actually sees your child. 💛

In my work as a functional medicine pediatrician, I see emotional dysregulation not as a “behavior problem,” but as a br...
03/25/2026

In my work as a functional medicine pediatrician, I see emotional dysregulation not as a “behavior problem,” but as a brain‑ and nervous‑system pattern that reflects what’s happening beneath the surface.

Kids with emotional dysregulation often experience emotions more intensely and for longer periods of time. They may react strongly to perceived rejection, shift moods quickly, or struggle to calm their bodies after stress — not because they lack skills, but because their systems are overloaded.

In many cases, this pattern is influenced by measurable biological drivers, including:
🧠 Neurodevelopmental differences (such as ADHD or sensory processing differences)

🧠 Chronic stress or early adversity shaping nervous system reactivity

🧠 Inflammatory, metabolic, or nutrient imbalances

🧠 Heightened autonomic nervous system sensitivity

This is where precision matters.

Using targeted lab testing, I look for contributors like inflammation, micronutrient deficiencies, blood sugar instability, mitochondrial stress, gut‑brain signaling issues, and neurotransmitter imbalances — factors that directly affect emotional regulation and resilience.

The goal isn’t to suppress emotions or label a child as “too sensitive.”

The goal is to support the biology of regulation, so emotions become more flexible, recovery from stress is faster, and kids can access their full capacity to learn, connect, and thrive.

When we address the root causes, regulation follows.

As a functional pediatrician who provides psychiatric services, one of the most important things I help families underst...
03/23/2026

As a functional pediatrician who provides psychiatric services, one of the most important things I help families understand is this:

Depression isn’t one single condition.

It’s a word we use clinically, but in real life it can show up in very different ways — especially in children and teens.

Some kids feel heavy, foggy, and emotionally numb.

Others feel restless, anxious, or constantly on edge.

Some sleep all day.

Others are exhausted but can’t truly rest.

Clinically, we recognize multiple depression subtypes, including:
– Atypical depression

– Agitated depression

– Treatment‑resistant depression

– Depression with anxious distress

– Dysthymia (persistent depressive disorder)

Why this matters:

When we understand which type of depression is present, treatment becomes more precise and more effective. What helps one child may not help another — because we’re not always treating the same underlying pattern.

My role is to look beyond the label, understand the full picture, and tailor care to the child in front of me — not just the diagnosis.

Sometimes what looks like anxiety or depression in kids is only the surface layer. For some children and teens, there ma...
03/20/2026

Sometimes what looks like anxiety or depression in kids is only the surface layer. For some children and teens, there may be something deeper worth exploring.

Here are 5 signs your child’s symptoms may need a broader lens:

1️⃣ You’ve tried multiple therapies or medications with little lasting relief

2️⃣ Your child’s moods or energy shifts feel extreme or unpredictable

3️⃣ They seem emotionally shut down, numb, or disconnected at times

4️⃣ Ongoing physical symptoms show up (GI issues, fatigue, headaches, pain)

5️⃣ They often appear stuck in “survival mode” — on edge, overwhelmed, or shut down

When symptoms don’t respond to traditional approaches alone, it can point toward:
– Complex or developmental trauma

– Mood spectrum differences

– Nervous system dysregulation

– Neurodivergence

A diagnosis can be a helpful starting point, not a final answer.

The more complex your child’s story, the more nuanced and individualized their care may need to be.

If this resonates, trust your instincts — there are deeper, more supportive paths forward. 💛

When a child’s mental health symptoms don’t fully improve with therapy or medication alone, it doesn’t mean anyone has f...
03/18/2026

When a child’s mental health symptoms don’t fully improve with therapy or medication alone, it doesn’t mean anyone has failed.

Often, it means there’s another system asking for support: the nervous system.

For many children and teens living with chronic anxiety, trauma, or treatment‑resistant depression, what looks like a “mental” struggle is often physiological — their bodies are stuck in survival mode.

Here’s why that matters:

🌀 Ongoing fight‑or‑flight keeps the brain focused on safety, not learning, reflection, or emotional regulation

🧊 Freeze responses can look like shutdown, numbness, or disconnection

⚠️ Nervous system dysregulation leaves kids either on constant alert or completely withdrawn

Therapy that includes nervous‑system regulation — such as somatic approaches, polyvagal‑informed care, or sensorimotor work — helps the body feel safe again. From that place of safety, emotional healing, learning, and connection become possible.

Supporting a child’s nervous system isn’t replacing therapy — it’s often the missing layer that allows everything else to work better.

If this resonates, you’re not alone — and there are gentler, more complete ways to support healing.

When your child is struggling with gut‑brain symptoms, it can feel overwhelming. The good news? Gut health doesn’t have ...
03/16/2026

When your child is struggling with gut‑brain symptoms, it can feel overwhelming. The good news? Gut health doesn’t have to be complicated. Most kids benefit from supporting just three core foundations.

🧠💚 Support the gut, and the brain feels safer too.

1️⃣ Motility — how food moves through the gut
When motility is off, symptoms show up quickly.

• Slow motility: bloating, constipation, belly pain, feeling full quickly

• Fast motility: loose stools, urgency, poor nutrient absorption (which can affect mood and energy)

Support motility with:
• Hydration

• Balanced meals with fiber and protein

• Daily movement (play counts!)

• Stress reduction — tension slows the gut

2️⃣ Microbial Balance — the gut‑brain ecosystem
Gut microbes influence digestion, immunity, and emotional regulation.

When imbalanced, kids may have gas, bloating, cravings, skin issues, frequent illness, or mood swings.

Support with:
• Prebiotic foods (as tolerated)

• Probiotic foods

• Less excess sugar and ultra‑processed foods

3️⃣ Mucosal Lining — the gut’s protective barrier
This lining helps prevent inflammation and sensitivities that can affect the whole body.

Support it with:
• Omega‑3s

• Adequate protein

• Colorful fruits and vegetables

• Nervous‑system support through sleep and routine

When these three pillars are supported, digestion becomes more predictable and symptoms start to make sense — one small step at a time 🤍

Emerging research suggests that people with anxiety disorders may have about 8% lower choline levels in key brain region...
03/13/2026

Emerging research suggests that people with anxiety disorders may have about 8% lower choline levels in key brain regions, particularly the prefrontal cortex — the area involved in emotion regulation, decision‑making, and stress response.

Choline is a lesser‑known but essential brain nutrient. It helps maintain healthy brain cell membranes, supports communication between neurons, and plays a role in memory, cognition, and how the brain responds to stress.

When choline levels are low, the brain may have a harder time buffering stress — so everyday demands can feel more intense or overwhelming.

🌱 What you might gently consider (with care and support):

• Take a look at dietary intake. Many people don’t get enough choline. Rich sources include egg yolks, liver, fish, and certain legumes and beans.

• Support overall brain nutrition with balanced meals, healthy fats, stable blood sugar, and good gut health — absorption matters.

• If appropriate and guided by a professional, consider whether choline‑supportive foods or supplements could be helpful.

• Pair nutrition with nervous‑system support: consistent sleep, stress‑reducing practices, gentle movement, and routines that build brain resilience.

Nutrition isn’t a cure — but it can be a meaningful part of creating a more resilient, supported nervous system.

If you’d like help exploring whether nutrients like choline could be playing a role for you or your child, thoughtful guidance can make all the difference.

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