Solving Unsolvable Problems

Have You Ever Had What Felt Like an Unsolvable Problem?  You tried medicine, you tried therapy, you tried meditation, and 10 other things—and nothing worked?

I’ve been where you are, and I empathize with your frustration.

When I was in the second grade, my teacher called my parents in for a meeting to tell them that I didn’t pay attention well, and that I often didn’t finish my classwork. My parents tried to bribe me with a quarter for every day that I finished my classwork on time, but of course, that didn’t work.

Fast-forward to age 40, and I finally got an attention deficit disorder (ADD) diagnosis.  Forty years of trying to figure out what was wrong, why I struggled to focus, and why traditional solutions didn't work for me.  That journey—full of false starts, missed signals, and endless frustration—led me to a powerful, emerging field: behavioral genetics.

What Is Behavioral Genetics?
Behavioral genetics/epigenetics is the study of how our genes influence our behavior. It looks at the ways our DNA contributes to traits like attention, mood, learning style, risk tolerance, and even how we respond to stress or reward.  It doesn’t mean everything is determined by our genes—but it does mean that our biology can play a much bigger role than we often realize.  We’re used to thinking about mental health in terms of environment and experience. “You’re anxious because of childhood trauma.” “You’re unmotivated because of low self-esteem.” Those narratives can be valid—but they don’t always tell the full story.  Sometimes, the puzzle isn’t psychological. It’s biological.

My Story: The Genetic Side of Focus
Looking back, I wasn’t lazy. I wasn’t defiant. I wasn’t “just a daydreamer.” My brain was wired differently. The school system—and even well-meaning adults around me—tried every external motivator they could think of. But what I needed was internal support. And that started with understanding my brain and the genes that cause ADD.  

When I was finally diagnosed, I started exploring the biological roots of attention, and eventually found behavioral genetics. I learned that certain gene variants can influence how we process dopamine (a key chemical involved in attention and motivation). Some people are naturally wired to crave stimulation. Others might be more sensitive to stress. Some of us process medications differently because of our genetic makeup.  No wonder the “usual” methods didn’t work for me—they weren’t built for my unique biology.

This solved a mystery for me. I now finally understood why I and my clients sometimes got stalled with our progress in energy psychology work!  I came to understand that biology is the foundation on which all healing work should be built.  In my case, ADD could be treated with homeopathic remedies, but sometimes these genetic issues need to be treated with plants, herbs, Traditional Chinese Medicine, and in some cases, prescription medicine.  

Behavioral Genetics: Not Just for Diagnoses
While behavioral genetics/epigenetics is incredibly helpful for understanding disorders like ADD, ADHD, depression, and anxiety, it’s not only about diagnosing problems.  It’s about discovering who you are, biologically, so you can live in alignment with your nature instead of fighting against it.  It’s like finally getting the owner’s manual to your own body.

Where Science Meets Self-Compassion
Understanding the genetic component of behavior isn’t about labeling or limiting yourself. It’s about freeing yourself from shame and guesswork.  For me, learning about behavioral genetics/epigenetics allowed me to replace “Why can’t I just focus?” with “What does my brain need to want to focus?”. It helped me shift from self-blame to self-understanding—and from frustration to strategy.  When I take my homeopathic remedies, my brain feels as if it clicks into gear, and I become much more productive.

Orthomolecular Medicine Treatment for Behavioral Genetics
If you’ve been stuck, despite doing everything right—therapy, medication, meditation, coaching, journaling, supplements—you’re not alone.  And you’re not broken.  There may be answers hidden in your biology. Behavioral genetics is not a magic wand, but it is a powerful tool—one that helped me stop fighting myself, and start working with who I truly am.  And maybe, it can help you do the same.

That’s why I now offer Orthomolecular Medicine as part of my practice. Orthomolecular means “correct molecule.”  Orthomolecular medicine protocols match suboptimally functioning genes (which practically everyone has at this point in human history) to natural medicine, and that medicine tells the gene how to express or function correctly. These protocols allow me to provide clients with deeper insight into how their genetics and biochemistry may be influencing their mood, attention, metabolism, and even their response to medications or supplements. With the right information, we can move from trial-and-error to precision—and from frustration to clarity. If you're feeling stuck and curious about whether a more personalized, biology-informed approach could help you move forward, I’d love to connect. Together, we can create a care plan that honors both your lived experience and your unique physiology.

Thank you!

Michelle