It is not uncommon for insurance companies to restrict the number of health concerns that can be addressed at each visit with the doctor. For instance, this means that if you are experiencing anxiety, high stress, irritable bowel syndrome, and painful periods, you may not have the opportunity to discuss all of your symptoms with your doctor at the same visit – even if the health concerns are related, such as in this case. As a result, this prevents a whole-person approach to health and encourages treating symptoms, not the underlying cause. Moreover, in this case, anxiety and high levels of stress are likely one of the leading causes of digestive and hormonal imbalances. Unfortunately, this patient would probably walk out with an anti-anxiety drug like Xanax, an anti-depressant like Lexapro, and birth control pills to manage her symptoms. In the end, this creates a perfect storm for short-term suppression of symptoms with long-term health repercussions.