Get Professional Help If Needed
If you dont benefit sufficiently from self-help treatments, seek help from a mental health professional. While women suffering from depression respond to the same types of treatment as men, specific aspects of treatment are often modified for women. Women are also more likely to require simultaneous treatment for other conditions such as anxiety or eating disorders.
Therapy. Talk therapy is an extremely effective treatment for depression. It can provide you with the skills and insight to relieve depression symptoms and help prevent depression from coming back. One of the most important things to consider when choosing a therapist is your connection with this person. The right therapist will be a caring and supportive partner in your depression treatment and recovery.
Medication.Antidepressant medication may help relieve some symptoms of depression in women, but it wont cure the underlying problem. Because of female biological differences, women are generally started on lower doses of antidepressants than men. Women are also more likely to experience side effects, so any medication use should be closely monitored. Dont rely on a doctor who is not trained in mental health for guidance on medication, and remember that medication works best when you make healthy lifestyle changes as well.
Q: Are Problems With Memory And Concentration A Normal Part Of Menopause
A: Unfortunately,trouble concentrating and minor memory problems can be a normal part ofmenopause. Experts dont understand exactly why this happens, but if you arehaving them, talk to your doctor. He or she can at least provide somereassurance.
Activities that stimulate your brain can also helprejuvenate your memory, so spend some time with crossword puzzles or cozy upwith a book. Keep in mind that depression and anxiety may make memory concernsmore noticeable.
What Is A Hormonal Imbalance
Hormones are chemicals produced by different glands and tissues, forming a part of the endocrine system.
Hormones travel to all of the bodys tissues and organs through the bloodstream. They give messages to these organs, letting them know what function to perform and when to do it.
Hormones help regulate a lot of processes in the body. Hormones manage appetite and metabolism, sleep cycles, heart rate, sexual function, general mood and stress levels, and body temperature. Because they affect so many functions, imbalances in certain hormones can lead to uncomfortable symptoms.
A hormonal imbalance occurs when a person has too much or too little of a certain hormone, such as insulin, cortisol, thyroxine, androgens, estrogen, or progesterone. Even slight changes can have a significant effect on your body.
Track my period
A range of symptoms can result from female hormone imbalance. Hormonal imbalance symptoms depend on which hormones or glands are not working properly.
Some of the most common hormonal conditions in women cause the following symptoms:
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Mental Health Conditions Could Stem From A Hormonal Imbalance Inversely If You Have A Hormonal Imbalance You Are More Likely To Develop Mental Health Conditions Sometimes Psychological Symptoms Are Side
Norepinephrine, dopamine, andserotonin are well known in the psychiatric field to be pertinent biochemical regulators of our mood and psychological well-being. These three neurohormones form the foundation of current biochemical mental health pharmaceutical treatments in conjunction with psychotherapy and lifestyle modifications.
Although this triad is not exclusively the only group of hormones that can lead to mental illnesses it is important to also consider the following hormones when working with your healthcare provider.
Onset Of Depression More Complex Than A Brain Chemical Imbalance
It’s often said that depression results from a chemical imbalance, but that figure of speech doesn’t capture how complex the disease is. Research suggests that depression doesn’t spring from simply having too much or too little of certain brain chemicals. Rather, there are many possible causes of depression, including faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, stressful life events, medications, and medical problems. It’s believed that several of these forces interact to bring on depression.
To be sure, chemicals are involved in this process, but it is not a simple matter of one chemical being too low and another too high. Rather, many chemicals are involved, working both inside and outside nerve cells. There are millions, even billions, of chemical reactions that make up the dynamic system that is responsible for your mood, perceptions, and how you experience life.
With this level of complexity, you can see how two people might have similar symptoms of depression, but the problem on the inside, and therefore what treatments will work best, may be entirely different.
What follows is an overview of the current understanding of the major factors believed to play a role in the causes of depression.
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Early Losses And Trauma
Certain events can have lasting physical, as well as emotional, consequences. Researchers have found that early losses and emotional trauma may leave individuals more vulnerable to depression later in life.
Profound early losses, such as the death of a parent or the withdrawal of a loved one’s affection, may resonate throughout life, eventually expressing themselves as depression. When an individual is unaware of the wellspring of his or her illness, he or she can’t easily move past the depression. Moreover, unless the person gains a conscious understanding of the source of the condition, later losses or disappointments may trigger its return.
Traumas may also be indelibly etched on the psyche. A small but intriguing study in the Journal of the American Medical Association showed that women who were abused physically or sexually as children had more extreme stress responses than women who had not been abused. The women had higher levels of the stress hormones ACTH and cortisol, and their hearts beat faster when they performed stressful tasks, such as working out mathematical equations or speaking in front of an audience.
Tip : Support Your Health
In order to overcome depression, you have to do things that relax and energize you. This includes following a healthy lifestyle, learning how to better manage stress, setting limits on what youre able to do, and scheduling fun activities into your day.
Aim for eight hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems whether youre sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. But you can get on a better sleep schedule by adopting healthy sleep habits.
Keep stress in check. Not only does stress prolong and worsen depression, but it can also trigger it. Figure out all the things in your life that stress you out, such as work overload, money problems, or unsupportive relationships, and find ways to relieve the pressure and regain control.
Practice relaxation techniques.A daily relaxation practice can help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation.
Care for a pet. While nothing can replace the human connection, pets can bring joy and companionship into your life and help you feel less isolated. Caring for a pet can also get you outside of yourself and give you a sense of being neededboth powerful antidotes to depression.
Develop a wellness toolbox to deal with depression
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Mental Health Is A Pertinent Part Of Our Wellbeing: Wellness Does Not Only Encompass Physical Health But Also Our Mental And Emotional Health Mental Health Can Affect All Aspects Of Our Lives And Can Often Have Hidden
In this article weâll be answering questions like:
- How do my hormones impact my mental health?
- How does my PCOS, endometriosis, thyroid disorder, or other hormonal imbalance make me more likely to suffer from poor mental health?
- What emotional symptoms should I look out for?
- Could my psychiatric medication be affecting my hormonal health or catalyzing a hormone imbalance?
- How can I take charge of my mental and hormonal health?
Is A Hormonal Imbalance Causing Your Depression
Depression is a multifactorial mental health condition. It can manifest for a number of reasons, including neuroinflammation caused by poor diet or certain lifestyle choices, genetic factors and adverse childhood experiences. But it can also appear as a result of hormonal imbalance.
Around 19.7% of UK adults have shown symptoms of anxiety or depression, and these mental health issues are shown to be more prevalent in women . This may be due to a correlation with hormonal changes in women, particularly during teenage years, following pregnancy, and during perimenopause and menopause.
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But Does Diet Really Impact Hormonal Imbalance
Only 35 percent of respondents in Cabecas survey said they believed so.
However, Oh says it absolutely can. She noted that stress hormones and sex hormones start from the same basic building block: cholesterol.
We have to eat natural sources of cholesterol to make these hormones. Im a big fan of egg yolks, grass-fed butter or ghee, and fatty fish like wild salmon, said Oh.
Then we have to control the sources of stress in our lives like caffeine, alcohol, sugar, and flour, for instance. Then our bodies will naturally direct the production of hormones toward the sex hormone pathway instead of the stress hormone pathway.
However, she warns against diets based on the ketogenic diet.
It can exacerbate a hormonal imbalance because it really increases stress hormone. Intermittent fasting also does this. I have seen the disrupt my patients hormones, said Oh.
She believes the most effective way to address hormonal imbalances is to focus on stress balance.
Once we balance our stress, our hormones will naturally balance, Oh said.
Still, both doctors acknowledge that sometimes medication is necessary to help with hormonal imbalances.
Below, the Food and Drug Administration describes the different types of hormone medicines used during and after menopause:
How Your Hormones Can Impact Your Mental Health
More research is needed around how hormones and mental health are connected, but experts say there is definitely an interaction between hormones and well-being. Heres what we know: Your endocrine system works in tandem with your nervous system known as the hypothalamic-pituitary system to maintain a sense of homeostasis, or physiological equilibrium. This equilibrium is what the body wants, but when its not achieved, a lot can go wrong.
When something is out of balance with your hormones it has an effect on the whole system, which means youre going to feel it manifest both in your body and your mind.
Ready for a deeper dive? According to Dr. Cory Rice, internist and certified BioTE practitioner, The major endocrine glands in humans are the thyroid gland and the adrenal glands. If this chemical messaging system or the hormone feedback loops are negatively compromised in any way, this can have profound effects on someones health, particularly as it relates to their mental health.
For example, he says, the thyroid gland is the master gland of our endocrine system. Its responsible for producing the hormones T3 and T4, and its T3 that has a major role in ones mental health. Many of the T3 receptors in our body are concentrated in our brain. So if we have a thyroid gland that is underperforming , there is not enough thyroid hormone getting to the brain. This can, and oftentimes will, lead to increased rates of depression or anxiety or other mental health issues.
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Hormones And The Brain
That’s not to say estrogen isn’t a major player in regulating moods. Estrogen acts everywhere in the body, including the parts of the brain that control emotion.
Some of estrogen’s effects include:
- Increasing serotonin, and the number of serotonin receptors in the brain.
- Modifying the production and the effects of endorphins, the “feel-good” chemicals in the brain.
- Protecting nerves from damage, and possibly stimulating nerve growth.
What these effects mean in an individual woman is impossible to predict. Estrogen’s actions are too complex for researchers to understand fully. As an example, despite estrogen’s apparently positive effects on the brain, many women’s moods improve after menopause, when estrogen levels are very low.
Some experts believe that some women are more vulnerable to the menstrual cycle’s normal changes in estrogen. They suggest it’s the roller coaster of hormones during the reproductive years that create mood disturbances.
Hot Flashes And Night Sweats
A sign of hormonal imbalance is experiencing hot flashes and night sweats. Hot flashes are commonly associated with the menopause.
According to the journal Obstetrics & Gynecology, hot flashes are one of the most common reasons for women to visit their doctor during the menopause. This is because the hot flashes can affect quality of sleep, cause depression, and result in a decreased quality of life.24
Dr. Louise Newson on Patient.info says that an estrogen imbalance can cause an intense feeling of flushing and heat in the face, neck, and chest. This makes many women self-conscious because the sweating the flushes cause are difficult to ignore.25
If you feel like you are living in the tropics during the menopause, then please try some of my natural remedies for hot flashes. There you can find out how remedies like flaxseed, red clover, and evening primrose oil can give you a welcome relief from menopause symptoms.
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How Is Depression Diagnosed
To diagnose depression your doctor will do a full examination and get your medical history. They may refer you to a psychiatrist for a more in-depth evaluation. Since depression cant be tested for using blood tests, your doctor will ask you questions about your thoughts and feelings. Your doctor will be able to diagnose you based on your symptoms and answers.
How To Cure Hormonal Anxiety
It’s also important to remember that hormonal imbalances may not be the cause of anxiety. While poorly functioning hormones can be a contributing factor, many of those with hormonal imbalances showed signs of anxiety previously. In some cases anxiety may be caused almost exclusively by hormones, but in many cases it is a combination of hormones and previous mental health problems, or may have nothing to do with hormones at all.
Yet no matter what the cause of your anxiety – even if it’s something physical – you can treat it using psychological techniques. Your mind is incredibly powerful, and it can learn to control anxiety even when that anxiety is related to a hormonal imbalance.
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An Overview Of Hormone Imbalance And Depression
As women age, they can start to have hot flashes, develop insomnia, experience unexplained weight gain, have brain fog and memory problems, lose libido, and experience mood swings. These symptoms occur mostly due to decreased estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone.Going through peri- and menopause is like living with an endocrine disorder, and just like with other endocrine disorders, you are dealing with physical issues as well as possible cognitive and mental health issues.2,3Using bioidentical hormones to restore your body to its natural balance is vital to treating hormonal depression. Bioidentical hormones, such as estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, are made to be exactly like what is produced in our bodies, and supplements what we already have been making most of our lives.Experts say that there is definitely a relationship between hormones and your sense of well-being. Your hormones work together with your nervous system to maintain your sense of balance or equilibrium both physically and mentally. Equilibrium is what your body wants, but if itâs off, like when going through peri- and menopause, a lot can go wrong. When hormones are out of balance it affects both your body and your mind.If your mood has changed, it may help to look at the underlying hormonal factors that may be impacting your feelings of sadness and depression. Hormonal imbalances can lead to many symptoms of depression.
Overcoming Depressive Symptoms Related To Reduced Hormone Levels
When hormonal imbalances are leading to depression and are behind your feelings of sadness and loss of energy, antidepressants may be part of the solution, but maybe are not the full answer. If your depression is due to hormones, antidepressants wonât get your mind right. If you are in peri- or menopause, it is your hormonal dysfunction that could be contributing to your depressive symptoms. This can leave you going from one antidepressant medication to another in search of relief without success. When you get your hormones right, it may improve symptoms of depression by stabilizing your moods, boosting your energy, and clearing away the brain fog.
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The Link Between Hormones And Depression
Every woman is unique, and myriad factors can have an impact on depression and anxiety. Genetics, brain chemistry, medication side effects, trauma, and societal expectations are just a few things that can play a role in depression.
But the fact that women experience this condition so much more frequently than men makes it clear that there is a connection between hormones and depression.
Our bodies are full of hormones that carry important messages and have an impact on vital functions. When these hormones arent properly balanced, many uncomfortable conditions can result including depression.
Research has shown that female reproductive hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, impact parts of the brain connected to mood regulation and behavior. An imbalanced ratio of estrogen to progesterone can become a serious problem, known as estrogen dominance.
Hormones produced by the thyroid and adrenal glands can also have significant impact on mood, as can DHEA, the so called feel-good hormone. Remembering that often the adrenals can be a driver of this imbalance.
Looking at hormones in connection with depression, patterns can emerge. Hormonal imbalances impact mood and depression can impact hormone levels its one of those crazy cyclical relationships. Thats why comprehensive testing is so crucial when women present with mood-related issues. Its the only way to have all the information necessary to treat the problem, not just the symptoms.