The jokes about women feeling moody and irritable on their periods have probably been around since there have been women and periods, but the evidence is clear– there is a strong link between hormones and mental health, not just in women, but in men as well. This fact is hardly a surprising one. Human hormones are powerful chemical messengers that can affect everything else in the body, so why wouldn’t they be able to affect the mind? Both hormonal health and mental health are rapidly evolving fields where not everything is well understood, even by scientists. Still, there’s no doubt that they are closely connected, and understanding and taking control of your hormones might be the key to helping boost your mental wellbeing!
This is especially important at this time of year, when many people struggle with their mental health due to stress in their life or seasonal depression. If you’re feeling less than your best these days, addressing your hormone levels might be just what you need!
How are Hormones and Mental Health Connected?
Hormones are the chemicals produced by your body’s endocrine system that control everything from how well you sleep to how you grow and age, not just your reproductive system! They’re very similar to (although not the exact same thing as) neurotransmitters such as dopamine and serotonin, chemical messengers produced in your brain that control how you feel.
Each different hormone that your body produces affects multiple different things. Although experts aren’t entirely sure why, mood and mental state are often among the things that can go haywire when your hormones are unbalanced. This is so much the case that signs and symptoms of mental health disorders, like low mood, low energy, nervousness, or restlessness, are often looked for when doctors are determining if someone might have a hormonal imbalance, like thyroid issues. The closer your hormone levels are to balance, or homeostasis, the less likely you are to deal with any unpleasant symptoms, including mental health problems. However, no one’s body is in perfect balance at all times, and your hormone levels might be contributing to you feeling anxious or depressed!
Hormonally-Linked Mental Health Conditions
Additionally, there are some conditions where the body’s hormones and the mind’s health are so closely linked that they’re inseparable from each other. Postpartum depression is one of these, thought to be triggered partially by a new mother’s intense hormonal changes as well as the stress of having a newborn. Some women also experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or PMDD, which goes past the normal moodiness of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) into major mood swings, serious depression or anger, and other mental symptoms that fluctuate out of control based on the menstrual cycle. Menopause and perimenopause are also closely associated with mood disturbances.
The links between hormonal health and mental health with these conditions doesn’t erase the other potential roots of a mental health problem. You might be anxious and unhappy, for instance, because you’re dealing with a lot of stress at work or because anxiety runs in your family, not just because you’re dealing with menopausal mood swings. However, because hormones do play a role, even just a partial one, in these conditions, addressing your hormone levels can help to get you on the path to feeling better, especially in situations where you can’t easily change your other circumstances!
Hormonal Health for Your Mental Wellbeing
When you want to start regulating your hormone levels for the sake of your mental health, the first thing you need to address is your lifestyle. Making sure that you’re eating right, exercising enough, and getting plenty of sleep certainly won’t magically fix all of your problems, but it will give you the best chance of success and start the process of getting your hormones back in check.
It’s also important to look into treatments that will address your hormone levels more directly. Many women have experienced being put on a birth control pill to manage intense PMS, but this is far from the possibility! Hormone replacement therapy, or HRT, can be a transformative option in many cases, improving your mood as well as other symptoms of hormonal imbalance. You can learn more about HRT from our expert team here at Renewed Vitality. Contact us today if you’re curious about whether this might be the right treatment for you!
There’s a reason that we associate menopause, PMS, and adolescence with moodiness. There’s a genuine link between your hormone levels and your mood or mental state. While your hormones are far from the only thing affecting your moods, their balance (or lack thereof) can lead to you feeling better, energized, and more positive, or sluggish, cranky, and more susceptible to negative moods. Unsurprisingly, this means that long-term hormonal issues can show up in what your mental health looks like. The coming winter months are a time when a lot of people struggle with their mental health, and if yours is already in a place that’s less than ideal, now is a good time to be looking at contributing factors that you could fix to help yourself start feeling better, and your hormones might be one of them! Here are some of the ways that your hormones affect your mental health.
Mood Swings
Mood swings, or sudden and unpredictable shifts in a person’s mood, are common symptoms of any body state that puts your hormones out of whack. Teenagers, PMSing women, and menopausal women are often written off as “hormonal” any time they’re a little less chipper than usual, but mood swings caused by your hormones can be a legitimate problem for some people. If you’re finding yourself surprised by your own mood changes and feeling as though you have little control over how you feel throughout the day, this might be the reason.
Low Mood and Low Energy
The sex hormones in particular (mainly estrogen and testosterone) play a very significant role in your energy levels. If your levels are off-balance, particularly if they’re lower than they should be, you might find yourself struggling with fatigue, sluggishness, brain fog, and other low-energy related problems. This low energy can lead to low mood as well. Depression and fatigue are very closely linked, and if you don’t have enough energy to be happy and engaged in your life, you’ll certainly struggle with feeling sad or numb for long periods of time.
Anxiety
Hormone imbalances can also have a negative effect on the way your body handles stress and worry, leading you to deal with pounding heartbeats and racing thoughts anytime you start to fret about something. Some people struggle with anxiety that is completely unrelated to their hormones, but others might notice it getting worse during times when their hormone levels are changing, such as prior to a period. Additionally, if you’re developing new anxiety alongside other symptoms of a hormonal imbalance, the two issues are likely to be related.
Sleep
The amount of sleep you get and the quality of your sleep are absolutely vital to every aspect of your health, including your mental health. Poor sleep and struggling with your mental health go hand in hand, affecting each other in a vicious cycle– being sad or anxious makes it harder to sleep well, which in turn makes you more sad and anxious. Imbalances in your hormones can also make it hard for you to get to sleep or stay asleep, leading to a whole host of unpleasant physical and mental health symptoms.
What to Do?
Eat Well
Taking a look at your diet is a good place to start when trying to make positive changes to your physical or mental health. Eating balanced meals full of nutritious, nourishing foods throughout the day gives your body the necessary tools to function properly!
Get Enough Exercise
The feel-good hormones that get released in your brain when you’re physically active can be incredibly helpful in combating mental health issues like anxiety or depression. Regular exercise also helps you to regulate the various rhythms and functions of your body, including your hormonal levels.
Consider Mental Health Treatment
If your moods, emotions, and thoughts are starting to affect your life, work, and relationships, it’s time to seek out professional help. Therapy and medication can help people make incredible changes and move towards happiness and positivity in their lives. They might help you, too!
Consider HRT
If you suspect that your hormone levels are playing a role in your mental health struggles, it’s a good idea to seek out a specialist like the ones on the team at Renewed Vitality for help! They can address these symptoms and others that you may be having and propose treatment plans that can help you to start feeling like yourself again. If you’re interested in learning more, make sure you contact us today!
Thoughtful and meaningful holiday gifts are a great way to show your friends and family that you care about them, but what if you’re looking for a gift that will prompt them to care for themselves a little bit more? The holidays are such a busy and stressful time of year, and if you have a loved one that you think could use a little inspiration to do something nice for themselves, there are some great options out there for gifts that will encourage self care! Whether you’re getting these for someone else or maybe even putting them on your own wishlist, these gift ideas will help provide an incentive for anyone to make a little time for themselves.
Weighted Blanket
Although you might second-guess yourself while trying to wrap a present like this, a weighted blanket makes an excellent gift this time of year. Providing all the benefits of a comfy, cozy blanket, they also help to reduce stress, improve sleep, and promote relaxation overall. Some studies even suggest that they can be helpful in alleviating chronic pain. Make sure you do your research on the correct weight and size to buy for the person in question so that the blanket is safe to use, and wish your loved one some wonderful, relaxing winter’s naps!
Journal
Getting your thoughts out of your head and onto paper is a very healthy habit to get into, but a lot of people find it challenging. Journaling can seem like a big time sink because of the expectation that you’ll write pages and pages each time you sit down. Some also struggle with a lack of ideas for things to write about, or simply find it hard to keep on top of journaling every day. A solution to this problem that makes a great gift is a journal with daily prompts for things to write about. It encourages reflection, is a great self care tool, and is easy to keep up with every day!
Spa Gift Card
If there’s one way to really take a moment for yourself and unwind, it’s a day at the spa indulging in things like massages, and the best incentive to take a spa day is a gift card. After all, if you don’t use it, it’ll go to waste, and no one wants that. A gift card or certificate to a local spa will give your loved ones the perfect excuse to spend a few hours prioritizing themselves and their own relaxation.
Oil Diffuser
Essential oils have many different properties that can be beneficial for a person’s physical and mental wellbeing, such as lavender for relaxation or or citrus for a mood boost and some energy. One of the most popular ways to use essential oils is in a diffuser, which can make your loved one’s home smell fantastic as well as being an act of self care. You can get diffusers for a range of different prices, so order one along with a few bottles of popular oils to make a wonderful holiday present. If the person has pets, however, just be careful which oils you choose. Some can be harmful to dogs, cats, or other animals!
Yoga Mat
Sometimes self care isn’t just about facials and bubble baths, but about more literal ways of taking care of yourself, such as ensuring you get enough sleep and eat nutritious foods. Exercise is another very important part of self care, and getting in the habit of doing some kind of physical movement at least a few times a week will have great benefits for your health and mental wellbeing. A yoga mat makes a great gift for anyone in your life who is looking to become more active in the new year, and there are many stylish ones out there to choose from.
Everyone could use an excuse to engage in a little more self care as this year winds to a close, so whether you’re shopping for family, friends, or even yourself, these gift options will all be fantastic ideas that will encourage more self care and better mental health. Make sure to keep them in mind as you finish up your last minute holiday shopping!
