Mental Health + Hormones: Part 1
Welcome to our 3-part series exploring the link between our mental health and our hormones. Over the course of the next 3 weeks we are going to look at ways in which our mental health, reproductive hormones and eating patterns interact and influence the way that we are feeling on a daily basis.
This first week we are looking at how our hormones can play a role in anxiety and depression.
What many of us don’t realize is that having the appropriate amounts of our various reproductive hormones actually impacts our bodies beyond just our monthly period. It changes the way that our nervous system can function which can have impacts on our sleep, mood, anxiety and so much more.
For those of us who are struggling with low mood and overwhelm it is easy to dismiss it as a mental health issue, or rather, a neurotransmitter imbalance. While that might very well be the case, it is always important to look at ALL factors that can be contributing to our mental health and well-being. This can include things like nutrition, vitamin deficiencies, blood sugar imbalances, stress, other health disorders and, finally, hormonal imbalances.
Let’s take a closer look at our reproductive hormones.
Why do some women get mood changes around their periods? Why do some of us struggle with premenstrual dysphoric disorder (AKA depression the week before our period)? When our hormones are either out of balance with each other or they are out of the desired range, they cannot perform their proper functions. This includes supporting our mental and emotional health through neurotransmitter synthesis.
When our hormones cannot support our neurotransmitters, this changes nervous system function and can result in extreme changes in mood and anxiety.
Here are some of the ways in which our two primary female reproductive hormones impact our nervous system and mental well-being:
estrogen
Helps to support our neurotransmitter balance including triggering the release of serotonin and sensitizing the brain to dopamine – this helps to support mood and sleep. For those of you who don’t know, serotonin is our key neurotransmitter responsible for stabilizing our mood and providing feelings of well-being and happiness. Dopamine is our neurotransmitter that provides us with feelings of reward and happiness.
Helps to support and stabilize blood sugar. Imbalanced blood sugar has been associated with mood swings, anxiety, and irritability.
Supports immune function and help control inflammation in the body. Elevated levels of inflammation have been correlated with mental health disturbances such as depression.
progesterone
Stimulates and supports healthy thyroid function. We know that low thyroid function causes symptoms of depression.
Helps to support our stress hormones and regulate our stress response thereby preventing burnout.
Soothes mood – it helps to calm us down by interacting with GABA a calming neurotransmitter in our brain – this helps to decrease anxiety and promotes sleep.
It helps to reduce inflammation by balancing out our immune system.
If you have been diagnosed with a mental health condition and have not found an effective solution – it might be time to look at your hormones.
Naturopathic medicine is one way that we can address mental and emotional well-being in an individualized way. Assessments and treatments are customized so that we’re targeting the underlying cause of your low mood or anxiety. This includes looking at all the factors that are playing into your mental wellness, such as hormone imbalances.
If you have any questions please feel free to reach out and one of our Naturopathic Doctors would be more than happy to assist you!
Ready to make a change?
Remember that you are not alone in this. Support for mental well-being is available through Naturopathic Medicine and many other tools. I am always sending so much love and support. If you’d like to learn more about how Naturopathic Medicine can help, you can book a free 15 minute consult with me.
Sending so much love,
Dr. Alexandra Sisam, ND