A woman’s hormones have a powerful, pervasive impact on all aspects of her mental and physical health. These chemical messengers influence everything from your digestive system to your menstrual cycle and beyond. Since anxiety is the most common mental health issue on the planet, it should come as no surprise that hormones can play a prominent role in that for women. Most specifically, a hormonal imbalance is typically the culprit.
One in three women is affected by anxiety in their lifetime. Thus, you must learn more about the potential role of hormones — and how to prevent becoming caught in a hormone-anxiety cycle.
How Does This Cycle Start?
It involves a bunch of different hormones, e.g., estrogen, progesterone, oxytocin, testosterone, and stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline. For example, at the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle or during perimenopause, testosterone levels drop. This has been found to increase the likelihood of feeling panicked or worried.
Running parallel to this trend is the rise in the production of stress hormones. When you feel stressed or in danger, cortisol and adrenaline are released to handle the threat. This kicks off a cycle that can be self-perpetuating. Stress hormones keep you in a heightened state. Left unchecked, this often results in a feeling of being “stuck” in fight-or-flight mode.
One of several side effects of this phenomenon is even less testosterone production. As mentioned above, this causes anxiety and, thus, more stress hormones. The cycle spins on from there.
How Do You Know If You Have a Hormone Imbalance?
Some common red flags to watch for include:
- Irregular menstrual cycles/Loss of menstrual cycle
- Mood swings
- Feeling anxious, nervous, and worried
- Inability to concentrate
- Muscle weakness
- Fatigue
- Cold hands and feet
- Hair loss
- Unexplained weight gain
- Bloating and food cravings
- Dry, saggy skin/acne
- Low libido and sexual dysfunction
Unfortunately, any of the above can induce stress and anxiety — precisely what you’re hoping to curtail. Therefore, it is essential that you carefully monitor such symptoms without trying to self-diagnose. At the same time, making lifestyle changes can be incredibly helpful when it comes to controlling anxiety.
Some Basic Self-Help Steps For Hormone Imbalances and Anxiety
- Stress Reduction
This may sound simplistic, but it’s the foundation. There are countless proven relaxation techniques to consider. For example:
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Yoga
- Aromatherapy
- Mellow music
- Visualization
It’s also critical that you practice setting strong boundaries and prioritizing your needs.
- Safeguard Your Intake
The word intake can entail everything from certain foods and drinks to addictive substances like drugs, alcohol, and nicotine. Another aspect of intake is digital. What content are you consuming, and with whom do you regularly connect online?
There have been studies that show that eating foods that increase our inflammation, can be contributed to hormonal imbalance as well so do your research!
- Daily Exercise
Physical activity has been shown to help modulate your body’s hormones while countering the negative impacts of stress and anxiety.
- Emphasize One Hormone in Particular
Oxytocin is referred to as the “love hormone” because it promotes trust, connection, and relaxation. A woman has it in abundance during childbirth but can increase its presence at other times, too. Oxytocin increases when you engage in activities like cuddling (even with yourself), petting an animal, and helping others. In other words, it’s a win-win.
Seek Out the Help You Need and Deserve
Again, since there are multiple elements at play here, you must get professional guidance. If a medical doctor has ruled out a physical condition, your next stop could be therapy. An experienced mental health practitioner is uniquely positioned to help guide you along the journey of discerning cause and effect. Anxiety is common, but it absolutely can be managed and controlled. If the above information resonates with you, let’s connect and talk soon! You can self-schedule here or contact us here. We’ve got you!
