Dual-certified Nurse Practitioner Specializing in Women’s Mental Health and Wellness.
If you’ve ever felt like your mood shifts unpredictably, your anxiety spikes for no reason, or your energy disappears overnight, you’re not imagining it, your hormones might be playing a bigger role than you think.
At Well Dawn Integrative Health, PLLC, we see this all the time: women who feel exhausted, anxious, irritable, or emotionally drained but have been told, “Your labs are normal” or “It’s just stress.” But here’s the truth: hormones and mental health are deeply connected, and when they’re out of balance, your mood, energy, and overall well-being can take a hit.
So, let’s talk about how hormones impact your mental health and what you can do to feel more balanced and in control.
Women’s hormones don’t just control periods and pregnancy, they influence brain function, mood, sleep, and stress response. Here’s a breakdown of their role:
Estrogen is more than just a reproductive hormone—it’s essential for mental well-being. It helps regulate serotonin and dopamine, the neurotransmitters responsible for happiness, motivation, and emotional stability (Studd & Panay, 2004).
Progesterone acts as the body’s natural anti-anxiety hormone, helping with relaxation and sleep (Schule et al., 2014).
Cortisol is your fight-or-flight hormone, helping your body respond to stress. However, when cortisol levels remain too high for too long, it can lead to:
Chronic stress, poor sleep, and blood sugar imbalances can keep cortisol levels elevated, leaving you feeling exhausted yet wired (Russell & Lightman, 2019).
Your thyroid plays a major role in metabolism, mood, and energy levels (Samuels, 2014). When thyroid function is off, mental health often suffers:
If you’ve been feeling mentally drained with no clear reason, checking your thyroid levels is essential.
Common Hormonal Imbalances That Impact Mental Health
Many women struggle with hormone-related mental health symptoms without realizing it. Some common conditions include:
If your mental health symptoms seem to come in cycles, worsen before your period, or started after pregnancy or in your 40s, hormones could be the cause.
The good news? You don’t have to live with hormonal imbalances controlling your mood. Here are some ways to support your mental health naturally:
1. Nutrition for Hormone Balance
What you eat plays a huge role in keeping hormones balanced. Focus on:
2. Prioritize Sleep & Stress Reduction
3. Move Your Body (But Don’t Overdo It)
4. Consider Supplements (With guidance from your provider)
Some evidence-based supplements that support hormones and mental health include:
5. Work with an Integrative Provider
If your mental health symptoms feel hormone-related, working with a provider who understands the hormone-mental health connection is key. At Well Dawn Integrative Health, we take a whole-person approach, looking at your mood, hormones, lifestyle, and overall well-being to create a treatment plan that actually works for you.
The Takeaway
If you’ve been struggling with anxiety, mood swings, or unexplained fatigue, and no one has looked at your hormones, it’s time to start asking questions. You don’t have to accept feeling “off” as your normal.
At Well Dawn Integrative Health, PLLC, we help women understand their hormones, balance their mood, and feel like themselves again. If you’re tired of feeling stuck, let’s work together to get to the root cause and find a plan that truly supports your mental health.
References
Curious if Our Approach Aligns with Your Needs?
Well Dawn Integrative Health, PLLC formerly Peace of Mind Psychiatric Services, PLLC.
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