Hormone Imbalances and Depression: Is It Just Your Hormones?

Feeling blue? Can’t seem to find the energy to get off the couch? Have trouble focusing on anything? You may assume it’s depression. And if you talk about your concerns with your healthcare provider, you could very likely walk away with a prescription for antidepressants.

But what if it isn’t really clinical depression? What if your symptoms are due to something else—something that antidepressants won’t help? For example, did you know that hormonal imbalances can lead to many symptoms of depression, often referred to as hormonal depression?

The Impact of Hormones on Mental Health

Hormones are chemical messengers that can have a powerful influence on the brain and your mental well-being. When hormone levels are balanced, you tend to have stable moods and feel energetic, motivated, and mentally sharp. When hormone levels are out of whack, however, you may experience symptoms that are associated with psychiatric illnesses, such as depression.

Hormonal imbalance symptoms can include:

• Sadness
• Anxiety
• Panic attacks
• Mood swings
• Fatigue
• Brain fog
• Sleep disturbances
• Low libido
• Lack of motivation
• Trouble concentrating

Mood symptoms, such as those seen in premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), can be significant enough to disrupt daily life, illustrating the complex relationship between estrogen and mood regulation.

What are Hormonal Imbalances?

Hormonal imbalances occur when there is an excess or deficiency of hormones in the body. These chemical messengers, produced by glands in the endocrine system, regulate various bodily functions such as growth, metabolism, and reproductive processes.

When hormone levels are not in harmony, it can lead to a range of health issues, including mental health problems. Hormonal imbalances can significantly contribute to the development of anxiety and depression disorders, affecting your overall well-being and quality of life.

Common Hormonal Imbalances That Can Cause Depressive Symptoms

Of the hundreds of hormones our bodies produce, here are four that are known to lead to symptoms of depressive disorders when they are out of balance:

• Thyroid: The thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland that plays a powerful role in keeping your brain and body healthy. It is involved in the production of many neurotransmitters, including dopamine, serotonin, and GABA—all of which are involved in mood regulation.

Problems occur when thyroid dysfunction causes the gland to produce too little hormone (hypothyroidism) or too much hormone (hyperthyroidism).

Thyroid disorders can significantly impact mental health, particularly anxiety and depression. In fact, thyroid dysfunction is directly linked to one-third of all depressions.

• Insufficient production of thyroid hormones can result in symptoms like fatigue and depression.

• Estrogen: Estrogen also influences the production of the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. Too much or too little estrogen can alter neurotransmitter levels and lead to feelings of depression.

• A significant drop in estrogen levels postpartum can lead to postpartum depression, with some studies indicating that over 19% of individuals may experience this condition within the first year following childbirth.

• Progesterone: Often called the “relaxation hormone,” progesterone has a calming effect when it is produced in optimal levels.
  When hormones are off-kilter or when the relaxation hormone is in low supply, it can lead to depression, as well as irritability, anxiety, sleepless nights, and brain fog.
• Testosterone: In both men and women, testosterone helps ward off depression, in addition to cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease.
  Low testosterone levels have been shown to increase symptoms of depression and anxiety, such as trouble concentrating, lack of motivation, and fatigue.

Menstrual Cycle and Mental Health

The menstrual cycle is a complex process involving the interplay of various hormones, including estrogen and progesterone. These hormones can have a profound effect on mood, emotional well-being, and mental health.

Fluctuations in hormone levels during the menstrual cycle can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression, particularly in women who experience premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).

Understanding the connection between your menstrual cycle and mental health can help you better manage these symptoms and seek appropriate treatment.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) that affects 3-9% of women.

Unlike PMS, which may cause mild discomfort, PMDD is characterized by intense symptoms of depression, anxiety, and irritability that occur during the premenstrual phase of the menstrual cycle. These symptoms can be severe enough to disrupt daily life and relationships.

Hormonal fluctuations, particularly the drop in estrogen levels, are thought to contribute to the development of PMDD, making it crucial to recognize and address this condition.

Thyroid Problems and Depression

Thyroid problems, such as hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, can significantly contribute to the development of depression. The thyroid gland, a small but mighty organ located in the neck, produces hormones that regulate metabolism, energy levels, and mood.

When the thyroid gland is underactive (hypothyroidism), it can lead to symptoms of depression, fatigue, and anxiety. Conversely, an overactive thyroid gland (hyperthyroidism) can cause symptoms of anxiety, irritability, and mood swings.

Understanding the role of the thyroid gland in mood regulation is essential for identifying and treating thyroid-related depressive symptoms.

Adrenal Hormones and Depression

Adrenal hormones, such as cortisol, play a crucial role in the body’s response to stress. The adrenal glands produce cortisol in response to stress, helping you cope with challenging situations.

However, chronically elevated cortisol levels can contribute to the development of depression, anxiety, and mood disorders. When stress is unrelenting, the constant flood of cortisol can disrupt the body’s natural hormonal balance, leading to symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Managing stress and maintaining a healthy hormonal balance is key to preventing mood disorders related to adrenal hormone dysfunction.

What Causes Hormone Problems?

Many things can interfere with healthy hormone production, including:

• Eating a diet high in refined sugar: Consuming too much sugar disrupts normal hormone function and can result in excessive levels of estrogen about progesterone, which increases the risk for mood swings, depression, and anxiety.
• Chronic stress: When stress hits, our bodies respond by releasing hormones that put us into fight-or-flight mode. But when stress is unrelenting, the constant flood of these stress hormones disrupts the production of the body’s other important chemical messengers, leading to hormonal dysfunction. This hormonal imbalance can exacerbate symptoms of major depression, particularly during hormonal transitions.
• Exposure to environmental toxins: Many everyday environmental toxins, such as pesticides, are known to interfere with normal hormone production.
• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Head injuries often cause damage to the pituitary gland, a tiny, pea-sized organ located at the base of the brain. Known as the body’s “master gland,” the pituitary regulates hormone production, but when it is damaged, it can disrupt the entire hormonal system.

Overcoming Depressive Symptoms Related to Hormonal Dysfunction

When hormonal imbalances are behind your feelings of sadness and loss of energy, antidepressants won’t get your mind right. But if no one ever tests your hormone levels, you will never know that hormonal dysfunction could be contributing to your depressive symptoms.

This could leave you going from one antidepressant medication to another in search of relief without success. In some cases, intermittent antidepressant treatment may be necessary to manage mood disorders related to hormonal changes.

It’s also important to investigate whether a past head injury may be contributing to hormonal dysfunction.

Brain imaging studies can reveal signs of a TBI that could be the root cause of the hormonal problems that are contributing to your symptoms. In this case, healing your brain is the key to achieving healthier hormone levels.

Hormonal changes during different life stages, such as perimenopausal depression, can also significantly impact mood and anxiety disorders.

This is why it is so important to make sure you visit a healthcare professional who will check your hormones and scan your brain as part of a comprehensive evaluation. 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.

Reviewed by Amen Clinics Inc. Clinicians