Hormonal depression

How is hormonal imbalance linked to depression? What hormone causes depression? Is depression a sign of hypothyroidism? Will Prozac help my premenstrual depression?

It’s clear that women are vulnerable to depression at various times in their lives because of fluctuating hormones during adolescence, pregnancy, postpartum, premenstrual, and as they enter. There are several hormones that play a part in depression.

The relationships between hormones and depression in women include: Estrogen: Boosts serotonin, which helps fight depression and promotes sleep. It also increases GABA, the calming neurotransmitter and raises endorphins, which help you feel good. During this state, which is known as adrenal fatigue, you may experience many mood-related symptoms, including depression , anxiety, insomnia and difficulty handling stress. Your thyroid hormones are also important to your mood. Losing interest in activities or hobbies that used to be very enjoyable.

Lack of appetite or excessive hunger and binges. Excessive sleep (hypersomnia) or insomnia. Angry outbursts, irritability or.

No of interest in life, and increase in the occurrence of suicidal thoughts.

It has long been known that depression is much more commonly experienced by women than by men. The lifetime risk of depression for women is around , which is around double the lifetime risk for men. Although not a hormonal disorder , ladies who have hormonal and health imbalances can experience a lot of changes during “that time of the month”.

Men usually begin to experience a decline in their moods as they approach mid-life due to a decline in their testosterone level (called Andropause). In general, men tend to be easier to diagnose and to treat, mainly because men are not subject to both monthly fluctuations in hormones , birth control pills, or the more dramatic decline in hormones experienced during pregnancy and menopause. Thyrotropin (TSH) is a pituitary hormone which stimulates the thyroid glan and thus would be expected to achieve an effect similar to the administration of peripheral thyroid hormones for the treatment of depression. One study to date has examined the antidepressant effect of TSH. Here’s a closer look, followed by obvious signs of hormonal depression and what to do about it.

Degrees of depression vary, but regardless it leaves people unable to do activities of daily living. Some people have noticeable changes in their brains with depression. Changes in hormone production or functioning could lead to the onset of depressive states. Depression: It’s More Than Feeling Sad.

But we are learning that the brain orchestrates hormonal changes and then in turn the hormones act upon the brain, including the parts of the brain underlying emotional behavior,” says David Silbersweig, M. Brigham and Women’s Hospital. From PMS to pregnancy and on through menopause, hormonal fluctuations can wreak emotional havoc for women. Fluctuating levels of estrogen and progesterone alter brain chemistry, especially the mood-altering neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and norepinephrine. Levels of cortisol (the stress hormone), are also affected.

A peak of depression is also seen often in the months after childbirth, often following a pregnancy that has actually been characterised by a good mood with less depression. The link between hormones and depression is still far from being fully understoo but a link certainly seems to exist.

When we are under stress, our bodies ramp up production of a stress hormone called cortisol. This risk was higher in teens ages to 1 and especially for non-oral forms of birth control such as the ring, patch and IUD. In women, sex hormone imbalances can cause the whole gamut of mental health symptoms.