Have you found yourself increasingly stressed out and irritable as you grow older? Have you found that the common stressors of everyday life are taking a heavier toll on your mental well-being and personal relationships? You are not crazy, and you are not alone. These fluctuations in stress levels and mood are quite common in both men and women during adulthood. In fact, many medical experts agree that the hormonal imbalances that accompany the natural aging process often play a large role in the way that you feel.
Increased irritability and mood swings can often be the first noticeable signs of hormonal imbalance. On the bright side, knowing the source of your feelings gives you the opportunity to improve your mood and overall mental well-being. Discover which hormones might be involved and what you can do about addressing those imbalances.
Sex Hormones and Mood Swings
Sex hormones are the steroid hormones responsible for reproduction and sexuality in both women and men. As men and women age, the production of these and other hormones will naturally drop.
Estrogen
Estrogen and progesterone are the primary female sex hormones, although it is low estrogen levels that have been so strongly connected to mood swings in women. Low estrogen and progesterone levels are the hallmarks of menopause, which is when a woman’s periods have ceased for 12 months. However, this condition does not just happen overnight. Instead, the decreased production of hormones like estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone is a drawn-out process that can take anywhere from 2-10 years. As many as 23 percent of women will experience mood swings during this transitional period, which is also referred to as perimenopause. To make matters worse, these mood swings often carry into post-menopause as well.
Testosterone
Testosterone is the male sex hormone, and the production of this hormone typically begins to decline around the age of 30. This age-related decline, which is also referred to as andropause, is a form of secondary hypogonadism and can lead to a wide range of symptoms and health conditions, including increased irritability and mood swings.
Cortisol: The Stress Hormone
Cortisol is a steroid hormone produced by your adrenal glands. This hormone is responsible for a wide range of functions and processes that influence whole body health, including inflammation response, blood pressure regulation, metabolism, blood sugar regulation and sleep-wake cycle support. Yet, it is its role in stress response that is most associated with cortisol and has earned it the nickname “stress hormone”.
During a healthy stress response, your adrenal glands will send cortisol throughout the body to assist with your fight-or-flight response. While cortisol is required for your body to function at an optimal level, too much of this hormone can have negative consequences for whole body health. If you constantly find yourself to be in a state of stress, your body will even produce cortisol when it is not needed. This condition is known as chronic stress, and the constantly high levels of cortisol that accompany it will often lead to a variety of symptoms and health conditions that include irritability and more stress.
The Symbiotic Relationship Between High Cortisol Levels and Poor Sleep
Another common symptom of chronic stress and high cortisol levels is sleep loss. To further compound this issue, consistently disrupted sleep cycles can also lead to increased irritability and stress. Just think about how stressed out you feel if you have not gotten enough sleep the night before. That means that high cortisol levels and sleep loss contribute to one another and make each other worse in a negative feedback loop relationship.
How Other Symptoms of Hormonal Imbalance Can Lead to Increased Irritability and Mood Swings
Unfortunately, stress is not the only symptom of hormonal imbalance that can lead to mood swings.
Sleep Loss
Furthermore, cortisol is not the only hormone that can lead to poor sleep cycles when levels of it are not in a balanced state. Both estrogen and testosterone have been known to lead to sleep loss from multiple fronts. Over time, chronic sleep issues can have a devastating impact on your mood.
Hot flashes and night sweats are some of the most common and noticeable symptoms of the low estrogen levels that accompany the menopausal transition. These vasomotor symptoms occur in menopausal women at night while they are trying to sleep and can contribute to insomnia and other sleep issues.
Testosterone can also lead to sleep issues through multiple avenues. Testosterone deficiency has been known to cause night sweats in men, which can make it difficult to stay asleep. From another angle, low levels of testosterone can also lead to sleep apnea by causing an increase in body fat.
Sexual Dysfunction
A reduction in sexual function is another common symptom of both menopause and andropause.
Low testosterone levels have long been connected to multiple forms of male sexual dysfunction. Not only can a testosterone deficiency be a factor in erectile dysfunction, but it can lead to a reduced sex drive as well.
Meanwhile, imbalanced levels of estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone caused by menopausal transition can wreak havoc on female sexual health. The types of female sexual dysfunction that can result from hormonal imbalances in women include vaginal dryness, low sex drive and vaginal atrophy.
Hormonal Imbalance and Depression
Hormonal imbalance has the potential to lead to conditions more serious than mood swings; fluctuating hormone levels have also been connected to an increased risk of anxiety and depression. Unfortunately, hormonal imbalance can lead to these more serious conditions through multiple avenues.
Both menopause and andropause have been connected to an increased risk of anxiety and depression. The reduction in hormone production can affect levels of serotonin, which can negatively impact mood regulation. To make matters worse, many of the previously discussed symptoms and conditions of hormonal imbalance can also contribute to an increased risk of anxiety and depression. These symptoms and conditions include sleep loss, increased body fat, chronic stress, and sexual dysfunction.
Promote Optimal Mood and Mental Health
Have you found that wild mood swings are putting a strain on your personal relationships? The good news is that there are ways that you can naturally support healthy mood regulation. Some of the best ways to manage a healthy lifestyle include:
- Healthy, balanced diet
- Consistent quality sleep cycles
- Healthy weight management
- Regular exercise
- Stress management
While these behaviors can go a long way in managing stress and promoting a healthy mood, the hormonal imbalances that can define the natural aging process still have the potential to contribute to mood swings and an increased risk of more serious conditions like anxiety and depression. If you believe that you may be suffering from a hormonal imbalance, find your nearest EvexiPEL certified practitioner today. The experts at EVEXIAS Health Solutions can assess your hormone levels before recommending your best options for supporting comprehensive wellness: from healthy lifestyle guidance to more advanced therapies like bioidentical hormone replacement pellet therapy featuring the EvexiPEL Method for optimal comfort and efficacy.