Understanding the impact of hormones on mental health is vital. Across the lifespan, women need strategies to manage the emotions that come with hormonal fluctuations. Adolescence, the perinatal period, ceasing or reducing breastfeeding, perimenopause and menopause can all effect women’s mental health. Monthly hormonal fluctuations can also effect mental health: some women experience such intense emotion variation in the week or two before their period that they are diagnosed with pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD).
Irritability, mood changes, libido changes and sleep issues are commonly associated with hormonal changes. These symptoms can have a significant effect on daily life, so it’s important to address them. It is also common to see an increase in anxiety or depression occur with perimenopause, especially in women with a history of mental health concerns.
Help is available. Alongside your GP, psychologists can help by teaching women to identify and manage symptoms associated with hormonal fluctuations. We can also help with managing conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), which may intersect with body image concerns, anxiety or grief about fertility, and management of chronic pain. Therapy is individually tailored to each person based on their symptoms and treatment history.
Women’s health is an area of particular interest for Clare, clinical psychologist at Anchor Psychology Clinic in Penrith. Clare has published academic research into the effects of estrogen and progesterone on the effectiveness of emotion regulation strategies*. She has worked with many women of all ages in managing the effects of hormones on their mood for over 10 years. Clare takes a wholistic and practical approach to mental health, as our minds and bodies are closely connected.
If you are struggling with the impact hormones are having on your life, book an appointment with Clare today.
*Graham BM, Denson TF, Barnett J, Calderwood C, Grisham JR. Sex Hormones Are Associated With Rumination and Interact With Emotion Regulation Strategy Choice to Predict Negative Affect in Women Following a Sad Mood Induction. Front Psychol. 2018 Jun 11;9:937. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2018.00937. PMID: 29951019; PMCID: PMC6008526.