Did you know that hormones play a critical yet often overlooked role in mental health, especially during perimenopause and menopause? In this post, we examine the role of hormones in mental health, backed by expert advice from our Menopause Mastery Podcast.
Dr. Achina Stein, a functional medicine psychiatrist, reveals more about this important connection and offers insights into a more holistic approach to treatment.
The Hormone-Stress Connection
Stress can significantly impact hormone production, creating a domino effect on mental health. Dr. Achina explains, “Chronic cortisol levels can shut down your ability to make hormones, and that’s a piece of it. It can also change how your thyroid hormone is being expressed.”
Beyond Bioidentical Hormones
While hormone replacement therapy is common, Dr. Achina cautions against relying solely on this approach:
Instead, she recommends addressing underlying issues first, such as stress management and detoxification.
The Importance of Cholesterol
The medical community often tells us to keep our cholesterol low. However, cholesterol plays a vital role in hormone production and mental health. Dr. Achina notes, “The lower your cholesterol level, the more likely you’re going to get depressed.” She recommends maintaining cholesterol levels above 150 to support hormone production and brain health.
Supporting Hormonal Health
Dr. Achina offers the following recommendations to support hormonal health:
- Manage stress: Address chronic stress to prevent high cortisol levels from disrupting hormone production.
- Balance thyroid function: Consider thyroid health in conjunction with sex hormones, as they work together in the body.
- Address estrogen disruptors: Clean up environmental toxins, particularly those that interfere with estrogen function.
- Support liver function: Improve the liver’s ability to process and eliminate toxins that can disrupt hormones.
- Optimize omega-3 to omega-6 ratio: Increase intake of omega-3 fatty acids, aiming for a 2:3 ratio with omega-6.
- Address early signs of hormonal imbalance: Tackle issues like PMS early on to prevent more severe problems during perimenopause and menopause.
Taking Action for Better Mental Health
Dr. Achina encourages patients to take proactive steps to improve their well-being by identifying activities that make them feel good and incorporating them into daily habits. She also advises removing negative influences from their lives and emphasizes the importance of taking action based on the knowledge they already possess.
“You have the power and the knowledge in you. You’re just not acting on it,” Dr. Achina advises, emphasizing the importance of personal empowerment in mental health treatment.
Take charge of your mental health by uncovering the root causes. Take our free online quiz to receive a personalized hormone imbalance report.
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