3 Tips for Dealing with Hormonal Depression and Anxiety

Hormones affect us in complex ways, regulating nearly every function inside our bodies. If the hormones in your body are imbalanced, you can experience a wide array of symptoms.

It turns out that anxiety and depression can be among those symptoms.

Premenstrual syndrome is one cause of hormonal depression and anxiety, but it doesn’t have to be. Both men and women can experience an imbalance of hormones at any point during their lifetimes.

Whether you're dealing with an imbalance of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, or your brain is flooded with cortisol due to stress, it’s important to know there are things you can do to ease your symptoms.

Move Your Body

Exercise is the go-to recommendation for a wide variety of ailments. Hormonal depression and anxiety are no different. Just don’t make the mistake of thinking it means you have to hit the gym every day to train for a marathon.

Find a way to move your body that brings you joy. That might mean going for a jog, but it might also mean going for a leisurely walk. You might want to try yoga, do stretching exercises, or paddleboard.

No matter what kind of movement you choose, it will help improve your mood because exercise releases endorphins that make you happier. You will find it easier to focus, which means you may also find that it helps you think through your problems in a more constructive way.

Create Boundaries as a Form of Self Care

Self-care is another piece of advice that gets thrown around a lot. It's not that pampering yourself isn't helpful, it's just that it's a short-term solution. If you really want to make strides to feel less depressed and anxious, take care of yourself by creating boundaries.

With the right boundaries in place, you will no longer feel unappreciated at work or feel like your family takes advantage of you. The more you practice setting boundaries and holding them, the more empowered you will feel. The more empowered you feel, the more you will feel like you’re in control, which can lessen the impact depression and anxiety have on your life.

Get Help

Hormonal depression and anxiety aren't your fault. Your body is simply reacting to hormonal imbalances the best ways it knows how. You should never feel bad for getting help.

Consider getting a blood test to confirm that hormones are to blame for your anxiety and depressive symptoms. Medication and hormone therapy can be hugely helpful as well, if a blood test does confirm that hormones are to blame for your symptoms.

Working with a therapist can be helpful too. A trained, unbiased psychologist, psychiatrist, or counselor can help you think through your problems and discover solutions that can make living your life more enjoyable.

You don’t have to go to the doctor’s office or visit with a therapist in person either. You can start a telehealth visit with a licensed healthcare provider from the comfort of your own home. They can evaluate your depression and anxiety symptoms, provide you with talk therapy, and write you a prescription, depending on your unique circumstances. That way you can start living life on your terms.