Hormones and Anxiety

Is a hormonal imbalance underlying your symptoms of anxiety?

Hormones are chemical messengers that travel in the blood to have widespread effects on the body. They have an incredible influence on our cellular function, overall physiology, and mood

While there are many factors that contribute to anxiety, hormones are always something that I check & balance in my patients

THYROID HORMONE

  • There are receptors for this chemical messenger on every single cell in your body. It’s like the on switch to produce energy and amp up metabolism

  • High levels of thyroid hormone can trigger anxiety and feeling wired

  • Other symptoms of elevated thyroid hormone include heart palpitations, restlessness, insomnia, and tremor

CORTISOL

  • This hormone is released by the adrenal glands in times of stress and produces an anti inflammatory effect in the body

  • Cortisol has an inverse relationship with melatonin - the sleepy hormone. Have you ever felt wired but tired at night? Yep - that’s cortisol - and that is a sign that something is off

  • I like to look at my cortisol rhythm in patients. Ideally, cortisol is highest in the morning to trigger a sense of wakefulness and the lowest at night. This is not always the case.

  • Other symptoms of elevated cortisol include decreased short term memory, changes in blood sugar, and insomnia

PROGESTERONE

  • Most of this hormone is produced by the ovaries after ovulation. If you are not ovulating (hormonal birth control) or have too little in ratio to estrogen, you can be left feeling irritable, anxious, and unsatisfied with life

  • Other symptoms of low progesterone include breast tenderness, headaches, short menstrual cycles, and spotting

  • Progesterone and cortisol have the same precursor. if you are under stress, your body favors producing cortisol vs. progesterone. This is called the pregnenolone steal. The solution - support your adrenal glands and provide your body with high quality supplement support

  • Some of my favorite progesterone support supplements include vitex, magnesium, and adaptogens

GABA

  • While this is not a hormone, GABA is a neurotransmitter used to communicate in the brain

  • It is known as an inhibitory neurotransmitter & produces a calm sensation. This counteracts the actions of glutamate, an excitatory neurotransmitter

  • Low levels of GABA may be associated with antibodies to an enzyme called GAD-65. This is common for people with diabetes and gluten sensitivity

Other Factors

  • Blood sugar stabilization - low blood sugar can make you feel irritable, anxious, shaky, and completely off. Make sure you eat snacks with fat/protein to avoid the hanger monster.

  • Brain health - certain areas of the brain are overactive / underactive with anxiety. It’s important to find a doctor who can help you take a closer look

  • Consider Quitting Caffeine - Caffeine does not feel good for all of us. Although it gives a temporary boost of energy, it taxes the adrenal glands. If they are already pushing it, it might be time to take a break

Questions? Want to get your hormones tested? Contact me directly to schedule a 15 minute consultation!

In health,

Dr. de Luna, ND

Ashley de Luna