Depression

More than 19 million Americans suffer from depression each year, almost ten percent of the general population. Women are at least twice as likely as men to experience a major bout with depression during their lifetime.

Historically, jokes have been made attributing a woman’s blue moods to her hormones. And it is true.  Puberty, menstruation, pregnancy and delivery, perimenopause and menopause are all times in a woman’s life when she is more vulnerable to depression. Are hormones the reason? The answer appears to be yes. New findings have revealed that hormonal imbalance, declining or fluctuating hormone levels, and chronically high levels of stress hormones can all cause depression.

Symptoms of Depression:

• Constant sadness or unhappiness
• A feeling of emptiness
• Continual feelings of hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, pessimism, and guilt
• Exhaustion
• Loss of interest in previously enjoyable activities
• Irritability, anxiety, panic attacks and increased crying
• Sudden change in appetite
• Insomnia, wakefulness
• Physical discomfort that does not respond to treatment

Depression is a serious illness that can affect all aspects of a person’s life, including relationships, self-image, work, social life, diet, and sleep. It’s more than feeling a little blue now and then, or having a few gray days once in awhile. For those suffering from real depression it’s not a question of just “snapping out of it,” or pulling themselves together. They are generally unable to lift their own spirits without professional help.

Chronically high levels of cortisol have now been linked to a number of mood disorders including depression, melancholia, and anxiety. Once depression is relieved cortisol levels usually return to normal. However, sometimes it is difficult to know if your stress level is affecting you physiologically and psychologically. Stress is so commonplace in today’s society that many of us just accept it as way of life. Monitoring cortisol levels can be a helpful tool in the diagnosis and management of depression.

Estrogen is an excitatory hormone, which means it makes things happen. In the brain estrogen triggers increased blood flow and oxygen metabolism, as well as the activity of neurotransmitters - the chemical messengers that enable your brain to think, feel, remember, decide and take action. Serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine are the neurotransmitters of “disposition management.” They govern our feelings of satisfaction, contentment and confidence. Both estrogen and progesterone influence these neurotransmitters. For example, the neurotransmitter serotonin affects your mood. Estrogen increases production of serotonin. When estrogen is low, serotonin production slows down. Low serotonin levels can open the door to depression. Estrogen replacement can enhance the body’s natural production of serotonin.

Progesterone is a calming hormone that is believed to bind with gamma-aminobutyric acid or GABA receptors in the brain. GABA is an amino acid that acts as a neurotransmitter. It has a calming effect on the brain and can increase feelings of well-being. When progesterone levels decline mood swings, depression and anxiety can be the result. Progesterone also balances the effects of estrogen. When there is not enough progesterone in circulation the activities of estrogen can go unchecked. Too much estrogen in the body can also cause anxiety, agitation, and irritability. Contrarily, too much progesterone in the system can lead to feelings of lethargy and apathy, also symptoms of depression.

Since estrogen, progesterone, DHEA or testosterone replacement have all been shown to be helpful in alleviating depression, it is always best to determine what hormones, if any, are needed. Saliva testing monitors hormone levels before and after hormone replacement therapy to insure that your hormone dosage fulfills your precise hormonal needs. An individualized hormone replacement therapy program can help lift your depression and rejuvenate your sense of well-being.

Depression can be a result of emotional, physical, situational or purely hormonal factors and it is extremely important to identify the cause. Speak with your doctor to determine what course of action is best for you. It could be as simple as getting your hormones back in balance.

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