Anxiety and Hormones: How Imbalances May Be Fueling Your Daily Stress

Lots of things can contribute to stress. A presentation at work, a school project, marital arguments, packed daily routines, all can lead to feeling overwhelmed and anxious.

One thing that most people don’t think about when it comes to anxiety is a hormonal imbalance, but if your levels of certain hormones are off, you may be more prone to an anxiety disorder than someone whose hormones are balanced.

At Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic in Palm Harbor, Florida, Kanwaljit “Kavi” Sidhu, NP-C, PMHNP-BC, and our skilled staff diagnose and treat anxiety of all types with psychotherapy and medication.

However, if hormones are to blame, evening out your levels may help resolve your persistent anxiety. Here’s how it works.

What are the symptoms of stress and anxiety?

Common signs of stress and anxiety include:

Feeling nervous or restless
Sensing impending danger
Panicking easily
Having an increased heart rate
Having difficulty concentrating
Fixating on worry
Having difficulty sleeping
Having digestive problems
Avoiding things that trigger anxiety

Specific anxiety disorders each have their own list of symptoms in addition to the general list, and stress can manifest in different ways for different people, but these signs are usually included no matter what the specific disorder may be.

What are hormones?

Hormones are chemical messengers that are produced by the endocrine system’s glands, and they coordinate different bodily functions by carrying messages through the bloodstream to the organs, muscles, and other tissues. They help regulate both physical and emotional well-being.

Scientists have identified more than 50 hormones in the human body.

For the body to respond properly, hormones need to be maintained at certain levels. Deviations from those proscribed levels can upset the body’s delicate balance and lead to dysregulation.

Which hormones affect anxiety?

Hormone imbalances can lead to or worsen anxiety by overstimulating the nervous system. Fluctuating levels of estrogen, progesterone, cortisol, thyroid hormones, and testosterone directly affect both mood and stress responses.

Estrogen

Estrogen is a female reproductive hormone that regulates neurotransmitters like serotonin (the "happiness hormone") and GABA (which calms the nervous system). When estrogen levels fall — such as right before a period or during perimenopause — serotonin levels fall along with it, making you more susceptible to irritability and anxiety.

Progesterone

Another reproductive hormone, progesterone generally acts as a calming agent, as it interacts with GABA receptors in the brain. However, sudden peaks or drops in progesterone levels can leave you feeling amped up.

Cortisol and thyroid hormones

Stress increases levels of the cortisol, another hormone, and chronic stress keeps the levels elevated, leading to a racing heart and constant anxiety. An overactive or underactive thyroid gland also directly increases feelings of anxiety. This is true for men as well as for women.

Testosterone

Low testosterone levels in men can induce or worsen anxiety, irritability, and even depression by disrupting the brain's stress response and the regulation of serotonin. On the flip side, it’s also true that excessively high testosterone levels can induce mood swings. Balancing hormones and targeting neurotransmitters can help alleviate symptoms.

When are hormone levels likely to become imbalanced?

Anxiety linked to hormone levels is highly cyclical and/or stage-specific in women’s lives:

Menstrual cycle

Anxiety frequently develops or worsens during the luteal phase of your period (the two weeks before it starts).

Perimenopause and menopause

As estrogen and progesterone levels change during perimenopause, the extreme fluctuations can trigger sudden panic attacks, worry, and sleep disturbances.

Pregnancy and postpartum

Pregnancy and the postpartum period after delivery sees major changes in hormone levels, which can directly and deeply affect emotional regulation.

If your anxiety is becoming intrusive and you don’t know why, Sidhu Psychiatric Clinic can help by checking if your hormone levels are imbalanced. Call our office at 727-382-1383, or book online with us today.