Hormonal Shifts: Understanding the Science Behind Women’s Emotional Changes
We’ve discussed how hormonal shifts affect our bodies through the four phases of hormonal cycles. But did you know that many of your emotions are also influenced by your hormones? This is especially true for women, who experience a longer cycle. That’s why I wrote this article to help people understand how this affects our mood.
Hormonal Shifts: Understanding the Science Behind Women’s Emotional Changes
Hormones are essential chemicals for our body’s development, affecting us both physically and psychologically. During puberty, when our bodies mature, we experience the most hormonal fluctuations.
While men experience these fluctuations too, women are more affected due to longer hormonal cycles. Unlike men, whose testosterone replenishes daily, women go through a 28-day cycle (though this can vary). Think of it like groceries: women’s hormones run low and replenish over a month, while men’s restock daily.
This longer cycle explains why women may experience monthly mood swings as it takes more time for hormones to stabilize. Now, let’s explore how these fluctuating hormones impact our mood in more depth.
How Hormonal Shifts Affect Women’s Moods
According to an article from Weill Cornell Medicine, hormones are chemical messengers that send signals to the brain, which plays a key role in regulating our emotions.
When hormone levels, such as thyroid, are too low or too high, they can lead to conditions like depression or anxiety. Cortisol, commonly known as the stress hormone, also has a significant impact on mood.
Overall, hormones have a broad and powerful effect on the brain, and when mood changes become overwhelming, it’s important to take action. Fortunately, there are several ways you can care for yourself when this happens.
- Self-soothing – This method helps you be present with yourself and identify where the emotional disruptions are coming from. You can often manage these mood fluctuations easily, making self-soothing an ideal first step.
- Diet and exercise – You can do both diet and exercise at home, and they have a profound impact on your physical and mental health. A healthy diet helps improve hormonal balance, while regular physical activity stimulates hormones throughout the body, helping to regulate mood.
- Seek professional help – If emotions become difficult to manage despite the methods above, seeking professional help is crucial. A therapist or doctor can help you articulate your feelings and provide personalized treatment, such as medications or therapies, to restore hormonal balance.
These preventive methods aren’t just for women; men can also benefit if they experience mood swings caused by hormonal fluctuations. Remember, our moods are normal, and feeling emotions is part of being human. However, it becomes a problem when these emotions start disrupting your daily activities and relationships. Furthermore, following the three methods recommended by doctors can help you manage them effectively on your own. How about you, what are your experiences as you venture through these hormonal shifts?
