Depression and anxiety affect women in their estrogen-producing years more often than men or postmenopausal women. Estrogen is also linked to mood disruptions that occur only in women -- premenstrual syndrome, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and postpartum depression.
Estrogen plays a significant role in mediating moods. This means that the more estrogen you have in your body, the more “moody” you might be. The first signs of hormonal changes often include feeling more “sensitive” to yourself and others, or moods that seem “bigger” than usual.
If you struggle with symptoms like abnormal periods, fatigue, or mood swings, you may be feeling the effects of high estrogen. Unfortunately, many women don't recognize that their physical or emotional distress is caused by an overabundance of this critical hormone.
When estrogen is disrupted or fluctuates too greatly, it leaves the brain at higher risk for depression — much like what happens during puberty, pregnancy, after giving birth, at certain points in the menstrual cycle, during menopause, and other developmental stages specific to women.
“Falling estrogen and progesterone levels can trigger mood swings that make you less able to cope with things you'd normally let roll off your back,” says Payne. “For some women, these hormonal dips can set off a depressive episode, especially for those who've gone through major depression in the past.”
In fact, many studies indicate that estrogen has protective anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects, which seems at odds with an increased risk for depression and anxiety disorders in women.
Mood swings occur when serotonin levels rise and fall rapidly, leading to the roller coaster ride of emotion many women experience during their menstruation and menopause cycles. Both estrogen and progesterone, which fluctuate during a woman's cycle, control serotonin production levels.
Anxiety and worry can disrupt daily activities, and hormonal imbalances such as serotonin or cortisol may be the root cause. Fluctuations in estrogen can also cause heightened anxiety.
When estrogen is too high or too low you may get menstrual cycle changes, dry skin, hot flashes, trouble sleeping, night sweats, vaginal thinning and dryness, low sex drive, mood swings, weight gain, PMS, breast lumps, fatigue, depression and anxiety.
During the third week, progesterone rises (while estrogen drops) and may lead to a sluggish mood; some women may also feel emotionally low during this period. During the fourth week, the levels of estrogen drop; this can lead to irritability, body pain and moodiness.
Your body needs estrogen for your reproductive, cardiovascular and bone health. Too much estrogen, though, can cause irregular periods and may worsen conditions that affect your reproductive health. Your provider can help diagnose what's causing your high estrogen levels and recommend treatments that can help.
Hormonal changes
It's nearly always due to low oestrogen. Oestrogen is our happy hormone. It makes us feel good as it acts as an antidepressant. So, unfortunately, as our oestrogen starts to fall as we go through the peri-menopause and the menopause, that can affect our mood and that's what can bring on the teariness.
Those mood swings you get right before your menstrual cycle might be caused by the shifting levels of estrogen. The hormone is known to help keep serotonin levels regular (those “feel-good hormones”) and help the effectiveness of endorphins. It can even aid in protecting nerves and encouraging nerve growth.
Too much oestrogen can have a negative effect too (anger and irritability), but unless you are crying because you feel guilty about the anger outburst, it is likely menopause tears are tears of oestrogen deficiency. There are a few factors at play. One of the factors is serotonin[1].
Fewer hours of sunlight means that less serotonin is produced. If you have SAD, your serotonin levels may be lower than average during the winter. This may result in the messages between nerve cells not being transmitted effectively and resulting in the symptoms of SAD, such as feeling down.
When the levels of estrogen, the primary female sex hormone are increased reative to the levels of progesterone circulating in the blood, women are said to be experiencing estrogen dominance. The most common symptoms and signs of estrogen dominance include: Decreased sex drive. Increased PMS symptoms.
Estrogen peaks in the days leading up to ovulation. This is your most fertile period. At the same time, estrogen thins your cervical mucus, a fluid sperm has to swim through to reach and fertilize an egg. These estrogen-induced changes make it easier for you to become pregnant if you have intercourse.
Hot flashes and Night Sweats
Estrogen affects the hypothalamus, which regulates body temperature. Low estrogen causes hot flashes and night sweats, two annoying symptoms of menopause and perimenopause.
Complete answer: Adrenaline, also known as epinephrine, is responsible for the emotional state such as fear, anger, and fight to flight responses such as a rise in blood pressure and an increased rate of heartbeat. It is normally produced by Adrenal glands as well as a small number of neurons in the medulla oblongata.
Genes associated with follicle growth were not significantly altered by vitamin D3. However, it increases expression of genes involved in the estrogen-biosynthesis. Further, estrogen concentrations in porcine granulosa cell-cultured media increased in response to vitamin D3.
Dopamine: Often called the "happy hormone," dopamine results in feelings of well-being. A primary driver of the brain's reward system, it spikes when we experience something pleasurable. Praised on the job? You'll get a dopamine hit.
Diets high in red and processed meats may increase estrogen in the body. If your diet's currently high in these foods, consider subbing in other protein sources like beans or fish. Maintain moderate body fat levels. Because fat tissue produces estrogen, losing excess body fat could help reduce estrogen levels.