"Raging hormones" is a colloquial phrase describing intense emotional and physical shifts, often linked to the significant hormonal changes during puberty (mood swings, irritability, risk-taking) or severe premenstrual phases (PMDD), but it also refers to sudden adrenaline/cortisol surges causing intense anger or stress responses, highlighting how powerful chemical messengers drastically affect mood, behavior, and physical sensations like increased heart rate.
But when estrogen levels are low, serotonin declines also, which can lead to depressed mood, anxiety and impulsive feelings of aggression or anger. Dopamine is associated with the reward and motivation system, where it helps reinforce behaviors as well as cognition, focus, executive functioning and emotions.
Hormonal rage refers to sudden and intense feelings of anger or frustration caused by hormonal fluctuations, particularly during menopause or perimenopause. These changes can disrupt the balance of mood-regulating chemicals in the brain, making it harder to manage emotions.
Overproduction of hormones is most often linked to benign tumours in the organs that produce the hormones. In such cases removing the tumour largely solves the problem. Hormone levels that are too low often have a different cause: – The most common cause of hormone deficiency is autoimmunity.
Drink water to stay hydrated. Try avoiding stress. While stress doesn't directly cause PMS mood swings, it can certainly make them feel worse. In order to help stop PMS mood swings, do your best to avoid stressful activities and events before and during your period in order to give yourself a break.
For managing anger in the moment it's starting, Dr Dáibhis recommends:
If mood changes happen during times that involve shifting levels of estrogen and progesterone, it may suggest a hormonal influence. However, hormones are not necessarily the cause. Because multiple factors can affect mood, a person may need a doctor's evaluation to find out whether the cause is mental or hormonal.
What are the signs and symptoms of hormonal imbalance?
For men, testosterone levels reach their peak at 18 to 20 years old. On the other hand, women\'s estrogen levels don\'t reach their peak until the mid to late 20s. Stepping away from testosterone and estrogen, melatonin gradually declines throughout a person\'s life.
The adrenal glands flood the body with stress hormones, such as adrenaline and cortisol. The brain shunts blood away from the gut and towards the muscles, in preparation for physical exertion. Heart rate, blood pressure and respiration increase, the body temperature rises and the skin perspires.
These adrenal hormone levels usually begin to rise by 6 to 9 years of age (typically before gonadarche) and steadily increase for more than a decade, peaking in the early 20s. This hormonal system contributes to adolescent changes in skin (including acne), as well as the development of pubic and underarm hair.
Hormonal imbalances show up as symptoms like fatigue, mood swings, weight changes, irregular periods, skin issues (acne), hair changes, sleep problems, brain fog, low libido, digestive issues, and temperature sensitivity, affecting energy, body functions, and mental well-being, often linked to stress, thyroid, or reproductive hormones.
It is thought that hormonal changes in the menstrual cycle (fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone levels) affect the mood of women and trigger negative emotions such as anger and irritability. But no definitive evidence has yet been obtained on the relationship between PMS symptomatology and anger.
Mood Swings
Hormonal changes before and during your period can cause irritability, depression, anxiety, and more, or premenstrual syndrome (PMS). If you experience wild mood swings or your symptoms don't seem to coincide with your menstrual cycle, it may be a sign that your hormones are out of sync.
Diets high in refined sugars and simple carbohydrates can cause rapid spikes and drops in blood glucose levels, leading to mood swings and aggressive behaviour (1). When blood sugar levels drop, the brain is deprived of glucose, its primary fuel source, which can trigger irritability and anger.
Here are some ways to naturally balance your hormones.
While south Asian countries, such as India (46.37 years) and Pakistan (46.36) showed menopause appearing earlier, while Sri Lanka had a relatively higher mean age of 48.25 years aligning more with countries in East and Southeast Asia, such as Indonesia (52.0 years), South Korea (50.01 years), Japan (49.08 years), ...
Here are 10 of the warning symptoms to look out for:
Causes of low oestrogen in young girls
For young girls, low oestrogen is presented with lack of menstruation, delayed puberty and other signs of female development. It is common in girls who are very thin, in athletes or in those performing extreme physical activities.
Diagnosing a hormonal imbalance can involve:
Chemical messengers called neurotransmitters, which are in charge of sending impulses between nerve cells, are the main hormones linked to depression and sadness. In specifically, dopamine, norepinephrine, and serotonin are three neurotransmitters that are vital.
What can I drink to balance my hormones? Herbal teas such as spearmint, chamomile, or green tea can help support hormone regulation and reduce stress.
It is supposed that if an imbalance which raises the testosterone level occurs in the amygdala the person will become more aggressive. A study concluded that psychopathy and aggressive behavior are related only to high ratio of testosterone to cortisol levels.
While PMDD is primarily characterized by depressive symptoms during the week or two before menstruation, bipolar disorder involves distinct episodes of mania and depression, with periods of relatively stable mood in between independent of the menstrual phase.
The short answer: Yes, for some women, progesterone can trigger intense emotional reactions, including crying, mood swings, sadness, and even depression. These responses are linked to progesterone sensitivity, a condition often misunderstood and underdiagnosed.