Do you struggle with anxiety or depression and also have PCOS? Then you are not 100% alone! Women with PCOS are three times more likely to have mood disorders like these ones.
As someone who struggles with PCOS, I know firsthand how hard this can be. From worrying about the way we look to managing our incredibly frustrating symptoms, all of these can make it difficult to keep calm and carry on!
We can’t magically cure ourselves of our mood issues and our PCOS, but we CAN make nutrition, movement, supplement, and stress reduction changes to improve how we feel and how our symptoms are showing up for us.
That’s why today, we will look at how PCOS can wreck your mood and what you can do to reclaim happiness and peace!
How PCOS Wrecks Your Mood
Most of the studies done on how PCOS affects mood are only focused on anxiety and depression. However, hormonal imbalances and all the other PCOS symptoms can also lead to eating disorders, OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), and even bipolar disorder.
Stating that PCOS affects your mood would be an understatement. A better word is that PCOS can absolutely wreck your mood if you don’t deal with it!
1. Insulin Resistance & Androgens
Two key potential drivers of PCOS are insulin resistance and elevated levels of androgens (aka male hormones like Testosterone) in the body. Did you know both of these factors are directly linked to an increased risk of depression and anxiety?
Higher Testosterone is linked to both physical and psychological consequences, such as depression & anxiety. Insulin resistance may alter dopamine turnover and induce anxiety and depressive-like behaviors.
2. Elevated Activity in the Brain
Women with PCOS were found to have greater activity in their prefrontal cortex & other parts of the brain. This greater activity in various parts of the brain also makes it difficult to regulate emotions.
If you think about it, PCOS-related symptoms can make your brain work in overdrive mode. This leaves less processing power to do other things, such as regulating emotions. As a result, it can easily lead to mood swings, anxiety, and depression!
3. Negative Body Image
As a woman with PCOS, I know all too well about the symptoms that negatively impact our body image. This includes weight gain, acne, facial and body hair growth, and hair loss.
Negative body image is linked to a host of psychological issues, such as:
- Anxiety
- Eating Disorders
- Depression
- Self-hatred
- Low self-esteem
- Shame
- Suicidal Thoughts
4. Increased Cortisol Levels
And last but not least, PCOS also increases the cortisol levels in the body. In case you don’t know, cortisol is your stress hormone that’s linked to a range of mental issues, such as anxiety & depression.
Most of the cells in your body have cortisol receptors. They use it for a variety of functions, such as blood sugar regulation & inflammation reduction. Cortisol is important for your health, but too much of it can harm your body and cause several unwanted symptoms.
PCOS Symptoms Linked With Mood Disorders
To put it short, here’s a short summary of different PCOS symptoms that are directly linked to mood disorders:
- Insulin Resistance
- Increased levels of DHEAS hormones.
- An elevated level of Cortisol hormone.
- Increased activity in various parts of the brain.
- Facial hair growth, weight gain, & infertility.
When all of these things are combined, it can get difficult for any woman with PCOS to keep their mood in check!
How to Deal With Mood Disorders With PCOS
So, we have established that PCOS can affect your mood. But that’s not to say that you can’t beat these PCOS-linked mood disorders!
As they say, A battle fought half-heartedly is a battle half lost. So the first step in keeping your mood disorders in check and reclaiming happiness is to be brave & stare PCOS right in the eyes.
After that, you can follow some or all of these different ways to improve your mood & keep psychological issues at bay:
1. Work on Your Diet
If you’re eating without giving what’s on your plate much thought, then you need to stop right there, girl! Foods high in simple carbohydrates and sugar can spike blood sugar levels & also lead to insulin resistance in the body.
So the first step in improving your mood is to eat a lower-carb diet, which will help you keep your blood sugar levels normal. No, this doesn’t mean eliminate them! I teach women how to safely incorporate these foods in without going cray cray! You don’t know how or where to start? I gotchu. Click here, and get ready to conquer your PCOS now!
2. Keep It Moving
Now, I am not saying that you need to become an athlete to beat PCOS and improve your mood. However, movement you enjoy is so important here. Anything that fits your schedule and keeps you happy is better than being a couch potato.
Exercise can increase the feel-good chemicals in the brain. This can counter those stress hormones while helping you fight against depression, anxiety, & other mood disorders.
For best results, I would recommend you to start slowly and build your stamina. This can include a walk in the park or some slow jogging and then you can move to some more intense exercises, if desired and/or needed.
3. Use Supplements
After years of research & my own personal experience, I realized certain supplements can play a key role in controlling PCOS symptoms and better your mood!
Earlier, I talked about how cortisol is the stress hormone that can lead to depression, anxiety, & other mood disorders, if not treated correctly.
The best way to keep your cortisol levels in check is to try to alleviate your stress. It is as simple as that. One easy way you can accomplish this is by using this Cortisol Calmer supplement. In addition, you can add in my Vita-PCOS Protein and Magnesium supplement.
A combination of these three supplements will help you to improve your PCOS symptoms and keep mood issues away!
4. Practice Self-Care
All of that stress about acne, facial hair, hormonal imbalance, and fear of infertility can do a number on your mental health.
That’s why sometimes the best way to keep your mind from worrying too much is to practice self-care. This can involve heading out into nature, such as hiking or even taking a walk in the park.
If you are not into yoga or meditation, then I truly recommend it to you! Even practicing deep breathing and relaxing your mind is enough to give a rest to your racing mind.
Some other self-care routines involve stretching, journaling, gardening, and even expressing gratitude.
Win The Battle Against Your PCOS Today!
As you can see, PCOS can turn into a monster and even affect you mentally, besides doing a number on your physical health. However, now you also know that you tell your PCOS to f** off, and take control of your body.
As long as you maintain a healthy lifestyle change (exercise + diet), incorporate beneficial supplements, and practice self-care, you can improve your mood & be happier.
If you want a more comprehensive approach & personalized advice from me to conquer PCOS, I would love to work with you inside my PCOS Thrive Hive Program.
