While anxiety disorders are mostly notorious for wreaking havoc on the mental well-being of those vulnerable to them, they can also produce physical symptoms that can greatly diminish your quality of life. Anxiety disorders have various causes, and therefore, need a multifaceted treatment approach and a variety of expertise.
If you’ve been in search of treatment options for your anxiety, you may have already come across hormone therapy to address it. So there goes the bottom-line question: “Can a hormone specialist help me?” To answer that, let’s find out what a hormone specialist does and learn about the connection between anxiety and your hormones.
What Hormone Specialists Do
Hormone specialists are experts in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of conditions that involve the endocrine system—the series of glands that produce hormones that your body can utilize to function properly.
The endocrine system comprises major glands that include the following:
- Pancreas
- Thyroid glands
- Adrenal glands
- Ovaries
- Testes
Hormone specialists work closely with nutritionists, oncologists, obstetrician-gynecologists, psychiatrists, and other healthcare professionals to cover a broad range of diseases such as the following:
- Diabetes
- Infertility
- Menopause
- Mental health disorders triggered by fluctuations in hormone levels
- Metabolic disorders
- Osteoporosis
The Link Between Anxiety and Hormones
Anxiety results from different factors, including trauma, stress buildup, and certain medical conditions.
Cortisol, known as the “flight-or-fight” hormone, is typically associated with anxiety. Chronic stress prompts the adrenal glands (triangular-shaped glands on top of both of your kidneys) to release a surge of cortisol into the bloodstream. The cortisol spike will cause you to feel like you always need to react even to unalarming situations. This chronic feeling of being in a fight-or-flight situation can then develop into anxiety disorders.
The fluctuations in sex hormone levels can also trigger anxiety. Some studies associated low levels of testosterone with increased anxiety; likewise, low levels of estrogen may also be linked to anxiety symptoms. Women in the perimenopausal, menopausal, and postmenopausal stages and those experiencing irregular menstrual cycles are especially prone to fluctuating estrogen levels and to developing anxiety disorders.
Hormone Treatment and Anxiety
Conditions caused by hormone deficiency may also trigger anxiety. Therefore, while medications and psychotherapy are the standard treatment approaches to anxiety, hormone therapy plays an equally crucial role in controlling the mental condition.
Hormone replacement therapy will help you control and maintain your hormones at a healthy level, which translates into effectively keeping anxiety disorders at bay.
Albeit hormone treatments are generally safe, you should still consider the fact that they may carry with them potential risks of complications. Listed below are some serious health risks associated with hormone treatments:
- Blood clots
- Breast cancer
- Heart disease
- Stroke
Age (older than 60 years old) and family history are risk factors for these complications. Discuss with your doctor whether these risks would outweigh the benefits of hormone therapy.
Hormone Specialists in Mankato, MN and Clinton, SC
Don’t let anxiety rule your life. If you’re in search of an effective approach to treat your anxiety, talk to our hormone specialists here at Between the Bridges Healing Center.
We utilize a holistic approach to address a gamut of physical and mental health conditions. Our hormone specialists will take the time to listen to your concerns and provide a clear-cut explanation of your treatment options. We have helped dozens of patients conquer their mental health conditions and live a normal, happy life. Allow us to achieve that with you as well.
For more information about our services or to request an appointment, simply fill out our online form or call us at (507) 388-7488.
