Shifts in female hormones can have a dramatic impact on a woman’s mood and level of emotional well-being.  Many women experience symptoms such as sadness, irritability, anxiety, and feel depleted of energy.  Women are most at risk premenstrually, after giving birth, and prior to menopause.  Unfortunately, health care providers often miss these critical biological events.  Our culture also perpetuates the myth that pregnancy and childbirth is solely a joyful time.  As a result, too many women suffer needlessly and for too long.

*Kim came to therapy after her husband, with whom she shares a two-year-old son, asked for a divorce.  She was feeling very guilty and ashamed. She said, “I don’t know what’s happened to me, ever since I had my son I’ve been different.”  Kim explained that problems in the marriage started soon after she gave birth.  She would cry at the drop of a hat, felt unhappy all the time, and began to withdraw from her husband.  She was also very irritable and holding in a lot of anger.  She stated that she felt “wound up like a ball ready to explode.”  Initially, Kim sought treatment from a therapist who diagnosed her with a personality disorder.  The therapist completely ignored Kim when she spoke about feeling like a different person after giving birth.  Luckily, Kim’s instincts told her that this therapist was missing something.  She found a therapist who specialized in women’s mental health and was surprised to hear that she wasn’t going crazy. The therapist explained that she most likely had been suffering from postpartum depression. With support, therapy, and medication, she began to feel like her old self again.

While there is still much to be learned about the ways hormones can affect mood, researchers know that fluctuations in reproductive hormones such as estrogen and progesterone can disrupt chemicals in the brain that promote positive mood, thinking, and motivation.  Risk factors include family history of depression/anxiety, depression during pregnancy, problems with birth control pills, PMS, and family history of postpartum depression.  Extremely stressful life events, lack of support, isolation, and a past history of abuse or trauma can also make women more susceptible to hormonal shifts.            

By educating women about their risk factors, they can seek treatment sooner and hopefully avoid a lot of unnecessary suffering.  Unfortunately, some women are never educated about the ways that reproductive events can impact their emotional lives.  As a result, they may endure severe PMS or postpartum depression until well into menopause.

The good news is that depression and anxiety are medical illnesses that are treatable.  There is no need to suffer.  Getting a lot of support, rest, eating well, and lowering one’s expectations of perfection can usually treat mild symptoms.  It’s time to seek professional treatment when:

·        symptoms last more than a few days

·        symptoms interfere with your ability to maintain normal daily activities

·        social relationships are negatively impacted (i.e. withdrawing from partner and friends, yelling at the kids)

·        you have lost pleasure or interest in activities you used to enjoy

·        sleep and appetite are disrupted

·        you have thoughts of harming yourself or others

Options for seeking treatment include discussing your symptoms with your health care provider, finding a therapist who specializes in women’s mental health, and contacting organizations like the Postpartum Health Alliance (toll free number 888-773-7090) or Postpartum Support International.