Mood and hormone balance describes the clinical correlation between stable emotional states and the optimal, synchronized function of the body’s endocrine system. Hormones, including thyroid hormones, sex steroids (estrogen, progesterone, testosterone), and adrenal hormones (cortisol, DHEA), exert profound regulatory control over neurochemistry and limbic system activity. Dysregulation, such as estrogen withdrawal or thyroid deficiency, is frequently implicated in symptoms of anxiety, depression, and irritability. Maintaining this balance is essential for psychological well-being.
Origin
The connection is empirically and scientifically established, stemming from centuries of clinical observation linking life stages of hormonal flux—puberty, premenstruation, perimenopause, and andropause—to significant shifts in psychological well-being. Modern neuroendocrinology provides the scientific framework, detailing how hormones act as critical signaling molecules within the central nervous system. This interdisciplinary focus is essential for holistic mental health assessment.
Mechanism
Sex hormones influence the synthesis, degradation, and receptor density of key neurotransmitters, including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA, which are central to mood regulation. Estrogen, for instance, has a neuroprotective and mood-elevating effect, while progesterone metabolites, like allopregnanolone, act as positive allosteric modulators of the GABA-A receptor, promoting calm. Maintaining hormonal equilibrium supports the neurochemical environment necessary for emotional stability and cognitive resilience.
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