Understanding PCOS's mental health effects beyond hormones

PCOS can effect mental health of women in addition to physical health. PCOS is a hormonal disorder that is caused to many women due to hormonal imbalances. It can lead to a range of physical symptoms such as irregular periods, excessive hair growth, acne and weight gain. It can, however, have psychological and emotional repercussions in addition to physical symptoms.

Ways how PCOS can affect women’s mental health:

PCOS’s hormonal abnormalities and accompanying physical symptoms can affect mental health in a number of ways, including:

Hormonal fluctuations: In PCOS, sex hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are out of balance. These changes can have an effect on mental health like mood swings, irritations, anxiety and despair.

Body Image and Self-Esteem: Physical symptoms include weight gain, acne, excessive face and body hair, and thinning hair are common in people with PCOS. These signs and symptoms may negatively affect one’s perception of one’s body and level of self-worth, resulting in feelings of guilt, embarrassment, and poor self-worth which have affect on mental health.

Pain and Discomfort: Some people who have PCOS feel cramping, pain, and discomfort in the pelvis. The effects of chronic pain on the mind can be profound, increasing tension, worry, and depressive symptoms which create disturbance in mental health.

Fertility concerns: Ovulation or anovulation irregularities caused by PCOS are a frequent cause of infertility. People with PCOS who want to have children may experience increased stress, worry, and sadness as a result of the difficulties of attempting to conceive.

Insulin resistance: PCOS sufferers frequently have insulin resistance, which might affect their ability to control their mood. Blood sugar changes might be a factor in irritation, trouble concentrating, and mood swings. In total it has a great impact on ones mental health.
Hormonal Impact: Hormonal deregulation in PCOS may alter neurotransmitter levels and brain chemistry, which may have an impact on mood and mental health.
Stress: Managing PCOS symptoms, such as keeping track of diet, exercise, and medical treatments, can be difficult and result in higher levels of stress. With higher levels of stress mental health is affected.
Stigma and Misunderstanding: PCOS can be stigmatized and misunderstood since society does not always comprehend it properly. It may be challenging for people with PCOS to ask for help and understanding from others due to this lack of awareness.
Coping with Symptoms: Managing PCOS’s physical symptoms can be difficult and have an influence on daily life, which can then have an impact on mental health.
Impact on Social Interactions and Relationships: PCOS’s mental health and physical health issues can have an impact on social interactions and relationships. Coping with the disease may necessitate changes in social activities and intimate connections, which could lead to feelings of isolation and loneliness.

As a result of the aforementioned factors, PCOS might have an impact on women’s mental health. Treating PCOS is the only way to deal with these effects.

To deal with the problem we should know the root causes. So let’s now discuss what the root causes of PCOS are.

What are the root causes of PCOS?

If treating PCOS is our aim then identifying the root cause of PCOS should be our step to reach our aim. PCOS is a hormonal disorder this disorder is caused due to hormonal imbalances. So here the root cause is hormonal imbalance. Now knowing the root causes of hormonal imbalances is important to balance the hormones. There are ten modern lifestyle root causes for hormonal imbalances related to PCOS:

Food-related root Causes:

Food toxicity: Foods high in additives, preservatives, and chemicals can contribute to hormone imbalances by altering the endocrine system.
Inflammation: Diets high in processed foods, sweets, and bad fats can cause the body to become more acidic and inflammatory, disrupting the body’s hormonal balance.
A lack of micronutrients in our diet: Because these nutrients are essential for a variety of hormonal actions, a lack of critical vitamins and minerals may interfere with hormone balance.
Insulin resistance: Meals with a high glycemic index can promote insulin resistance: Eating meals with a high glycemic index can create insulin resistance, which affects hormone levels, particularly insulin and androgens.
Excess male hormones: Eating foods high in chemicals, steroids, or hormone-disrupting components may result in an increase in male hormones (androgens), which may contribute to hormonal disorders.

Exercise-Related Causes:

Sedentary lifestyle: It involves spending most of one’s time sitting down: Excessive sitting and a lack of exercise can lead to weight gain, insulin resistance, and hormonal imbalance.
Excess body fat over the ovaries: Insulin resistance and inflammation brought on by excess body fat, especially in the area of the belly, may be linked to hormonal irregularities.
Lack of muscle mass: Lack of physical exercise and muscle mass can affect insulin sensitivity and hormonal balance in general.

Sleep-related root causes:

Poor sleep quality (Lack of Deep Sleep): Poor or insufficient sleep can throw off the body’s hormonal balance, especially the hormones that control hunger and stress (leptin and ghrelin).

Stress-related root causes:

Chronic Stress: Prolonged exposure to high levels of stress can cause the dysregulation of various hormones, including cortisol, upsetting the body’s overall hormonal balance.

As a result of the aforementioned factors of modern lifestyle, women develop hormonal abnormalities, which lead to PCOS. As a result, having this condition may have an impact on one’s personal life, making it more difficult to manage the condition.

The 5 pillar strategy to reverse PCOS naturally:

Treating PCOS is the best solution to overcome the effects it has. However treating it naturally helps to cure it permanently without any side effects because this natural process focusses on the root cause of the problem and not just the symptoms. Hence treating PCOS naturally is advised.

As we have discussed above we know that PCOS is a hormonal disorder and this disorder is caused due to hormonal imbalances. So here the root cause is hormonal imbalance, now this natural method has 5 pillar strategy which helps us to manage the hormonal balance.

Eat Right: Embrace living, water-rich, whole, plant-based foods that nurture our genetic potential. By opting for local and seasonal choices, we honor nature’s wisdom. Eliminating packaged and processed foods liberates us from epigenetic imprints, elevating our hormonal health.
Move More: Embark on a journey of holistic lifestyle changes, where staying active transcends mere exercise. Embracing constant movement throughout the day optimizes epigenetic expression, igniting hormonal balance. Engage in pleasurable physical activities, dance, or even mindful walks to unlock the power of epigenetic triggers.
Breathe Aware: As we deepen our understanding of Pranayama, the science of breath, we access a profound gateway to support gland function and harmonize hormones. Harnessing the breath’s epigenetic influence, we transcend the ordinary and elevate our hormonal well-being.

Sleep Better: Unlock the secrets of deep sleep, a transformative practice for healing and regeneration. With the art of Yog Nidra, we embrace epigenetic potential, unearthing hormonal harmony in the realm of dreams. Rejuvenate your entire being through this exquisite dance with the epigenetic clock.

Mind Free: Journey into the realm of emotions, thoughts, and stress resilience, where journaling, gratitude, and emotional practices become our guiding compass. Embracing epigenetic intelligence, we shift our narrative from stress to serenity, empowering our hormonal landscape.

Adopting the above 5 strategies in day to day life one can reverse PCOS naturally, by reversing it the affects it has on mental health and physical health can be resolved accordingly.