HAPPY YOU YEAR

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IT’S JANUARY, AND I DON’T KNOW WHERE I PUT MY RESOLUTIONS

Happens every year. Good intentions fill the air around the globe. Lists are made. But memes and jokes glut the Internet:

“My goal for 2021 is to accomplish the goals of 2020 which I should have done in 2019 because I promised them in 2018.”

You laugh. But not for long. Studies have shown that less than 25% of people actually stay committed to their resolutions after just 30 days, and only 8% accomplish them. But you don’t have to be part of the statistic.

THESE DON’T COUNT

  • Dear me…this year I will:
  • Stop mispronouncing Kamala and Chipotle
  • Try to come up with passwords more creative than “password”
  • Stop leaving Eggo boxes under the bed
  • Never use “it is what it is” when it comes to sex
  • Get my whites whiter

Again, more funny. But funny on January 1st, can only take you as far as January 2nd. OK, maybe 3rd.

IT’S HARD TO MAKE GOOD RESOLUTIONS WHEN THINGS SEEM SO BAD

It’s a daunting task to sit down and make some serious resolutions considering the stress of 2020 that made the ball coming down at midnight feel like it came down on your head. Life has taken a toll on your whole body. Stress off the charts. Less exercise. More eating. You can’t sleep, you ache all over. The only thing you can’t seem to do is social distance from is depression.

HOW HORMONES CAN HELP YOU KEEP SOME HEALTHY RESOLUTIONS

To say you don’t feel your best is an understatement. But consider this; a lot of what you’re feeling could be due to unbalanced hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers freestyling it through your bloodstream, messing up how you feel at whim. Unbalanced hormones can affect all your most important resolutions:

LOSE WEIGHT

Hormone imbalances can program you to put on the pounds. Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone imbalances can lead to weight gain in the hips, thighs, and bottom. An imbalance of cortisol stress hormones is another roadblock to losing weight, with high levels fueling appetite, sugar cravings, and the accumulation of belly fat. Low thyroid hormones and/or deficiencies of elements like selenium or iodine crucial to active thyroid conversion can also slow metabolism, making it easy to gain weight and harder to lose.

SLEEP BETTER

To sleep, perchance to dream; this too is a hormone matter. We need at least 6-7 hours of contented sleep. Consistently. Balanced levels of melatonin in tandem with cortisol regulate the rhythms of sleep and waking. A well-rested mind and body provide the inner calm and tranquility needed to help us deal with all that life might throw at us. And this year, Covid is playing hardball. 

GET ORGANIZED

Hormone imbalances can run interference on getting your house in order. If, for example, you have low testosterone it can be tough to think straight. Out-of-whack cortisol levels can make us unfocused and easily distracted, while estrogen lows are linked with foggy thinking and difficulty finding anything but your secret stash of assorted flavor Pringles. 

STAY FIT AND HEALTHY

Hormone fitness is a must. That means that all the hormones in our body need to be in the right proportions with one another: estrogens, androgens, adrenals, and thyroid hormones work closely together to protect the health of our heart, brain, and nervous system, muscles, and bones, skin and hair.

YOU CAN DO IT. YOU CAN ABSOLUTELY DO IT

It’s all possible with the help of your hormones and Denver Hormone Health.

Denver Hormone Health is all about everything “hormones”. They understand the delicate balance your hormones need to be in to help you be your best. The professionals at DHH take the time to really talk with you about what’s been bugging you and what could be the health consequences of your hormones feeling bugged. With simple tests, they can get the whole picture. This helps them create a treatment plan that’s uniquely tailored to your needs. While looking for toilet paper and cleaning supplies has become the new Gold Rush, the rush should be getting your hormones balanced. Resolve to make an appointment at Denver Hormone Health now. And Happy You Year.

DEPRESSION. IT’S NOT IN YOUR HEAD, IT’S IN YOUR HORMONES

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Depression, it's in your hormones

DEPRESSED? WHO’S DEPRESSED?

Let’s see…Covid-19, the economy, isolation, protests, no concerts, no big gatherings, no real fun and to make it all worse…no hugs. Ugh. Who wouldn’t be depressed. Anxious. Sad. Even hopeless. People reporting symptoms of depression, anxiety and fear are well above historical norms. Understandable; it’s called life.  But as things begin to open up, so do peoples’ outlooks. There are things to look forward to. Beyond banana bread, crazy Tik Tok challenges and Zoom…well… Zoom everything. The depression people are feeling now, is temporary for most. It will, pass.

BUCK UP. SUCK IT UP. SNAP OUT OF IT. GET OVER IT.

More than just a bout of the blues, real depression isn’t something that is going to go away on its own. No matter how much banana bread you make. No matter how sunny things may look. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), who you have probably been counting on for a lot of information lately, more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression. It’s a cruel disease that you can never explain to people who have never visited the dark holes depressed people often find themselves sliding into. This depression isn’t about what’s going on around you, it’s what’s going on inside you. And it’s not going anywhere without getting help.

DEPRESSION; WHEN THE SKY FEELS LIKE IT’S FALLING YOUR HORMONES CAN’T BE FAR BEHIND

When you’re depressed, you’re not just in the dumps, you feel like you’re in the dumpster. Depression affects how people sleep, eat, and see the world. People who are depressed may not be able to concentrate or even face simple prospects of daily life, such as getting up in the morning and dressing themselves. Depression can cause irritability, anger and anxiety. Trouble focusing, thinking clearly or making decisions. Feelings of worthlessness and guilt. Lack of energy and loss of interest in anything pleasurable. Sex included. You can’t wish this stuff away. But it’s not you. Unbalanced hormones can dampen anyone’s mood.

THE MOOD MODULATORS

Hormones effect every cell and organ in our bodies. If they are not in balance, you’re not in balance.

There are multiple hormones that can cause depression if not at the right levels. The sex hormones, for example. Both men and women have estrogen and testosterone. Too much of one or too little the other can lead to a whole gamut of mental health symptoms. Both under-active and overactive thyroid glands can also cause serious symptoms of depression. Imbalances in the body’s stress hormones can cause Monday blues and grey skies to permanently color your entire life lifeless and just plain lousy.

HOW MEDS CAN MAKE IT WORSE

Worse? What could be worse than suffering from unending emotional agony? True depression isn’t always that simple to diagnose. A primary care doctor might suggest seeing a psychiatrist. That psychiatrist might take a shot at a diagnosis and start you on a regime of meds roulette. According to a government study, antidepressants are the most prescribed drugs in the country. And there are tons of them. And they’re often tricky in treating depression. Not to mention the wide range of unpleasant side effects including nausea, weight gain, blurred vision, sexual problems, fatigue and drowsiness. This is not to say people have serious conditions which can be seriously helped by a good psychiatrist and antidepressants. But if the problem is a hormone imbalance, you need a precise diagnosis. Profoundly bi-polar could actually be profoundly hormonal.

MAKE YOU AND YOUR HORMONES HAPPY

Let’s start at the beginning; before you take meds, take a simple test to find out if it your seriously fierce funk could be your hormones. The place to do that, is Denver Hormone Health.  At DHH, they are unmatched in their expertise and years of experience successfully treating patients for all types of health issues. Depression included. The advanced tests they take at DHH will tell them your exact hormone levels, which allows them to create a unique treatment plan to get them back where they need to be to help you feel your best. Call Denver Hormone Health for any appointment now. Things will start looking up faster than you could ever imagine.

Hormones and Depression: It’s No Laughing Matter

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Feel Like You’re Losing It?

If you’re suffering from what seems like debilitating depression, whether you’re a man or women, it’s a good chance what you’ve lost is the hormonal balance that keeps your mood in balance. And there are many different hormones that effect your moods; thyroid, adrenaline, cortisol, and the sex hormones estrogen, testosterone and progesterone. The fluctuation of these hormones has been linked to a whole gamut of mental health symptoms and unfortunately there is still a stigma that make some people view depression as weakness. No matter what you do, you feel like you’re done in. The anxiety is overpowering. At times, you’re even paralyzed with panic. You’re in a dark hole and can’t drag yourself out. The World Health Organization claims that nearly 300 million people around the world also suffer from depression. So you’re not alone. And certainly not “crazy”.

Pregnant and Hormotional

Pregnancy is supposed to be a blissful time, filled with happy anticipation. But for some, it’s filled with just plain anxiety. Feeling blue, instead of rosy pink and positive. Some women have their first experience with significant depression during pregnancy, or after pregnancy (post-partum depression). In fact, anywhere from 14 to 23 percent of pregnant women experience depression (known as antepartum depression), while an estimated 5 to 25 percent experience depression after they give birth (known as postpartum depression). Tear flow in rivers, sometimes it’s hard to get out of bed. Often, the same hormonal fluctuations that wreak premenstrual emotional havoc can lead to prenatal depression. In fact, research has found that women who suffer from pronounced PMS are at greater risk for depression during pregnancy. 

Antidepressants–Band Aids for a Multitude of Symptoms   

You can’t tell someone suffering from depression, “just snap out of it”. General practitioners and even psychiatrists offer up another solution which can come with debilitating symptoms of their own; anti-depressants to the rescue. But often, the diagnoses are inaccurate. What accounts for the upsurge in these diagnoses?  It is unlikely that we can blame it all on our brains. Human physiology changes very slowly.  Fluctuating hormones can cause depression or extreme mood shifts that can resemble bipolar disorder. Quick…more meds. Meds that can actually cause more depression, anxiety, fatigue or even racing hearts. Maybe you should be anti-antidepressants, and get your hormones checked first.

Before You Panic…

Make an appointment to see the hormone specialists at Denver Hormone Health. Every one of the doctors at Denver Hormone Health is experienced in everything that has to do with hormones and the effect on your body when they are out of balance. Including depression. At Denver Hormone Health, it is their sole mission to see if your symptoms indicate a hormone imbalance. Which they can determine with simple tests. Instead of antidepressants, they are able to restore balance naturally, by getting to the real root of your depression. And get you back to feeling free of your funk. So call Denver Hormone Health today. You’ll not only get answers, you’ll feel fabulous.