My Doc Says I Need Medication- But That Doesn't Feel Right!

Have you been here? You flash a quick forced smile at the other moms at the pickup line at school and desperately hope they do not notice how fake the smile feels to you. You relive the whole encounter the whole car ride home and you feel like a complete imposter, you struggle to silence the constant thoughts that are taunting you so that you can listen to your kid tell you about their day. Staying composed is very difficult- giving it your all so that you don’t let yourself spiral out of control.

Have you ever felt this way?

Maybe it’s something that creeps in occasionally or maybe it’s something you’ve been feeling on the daily. Depression and anxiety can make even the most grounded and chill person feel like a complete imposter who has sneakily hijacked their life.

If you struggle with anxiety and depression you aren’t alone.

Anxiety disorders affect an estimated 40 million people in the United States, according to the Anxiety and Depression Association of America.

An estimated 17.3 million adults in the United States have at least one major depressive episode per year with the prevalence of those occurring predominantly in women- what is the difference? 

Many many women come to me as a client feeling embarrassed, frustrated, overwhelmed, and sometimes hopeless about the depression and anxiety symptoms that have been trying to hijack their lives.

I am all about empowering and educating women to live their best most healthy and vibrant lives and I am committed to being here every step of the way to support you through the process.

Have you ever wondered if hormone imbalances contribute to your feelings of depression and anxiety? Many factors that can impact depression and anxiety, and a hormone imbalance may be your cause. An imbalance in cortisol, thyroid, estrogen, progesterone, or testosterone can be a problem, especially if your depression or anxiety is new or suddenly worse than usual.

• The thyroid gland can go two ways- either over or underactive. When the thyroid hormone is not properly working, neurotransmitters like serotonin, GABA, and dopamine are affected. These neurotransmitters impact the regulation of our moods.
• Estrogen also affects the neurotransmitters serotonin, GABA, dopamine, epinephrine, and norepinephrine. Low estrogen levels can lead to depression, mood swings, trouble concentrating, fatigue, and irritability.
• Progesterone supports feelings of relaxation. You may note depression, irritability, anxiety, insomnia, and brain fog when it is out of balance.
• Low testosterone levels can affect both men and women. Low levels can contribute to depression, brain fog, anxiety, decreased motivation, fatigue, and trouble concentrating.
• Cortisol is known as the “stress hormone.” When our bodies are under constant stress, cortisol becomes imbalanced. High cortisol levels can cause increased depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions.

There are many things that you can implement without help with a professional! Take action now implementing these habits:

• Accept Where You Are At Right Now: I know. I know. This may not be what you want to hear but what you resist persists. Take a few deep breaths, accept that these things that you are feeling are real and know that your depression and anxiety are not YOU, but merely very real symptoms of an underlying issue that we can help you uncover and treat.
• Go For a 10-Minute Walk Outside: Exercising when you are feeling anxious or depressed can feel overwhelming. A 10-minute walk outside is a way to honor the way that you feel right now while pushing yourself just a little bit to get you in the direction of feeling better.
• Talk to a Trusted Friend: You don’t have to go through this alone. Find someone who you can trust and allow yourself to be vulnerable and open up about how you’ve been feeling. 
• Record One Good Thing Every Day: Find yourself a notebook or journal that inspires you and makes you feel happy to look at. Every day for thirty days write down ONE thing that is good in your life, that made you laugh, that you appreciate, or that is motivating to you.
• Eat foods that nourish your body. When we eat foods that do not work with our body, it adds stress to our mind and body and acts like fuel on the fire of an already struggling system!

So what can you do if you think you might have a hormonal imbalance that is causing symptoms of anxiety or depression? It all starts with checking your hormone levels using accurate testing. Standard laboratory evaluation is typically NOT adequate but specialty testing can determine if your levels are balanced. The Bliss Method is all about identifying your root causes, strategically strategizing, and empowering you to navigate your hormone fluctuations. 

Many times, it is not about "treating" the hormones but uncovering your specific needs!

After working with Tina, who felt like she had lost herself and had a short fuse. She was able to identify that her estrogen/progesterone balance was severely off, she was able to find enjoyment in her family again!

The Bliss Method does not just look at the symptoms but tries to find the deeper issue and approaches each individual as unique. This approach benefits many aspects of your life!