Hormones and Mental Health: What You Should Know

As a psychiatric nurse practitioner, I’ve seen how powerfully hormones influence mental health. Shifts during puberty, the menstrual cycle, fertility, pregnancy, postpartum, perimenopause, menopause, gender-affirming care, or medical treatment can affect mood, anxiety, energy, and cognition.

Too often, these changes are minimized or overlooked in psychiatric care. At The Catalyst Center, I approach these transitions with curiosity, compassion, and a whole-person perspective—because hormones aren’t just lab values, they are part of your lived experience.

How Hormonal Changes Affect Mental Health

Puberty & Adolescence

Hormonal surges influence brain development, mood regulation, and anxiety. Teens may experience irritability, mood swings, or challenges with focus. While often dismissed as “just being a teenager,” these shifts reflect real physiological changes that benefit from understanding and support.

Menstrual Cycle & Premenstrual Phase

For many, the week or two before a period brings heightened anxiety, low mood, or brain fog. These are not “just in your head”—they are connected to fluctuating estrogen and progesterone, which affect neurotransmitters like serotonin and GABA. Tracking cycles can reveal patterns and inform targeted support.

Fertility, Pregnancy & Postpartum

Pregnancy and postpartum involve some of the most dramatic hormonal shifts in a lifetime. Postpartum depression and anxiety are not just reactions to parenting stress—they are linked to hormonal changes, sleep disruption, and identity shifts. Recognizing these connections reduces shame and opens the door to effective, compassionate care.

Perimenopause & Menopause

The menopause transition is one of the most misunderstood—and under-supported—stages of life. Hormonal fluctuations can lead to mood changes, anxiety, disrupted sleep, and cognitive shifts. With the right psychiatric and holistic support, these years don’t have to feel destabilizing. They can also be a period of renewal and growth.

Medically Induced Hormonal Changes

Medical Treatments

Chemotherapy, radiation, surgeries, thyroid disorders, or certain medications can abruptly alter hormone production. Many people experience sudden menopause or andropause, often accompanied by mood swings, brain fog, or depression. These changes can feel jarring, especially when layered on the stress of illness, and deserve thoughtful psychiatric attention.

Gender-Affirming Care

For transgender and nonbinary individuals, gender-affirming hormone therapy is often life-saving—supporting authenticity, identity, and overall well-being. At the same time, starting, adjusting, or discontinuing hormones may bring shifts in mood, energy, or cognition. Compassionate psychiatric support ensures mental health care stays aligned with identity and life goals.

Why Hormonal Health Is Overlooked in Psychiatry

Mainstream psychiatric treatment tends to emphasize neurotransmitters without fully considering how the rest of the body, including hormones, contribute to our emotional wellbeing and brain health. As a result, people may be prescribed medications for anxiety or depression without anyone looking at the role hormones are playing. This gap can leave people feeling unseen, misdiagnosed, or only partially helped.

A Holistic, Whole-Person Approach at The Catalyst Center

At The Catalyst Center, we integrate hormone awareness into psychiatric care. Every initial evaluation is a 60–90 minute in-depth assessment to understand your unique history, needs, and goals.

Our whole-person approach may include:

• Lab work to check hormone levels, thyroid function, and nutrient markers
• Nutrition support to stabilize blood sugar and reduce inflammation
• Somatic practices like Somatic Experiencing, mindfulness, yoga, or nervous system regulation
• Medication management, including deprescribing if balance improves
• Collaboration with OB/GYNs, primary care, and therapists for integrated care
• Sleep hygiene strategies such as consistent routines, reducing blue light, and creating restful rituals
• Nervous system regulation like neurofeedback, Safe and Sound Protocol, and Trauma Sensitive Yoga
• Lifestyle factors like movement, time outdoors, stress management, and cultivating supportive relationships

These everyday practices help regulate both hormones and the nervous system—building long-term stability and resilience.

Reframing the Narrative

Hormonal changes—whether natural, medically induced, or chosen—are powerful experiences that shape mental and emotional well-being. With compassion and holistic psychiatric support, these transitions can become opportunities for resilience, clarity, and deeper self-understanding.

If you’ve ever wondered whether changes in mood, anxiety, or focus might be linked to your hormones, you’re not alone. The right care can bring clarity and balance, helping you navigate each stage or transition with strength and support.

Interested in exploring Integrative Mental Health Care?

Contact The Catalyst Center to learn more about our integrative psychiatry and therapy offerings.

Call schedule a free introductory call or contact us.