Sleep deprivation, unresolved trauma, family stress, work stress, relationship stress, and/or physical stress on the body will all throw your hormones off balance.

Stress is the number one reason hormones become imbalanced prior to perimenopause/menopause.

When our bodies are chronically stressed, either from external or internal sources, cortisol becomes chronically elevated. Excessive cortisol production decreases progesterone production. Without progesterone to balance the effects of estrogen, women will begin to develop symptoms of estrogen dominance.

This cycle can then cause a list of symptoms and conditions that further contributes to excess cortisol production. It’s a vicious cycle.

SO HOW DO WE BALANCE HORMONES?

• Get 7-9 hours of good quality sleep if possible
• If you have unresolved trauma speak with a professional that can help
• Eliminate external stressors that you have control over
• Learn to manage the stress that you can’t eliminate through one or a combination of daily meditation, prayer, journaling, hatha yoga, walking in nature, sun, breathwork, listening to binaural beats, etc…
• Don’t skip meals, especially breakfast
• Avoid processed foods & Inflammatory foods
• Avoid high-intensity exercise if you are in a state of stress as this can further increase cortisol production
• Work on internal/physical stressors such as pathogens, toxins, infections, clogged drainage pathways, etc…
• Temporarily take adaptogenic herbs such as Ashwagandha, Rhodiola, Chinese Skullcap Root Extract, and Eleuthero Root Extract if needed until you can get your stress under control (This should be done in conjunction with the diet and lifestyle changes mentioned above).

So when it comes to stress, eliminating what you can and learning how to effectively manage the rest is crucial to balance your hormones.

*This is not medical advice