Have you ever had a boss or a colleague who was quite irritable and possibly people made comments like, ‘I think it is that time of the month’? While this is an offensive comment, it is rather common and I have heard it so many times. Occasionally women are looked upon as being quite emotional at some times of the month and sometimes that is quite persistent. This could be related to an imbalance in their hormones. While speaking with ladies, I discovered that so many do not seem to recognise the subtle signs that their body is telling them about a possible problem with their hormones.
The human body is so harmoniously connected by nerves and chemicals called hormones in an intelligent system called the neuroendocrine system. This system not only receives information but also gives information.
The problem that is found especially at this time is that due to the demands on our time as mothers we either do not recognise, ignore, forget or postpone taking action on the ways our bodies speak to us about our wellbeing.
It initially starts as a whisper, then it progresses to a whimper and then a shout and scream. At that moment, when the body is screaming and shouting, it is usually when there are many casualties and we are at a critical point.
The need to recognise the subtle signs is so paramount and I will be highlighting some of the warning signs to look out for, which may indicate a hormonal imbalance and an adverse effect on our wellbeing as women.
Some of these signs include:
- Getting sudden mood changes
This rather common sign is occasionally overlooked. We need to recognise that it is not normal to have an erratic mood. Occasionally there are fluctuations between depression and anxiety. This could be related to problems with your thyroid hormone which is a chemical that is responsible for body metabolism and in low levels can present as low mood and in excess can present with anxiety.
2. Fluctuating weight
Weight is usually an issue that we consider every now and again. There are times when we would like to lose weight and despite our intense effort on following the latest diet plan and exercising religiously, we may struggle with losing weight and keeping the unwanted weight off. This causes us to be hard on ourselves, leading to low mood which is a vicious cycle that affects our overall wellbeing. In cases of low thyroid hormone, body metabolism is slower and this is a cause of weight gain. Another condition that presents with weight gain is a common condition known as polycystic ovarian syndrome which has other features that it could present with.
- Cycle abnormalities
The usual menstrual cycle is regular and has a pattern. It may vary from 21- 35 days in length. However, in certain cases when there is a more frequent bleeding or less frequent bleeding, heavier bleeds, irregular bleeds, it is an indication of an imbalance in oestrogen, progesterone, Follicle stimulating hormone, luteinising hormone, thyroid hormone or androgen levels.
- Low libido
This is when there is a reduced desire for sexual intimacy .This puts a strain on relationships and adversely affects our mental and emotional wellbeing. It can be as a result of discomfort or an imbalance of the sex hormones circulating the body.
- Poor sleep
This is a useful indicator that there is an imbalance in hormone levels. It is important to pay attention to this very subtle sign that most times we blame on our schedules.
Have you felt any of these signs? Are you listening to what your body is telling you about what is happening within?
Now that you know some of the signs to look out for, take action and seek professional help. It is better when help is sought early enough and reversal measures can be implemented.
Dr. Dunni Atalabi
DRUWA ACADEMY
“Every Mum is a Supermum not because she does super things but because of the superpowers she possesses within” – Dr. Dunni
Dr. ‘Dunni Atalabi is a life coach, family doctor, International speaker, teacher, entrepreneur and mum who empowers mums to eliminate the feeling of overwhelm and exhaustion by tapping into the super powers within while enhancing overall wellbeing so that we can live the life of calm and abundance we desire and deserve.
