October 29, 2021
Do you ever have those nights where you lie awake, awash with worry about work, your relationships, and your future? Or your brain feels like a broken record with the same obsessive thought patterns repeating on a loop?
If so, you’re definitely not alone. About 1 in every 5 adults struggles with anxiety¹, and women are nearly twice as likely² as men to be diagnosed with stress or fear-related anxiety issues.
Anxiety takes a toll on your time, your mental health, and your ability to perform at your best in all areas of life. The root causes of anxiety vary greatly, but one of the most common yet rarely discussed factors underlying anxiety?
Hormones.
While constant and crippling anxiety is a serious medical condition that should be discussed with your doctor, if you find your anxiety ebbs and flows throughout the month - it may be related to hormonal imbalances as you move through your menstrual cycle.
The most common time to experience heightened anxiety is during the week before your period (luteal phase), due to the drop in your hormones and/or the imbalance between estrogen and progesterone.
If the anxiety is all month long, it may have to do with other hormones such as cortisol (your stress hormone), thyroid, and insulin (an important blood sugar regulating hormone). This can also be heightened during the transition into menopause due to the drop in estrogen and progesterone.
The good news? Hormonal anxiety can often be treated with natural, lifestyle-based remedies.
If you’re ready to tackle your anxiety head-on, here are some tips to get you started:
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Get some zzz’s. It can be hard to fall asleep when anxious thoughts are running through your mind, but studies have shown³ that sleep deficiencies can worsen or even instigate anxiety. Prioritize healthy sleep habits⁴: stick to a sleep schedule, limit caffeine and alcohol, and ditch the late night doom scrolling for some more relaxing rituals, like a warm bath or some light reading.
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Dial-up your diet. A diet rich in complex carbohydrates from whole foods can help to regulate your hormones, and magnesium rich foods⁵ in particular (think pumpkin seeds, berries, spinach) can contribute to calm.
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Exercise regularly. Both aerobic activities (such as running, biking, etc) and more relaxing exercises (such as yoga or tai chi) help calm an anxious mind. Studies have shown⁶ that regular exercise significantly improves mood states related to menstrual hormones.
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Seed cycling. Powerhouse blends of seeds can contribute to better sleep, and give your diet that boost of magnesium, tryptophan, and antioxidants to support optimal hormonal health. Beeya seed cycling bundles take the guesswork off your hands while giving you the hormone-balancing nutrients that can help relieve menstrual cycle-related symptoms, including anxiety.
Sources:
¹ https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/any-anxiety-disorder
² https://adaa.org/find-help-for/women/anxiety
³ https://www.sleepfoundation.org/sleep-hygiene/healthy-sleep-tips
⁴ https://medlineplus.gov/ency/patientinstructions/000853.htm