Mental health issues and hormones: with psychiatrist Dr Louisa James | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast
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- Опубликовано: 29 июн 2024
- This week on the podcast Dr Louise is joined by a new colleague, Dr Louisa James, a psychiatrist who has recently joined the team at Newson Health.
Dr Louisa’s personal experience of the menopause prompted her to learn more about the impact of hormones, and incorporate her knowledge in her role as an NHS consultant psychiatrist in a home treatment service. Here she discusses the importance, and power, of asking patients about their hormones during a psychiatric appointment.
Finally, Dr Louisa shares her tips for thinking about your hormones alongside your mental health:
1.Consider whether this feels different to any previous episodes of depression you may have experienced or if your symptoms are fluctuating. Some women have suicidal thoughts or are depressed at certain times of the month. Track your symptoms and look at the fluctuations.
2. Your history can affect your menopause. If you’ve had an episode of postnatal depression or PMDD, then you're more likely to experience mental health difficulties in the perimenopause.
3. How do you feel about your life? Lack of joy rather than a sadness, the emotional lability, is often greater with a hormonal mental health problem whereas irritability, rage and impulsiveness can be greater with mental health problems.
Dr Louisa James is now offering consultations to existing Newson Health patients - see www.newsonhealth.co.uk for details.
Thank you, Dr Louise, for being so open about your own struggles - this just helps so many women. And thank you once again for the hard work (but also love and empathy) you put into the world - listening to your podcasts empowered me to get HRT at 53 (took me 4 different doctors to convince and still cannot get my current one to allow me a trial of testosterone). My life is so much better with my hormones back on board and I am so thankful to you 🙏🙏🙏.
Still I'm frustrated because I talk with so many suffering women here in Germany whom I cannot convince of trying out HRT because they are simply scared of breast cancer. It's hard to accept because there isn't enough access to latest research to prove how beneficial and protective MODERN BODYIDENTICAL hormones are... But i will keep on fighting to spread the word wherever and whenever I can 💪.
Best wishes from Germany 🇩🇪
P.S. Would it be possible to get Dr Corrine Menn for a conversation - she is an ALLOY breast cancer survivor...
I am from Germany to and have the same experience. I am so grateful for Dr. Luise Newson, I have learnt so much about HRT and I am at last on a high dose of Estrogen for mental health issues in the perimenopause and feeling better. My gynocologist is pathetic, she wants me to be on the lowest dose of estrogen Gel but I get my HRT, so I keep quiet. I have got far more knowledge than she has. I will have to.look for a new doctor in 2 yrs., because she will only priscribe me HRT for 5 yrs. It's a damm shame seeing friends suffering, but they think I am the crazy one for taking HRT😅.
This is my biggest symptom 😢
Totally agree with you. I could not sleep, therefore was not getting REM sleep and was starting to get delusional. This was 11 years ago I was 51 classic age. My instinct was that it was something chemical that had altered in my body. Dr offered me diazepam, sleeping tablets. I did not want to take them. I asked for HRT he discouraged that, but because I insisted because I have bone issues, I was given the patches. I felt immediate relief. Still on the gel. It makes me wonder about my mother who had serious mental health issues.
Good, that you still had the power to fight for yourself 💪💪💪🤗🤗🤗
And thank you for sharing your story to support and empower other women ❤️
Best wishes to you from Germany 🇩🇪
Amazing conversation. As a licensed mental health therapist in California, you have given me much to consider about when working with clients, as well as for myself. I’m not able to tell clients to specifically seek out hormone therapy, but it’s obviously important to refer people to appropriate services!
I appreciate all the work you do. Could I ask that you look at the role of oxytocin in menopausal women? It decreases significantly with age and is an important peptide/hormone for conceiving, childbirth, lactation let alone bonding and pain reduction.
It's a very interesting peptide that's often overlooked. It's my belief that women going through menopause may be experiencing a significant drop in oxytocin and this explains some of the symptoms such as but not limited to: Increase in pain/reduced pain tolerance, changes in heat/cold tolerance, mood changes (compounded of course by other changes during menopause) as well as many symptoms.
Take care.
As a patient, I do think holistically about my health. However, due to time constraints placed upon GPs the issues I present with aren't seen this way. Im asked to make a separate appointment about every one of them whereas my instinct tells me they are connected.
Can HRT be taken while on benzodiazepine?