Wednesday, August 12, 2026
Issue #269
Hello there!
When one of my patients showed a pattern in her psychotic disorder that followed her menstrual cycles, I dug deeper to understand the underlying causes and how to treat it.
Fortunately, through a couple of supplements, which will be discussed in the podcast, her next period came and went without another "relapse" into psychosis.
In this podcast, Emily and I explore some of the ways that hormones contribute to mental illness. Listen in for a clearer understanding of how hormonal imbalances don't just affect mood: they can also create psychosis!
Have a wonderful week!
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Hormone Imbalance and Mental Health
The Hidden Connection Explained
Hormones can have a profound impact on mental health, influencing everything from mood, anxiety, and sleep to depression, agitation, and more severe psychiatric symptoms.
In this episode, Emily and I explore the hidden connection between hormone imbalance and mental health from a holistic psychiatry perspective. We discuss how estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, cortisol, neurotransmitters, inflammation, gut health, liver function, and detoxification pathways may all interact and affect emotional and psychological well-being.
Emily also shares her personal journey with endometriosis, chronic pain, inflammation, psychiatric medication withdrawal, and the process of understanding how hormonal health can influence both physical and mental symptoms.
Topics discussed in this episode include:
• How hormone imbalance may affect mental health
• The relationship between hormones and neurotransmitters
• Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and mood
• Hormonal changes and anxiety, depression, mania, and psychosis
• Endometriosis, chronic inflammation, and mental well-being
• Gut health, liver function, and hormone metabolism
• The connection between stress, trauma, and hormonal regulation
• Endocrine disruptors and everyday environmental exposures
• Diet, inflammation, and holistic approaches to health
• Looking for underlying causes instead of focusing only on symptoms
Also, I share clinical observations that led me to look more closely at hormonal health in patients experiencing significant changes in psychiatric symptoms.
This conversation highlights an important idea: mental health does not exist separately from the rest of the body. Hormones, the nervous system, immune function, inflammation, gut health, and physical wellbeing can all be deeply interconnected.
Whether you are dealing with hormone imbalance, anxiety, depression, endometriosis, chronic inflammation, or simply want to better understand the relationship between hormones and the brain, this episode offers a thought-provoking holistic perspective.
To learn more about my work and explore additional free holistic psychiatry articles, podcasts, and resources, visit holisticpsychiatrist.com.
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Dr. Lee is located near downtown Stamford, Connecticut.
The content provided by this podcast is for informational purposes only and has not been approved by the U.S. FDA. This podcast is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained from a medical professional.
