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Even in today’s world, where it is more acceptable for men to admit they are struggling with mental health issues, men may still be hesitant to talk about this subject out of fear of appearing weak. Because of this, men’s mental health issues related to hormone imbalances continue to be a silent crisis. If you want to learn more about how a hormonal imbalance can impact your mental health as a man, here’s what you need to know.

It’s Not Just Low-T

As a man, your mental health can be impacted by more than just low testosterone levels inside your body. In fact, chances are you have other hormones out of balance as well, combined with low levels of testosterone, set the stage for mental health struggles. For example, you may also have an imbalance of thyroid hormones that could result in you having much less energy than usual. Should this be the case, you should not only test yourself for low testosterone but also get tested by your doctor for thyroid irregularities.

Increased Irritability

If you are biting everyone’s head off lately and feel as if your life is just too complicated and irritating to enjoy, a hormonal imbalance is likely part of your problem. Along with your testosterone levels being too low, you may also be experiencing an estrogen imbalance that is contributing to your lessened ability to cope with stress and not be depressed day after day. Since a male hormonal imbalance is often thought of as the onset of male menopause, this usually impacts far more men who are fifty or older than younger men.

Why Testosterone Affects Your Mental Health

Since you’ve got more than fifty different hormones working together inside your body, you’re probably wondering why testosterone plays such a critical role in your mental health. For starters, if you have low T, your thyroid will have to work harder to help produce serotonin, the hormone doctors often call the “happy hormone” that is responsible for regulating your behavior and mood. You should also remember that if you have low testosterone, you are 400 times more likely to be diagnosed with depression than a man with normal testosterone levels.

Getting Answers Privately and Discreetly

One reason men’s mental health issues continue to be a silent crisis is that men visit their doctor far less than most women. However, this doesn’t mean you’ll be relegated to suffering in silence. Instead, you can take advantage of various online platforms like Vitality RX to get answers to questions you may not be ready to discuss with your doctor. You can do so by using at-home hormone biomarker test kits to test your levels of testosterone and other hormones, giving you a clearer indication of what may be causing your problem. When combining at-home testing with a consultation with your doctor, you can get to the root of your problem and know the best treatment options.

Don’t Discount the Symptoms

If there is one thing men have been conditioned to do from the earliest eras of time, it is to stand strong, act tough, and never admit weakness. Unfortunately, all this does is make a mental health problem much worse. Like many men, you may not give much thought to certain symptoms that may point to a hormonal imbalance, such as:

• Changes in your sleep cycle
• Appetite increasing or decreasing
• Lack of motivation
• Harder time coping with stress
• Less desire for sex

If you keep chalking up these problems to a busy lifestyle, increased stress from your job, or simply getting older, you’ll probably wind up seeing your mental health struggles worsen in the years ahead. Remember that changes that seem to occur quickly are usually your body’s way of telling you something is wrong.

Making Key Lifestyle Changes

Even if you visit a doctor and are started on a hormone replacement treatment program, you will also be advised to make certain lifestyle changes to help give your treatment plan the best chance for success. These changes will include:

• Exercising regularly
• Eating healthier
• Reducing your stress levels
• Stop smoking
• Drink less alcohol
• Get a good night’s sleep

If you follow these recommendations, your hormonal imbalance may disappear much faster than you expected.

Bottom Line

Don’t continue to be part of the silent crisis. Speak up and take action! Instead of ruminating over each side of your spiraling anxiety, take action before slipping into a full-on depression. Be willing to talk about your problems with your doctor. By doing so, low-T and other hormone imbalances can be a thing of the past.