The scientific literature now shows clearly that anxiety levels, psychological distress, depressive feelings, and social fears are much higher in the women with PCOS. In one study of 300 women, nearly 30% had anxiety, and quality of life was lowest in those with a combination of stress and depression.
Depression and anxiety are common in women with PCOS but are often overlooked and therefore left untreated. Along with the physical disturbances, many mental problems are also associated with PCOS.
Women with PCOS often report signs of mood swings, depression and anxiety. Mood swings can feel like rapidly fluctuating emotions that can manifest as irritability, temper, sadness and/or anxiety that results from hormonal imbalance. Many women do experience signs of mood swings, especially near their menstrual cycle.
The purpose of our study was to describe use of coping strategies in a sample of women with PCOS from a western geographic area in the US. Self-controlling, social support, planful problem-solving, and positive reappraisal were coping subscales used most frequently based on total and relative WAYS scores.
In examining women with PCOS, it was found that 16% of them have major depression and 2% have bipolar disorder. Depression and anxiety are more prevalent in women with PCOS than in the general population.
Some women have adrenal-dominant PCOS while other women have ovary-dominant PCOS, and many women have a combination of both. Women with PCOS have also been found to produce more cortisol at baseline than women without PCOS. This means that women with PCOS may have more sensitive stress response systems.
Studies indicate that Irregularities and pain related to the menstrual cycle are some of the strongest predictors for anxiety in women with PCOS.
Practice positive affirmations
When you're dealing with PCOS, being told to be positive might come across as a little annoying. However, there is an effective way to challenge and overcome pessimistic thought patterns. This is by practicing positive affirmations, which can reinforce feelings of self-love and belief.
Many women with PCOS struggle with mood disorders including depression. Others have lower level mood issues that manifest as irritability, lethargy and a short temper. The fact that PCOS can make a woman feel physically uncomfortable, emotionally insecure or unfeminine compounds the situation.
Ovasitol is a supplement designed for women with PCOS and is very helpful in promoting regular periods. Plus, one study showed Ovasitol may reduce anxiety in women with PCOS as well (4).
So it would seem there is a strong likelihood that traumatic events, or prolonged stress responses, can activate the expression of PCOS-related symptoms.
Conclusions: Child maltreatment is independently associated with PCOS in women without psychiatric disorders. In the context of all maltreatment subtypes, emotional abuse remained associated with PCOS, suggesting its unique effect on this endocrinopathy.
PCOS can cause excessive facial and body hair, acne, hair loss, and weight gain. So it's fairly easy to fall into the trap of insecurities and self-doubt. PCOS symptoms also affect women psychosocially and may cause them to isolate themselves from society.
Women with PCOS often have too high androgen levels. Researchers believe that this can throw a woman's hormones out of whack and cause low libido and low sexual satisfaction.
Fried foods (French fries, potato chips, corn chips and fried chicken or fish) Saturated fats such as butter or margarine. Red meat, including hamburgers, roast beef and steaks, processed luncheon meat and hot dogs. Processed snacks: cakes, cookies, candy and pies.
Many women with PCOS have insulin resistance. This means the body can't use insulin well. Insulin levels build up in the body and may cause higher androgen levels. Obesity can also increase insulin levels and make PCOS symptoms worse.
PCOS does not cause fatigue directly. However, many common symptoms of PCOS can lead to fatigue. Conditions closely associated with PCOS can also cause fatigue. A person who is experiencing unmanageable fatigue or who thinks they may have PCOS may wish to speak with a healthcare professional.
Research has shown that practicing just 30 minutes per day of yoga, meditation, or breathwork (or all three) increased the secretion of feel-good hormones, and significantly reduced stress, as well as symptoms of depression and anxiety in women with PCOS.
Treating depression in PCOS
Some measures include: eating a low-carbohydrate diet. losing weight or maintaining a healthy weight. exercising to help treat some symptoms.
Metformin is commonly prescribed to manage polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), which is one of the most common endocrine disorders among women of childbearing age and is associated with high prevalence rates of depression and anxiety.
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormone imbalance that causes infertility, obesity, and excessive facial hair in women, can also lead to severe mental health issues including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.