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There is a definite link between hormones, hormone balance, mood, mental health, and cognition.
Hormones play a crucial role in regulating mood, mental health, cognition, and overall brain health. Fluctuations in hormone levels, particularly testosterone and human growth hormone (HGH), can significantly impact neurological function and contribute to emotional states, cognition, and overall brain health.
This is why age-related hormone decline impacts not only physical but emotional and mental wellbeing as well. It is also why hormone replacement therapy, and in particular testosterone replacement (TRT) and growth hormone therapy, can improve mood, cognition, and overall brain health.
Before we get into a discussion of emotions, mental health, and hormones, it’s important to define some terms.
While emotional health and mental health are intimately related, they are not the same thing. Mental health deals with your brain’s ability to process information from all of the stimuli in the world that are taken in by your senses. Emotional health deals with your feelings and how those feelings influence your mental health or thinking processes.
Mental health and emotions work together in how you perceive the world around you, with your feelings influenced by the data received and processed by the brain. In other words, if you look at a flower, your mental health is what allows you to recognize that what you are seeing is indeed a “red rose,” but your emotions will determine if seeing that rose makes you feel “happy” or “sad.”
Emotions are part of your mental health, but mental health also has to do with:
Emotional health, on the other hand, only involves your feelings or emotional states.
The distinction between mental health and emotional health is also very important from a diagnostic standpoint. We all feel depressed from time to time or anxious or afraid. But anxiety, depression, and fear can also be distinct mental health issues that can fit the clinical diagnosis of “emotional disorders” when they are severe and ongoing.
Being emotionally well does not mean that “you are happy all the time.” It means that you are able to cope with your emotions – the good ones as well as the “bad” ones. Being emotionally well does not mean that you will never feel angry, anxious, or sad; it just means that you recognize that negative emotions are as much a part of your life as the positive ones, and you can “get over” your “down times” and feelings of depression and negativity — without the need of professional help.
Keep in mind that being “emotionally well” does not mean that “you are happy all the time.” It means that you are able to cope with your emotions – the good ones as well as the “bad” ones. However, if you find yourself unable to cope or in a constant state of emotional flux and mental distress – your hormones could be the reason, especially if you are a man or woman over the age of 40 who could be experiencing age-related hormone decline.
The link between hormonal balance, mood, depression, and anxiety has a lot to do with how hormones like testosterone and HGH affect other hormones and biological compounds like neurotransmitters. Specifically, HGH levels and testosterone levels have direct impacts on cortisol levels and brain chemicals specifically linked to mood and emotional states like serotonin and dopamine.
There is a growing body of evidence that suggests a link between low testosterone and depression.
Testosterone is critical in many ways for physical wellbeing. Testosterone is necessary to build muscle, burn fat, keep your bones healthy, and regulate and stimulate many other physical processes. Testosterone also plays a vital role in maintaining emotional health in men and women.
Specifically, current research has shown a definitive link between low levels of testosterone and increased depression and anxiety. A 2016 study published in the journal Psychoneuroendocrinology found that in older men, “low serum testosterone was associated with an 86% increased hazard of depression.”
This study echoed earlier research, which has found a strong link between low testosterone, depression, anxiety, and other emotional issues in both men and women.
So, what is the link between testosterone and depression?
Testosterone is necessary to produce serotonin and other important neurotransmitters like dopamine. Neurotransmitters, like serotonin, are the brain’s “feel-good” chemicals that help to regulate mood and stave off depression. In fact, most antidepressants work by keeping levels of serotonin high.
Testosterone levels decline in both men and women as they age. Low testosterone could be the reason why depression and anxiety are more prevalent in people over 40 than it is in younger people.
Healthy testosterone levels support mental agility and clear thinking. When testosterone drops below optimal levels, men often find themselves struggling to concentrate, stay organized, or process new information.
Low testosterone is linked to:
In other words, low testosterone doesn’t just reduce cognitive speed—it can limit the brain’s ability to absorb and retain new information. This is why so many older adults find it difficult to learn modern tools like smartphones or digital platforms. The science backs it: declining testosterone reduces your brain’s ability to encode and consolidate new memories.
Several clinical studies have demonstrated that testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) can help reverse the cognitive and emotional effects of low testosterone. TRT works by restoring testosterone levels to their optimal range, helping to reawaken mental sharpness and emotional balance.
Benefits of TRT for brain function and mood may include:
But it all starts with proper testing. The only way to know for sure if low testosterone is impacting your brain or mood is to get your levels tested by a qualified physician.
In addition to supporting emotional health and improving cognition, TRT has many other benefits, including:
Most people associate Human Growth Hormone (HGH) with physical vitality — increased energy, better muscle tone, and improved body composition. However, HGH also plays a critical role in mental health. In fact, one of the lesser-known yet significant symptoms of adult growth hormone deficiency (GHD) is depression or frequent mood swings.
At Nexel Medical, we’ve seen firsthand how restoring proper HGH levels in patients struggling with age-related hormone decline can lead to marked improvements in emotional wellbeing. Just as with testosterone, growth hormone influences brain function by supporting cellular health and regulating mood-enhancing neurotransmitters like dopamine and serotonin.
Multiple studies support the connection between low HGH levels and increased risk for depression:
Using HGH Therapy to restore growth hormone to optimal levels can significantly help regulate mood and reduce depression. The benefits of HGH therapy on emotional health are not limited to neurotransmitter regulation. HGH also:
Just like TRT, growth hormone injections have many more benefits than those relating to mental health. In addition to improving moods and cognitive function, HGH therapy also:
In addition to the benefits of hormone therapy, here are some other steps our healthcare professionals suggest to help maintain emotional health and mental stability.
There is no doubt that hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can improve brain health and cognitive function. However, not all providers of HRT are the same. At Nexel Medical, we pride ourselves on being a premier destination for Testosterone Replacement Therapy and HGH replacement for men and women. What sets us apart is our unwavering commitment to your wellbeing and our dedication to delivering top-notch care.
Whether you are seeking HRT for emotional or physical issues, our doctors and staff understand that one size does not fit all when it comes to hormone therapy. We believe in tailoring treatment plans to meet your specific needs and goals. In addition, we provide transparent information about HGH and testosterone replacement therapies, their benefits, potential risks, and what to expect during treatment.
Another big part of the Nexel difference is that we like to think of ourselves as partners in health. All of our Nexel Medical clinics understand that returning your HGH and testosterone levels to normal is just one piece of the puzzle. Our holistic approach encompasses nutrition, fitness, and lifestyle factors that contribute to overall wellbeing. We’re here to help you achieve optimal health in every way that we can!
Now that you understand a lot more about the link between hormones, HRT, and emotional wellbeing, why not Contact Us today and learn more about the many other benefits of hormone therapy?
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