Hormones & Mental Health
Emma Henry - 5th Hour
Medical Advances
- Hormone treatments offer a more natural approach to mental health.
- Estrogen replacement therapy has been used to try to protect older women against Alzheimer’s disease.
- Hormone replacement therapy is prescribed to women to reduce the symptoms of menopause.
- Replacing some of the female hormones that the body stops making may help ward off many diseases.
- Replacing hormones in men can reduce the effects of aging, including decline in intellectual functioning, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.
- Researchers think that they might be able to use the hormone oxytocin to remedy symptoms of schizophrenia.
- For addictions to alcohol, drugs, gambling, or even food, it might be possible to block pleasure hormones that reward these behaviors.
Negative vs Positive Effects
NEGATIVE:
- Sex hormones can influence the brain development in the young, memory in the elderly, and may also explain why men tend to develop neurological problems (i.e. autism and dyslexia) while women suffer from depression and anxiety.
- Hormones change at adolescence due to puberty. This results in an increase of mood lability, mood intensity, and irritability.
- Feelings of depression or anxiety may be one of the first signs that your thyroid (a gland in your neck that produces a hormone crucial for growth, development, and everyday function) is not working properly.
- Hormones can also temporarily fall out of balance during certain points of a woman's menstrual cycle as well as right after having a baby.
- High androgen hormone levels or high steroid levels can lead to an increase in hair on the face, back, chest and abdomen.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy can increase the risk of breast cancer, heart disease, and stroke.
POSITIVE:
- Hormones are substances produced in our bodies to regulate our biological activities.
- Growth hormones control our development. Stress hormones are released when our bodies detect a threat.
- The hormone oxytocin increases trust and helps aid in social bonding.
Interpersonal Communication
- express your concern
- and talk about possible treatments
- talk about how your illness if affecting your health
- and what you can work on to fix it
Media Influences
- On a television series "The Doctors", the doctors had a discussion about hormones effecting weight loss (or gain), acne, male-pattern hair loss and abnormal menstrual cycles. One of their guests Sheri, had been experiencing these things and was diagnosed with PCOS. On the same episode, the doctors discussed the influence of Oxytocin within the body. Also, they talked about the sleep hormone melatonin and how low melatonin levels can increase your chances of getting breast cancer.
- Media analyses of film and print have resulted in the identification of three misconceptions about people suffering from mental illness. They are viewed as either a homicidal maniacs, they are rebellious, free spirits, or they have childlike insights about the world.
Sources
BodyLogicMD of Maple Grove
Dr. Barbara Schibly
7212 Forestview Lane N.
Maple Grove, MN 55369
Local: (763) 392-1654
Toll Free: (866) 542-4932McLean, Erin. "Healthculturesociety - Influence of Media on Mental Health and Associated Stigma." Healthculturesociety - Influence of Media on Mental Health and Associated Stigma. Healthculturesociety, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://healthculturesociety.wikispaces.com/Influence of media on mental health "Hormone Replacement Therapy: MedlinePlus." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hormonereplacementtherapy.html>.
"How to Take Control of Your Hormones." The Doctors TV Show. The Doctors, 8 Feb. 2012. Web. 23 Oct. 2012. <http://www.thedoctorstv.com/main/show_synopsis/951?section=synopsis>.
ALLEN, JANE E. "Sex Hormones Key in Brain Development Finding may Help Fight Neurological Illness." Tulsa World: 8. Nov 12 1998. ProQuest Newsstand. Web. 3 Oct. 2012 .
Alison Palkhivala, Alison. "Mental Health Hormones on MedicineNet.com."MedicineNet. WebMD, 30 Jan. 2005. Web. 14 Oct. 2012. <http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=50880>.
Rettner, Rachael. "'Love Hormone' Could Help Treat Schizophrenia." Msnbc.com. Msnbc Digital Network, 03 Dec. 2010. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40496093/ns/health-mental_health/t/love-hormone -could-help-treat-schizophrenia/>.
http://psycnet.apa.org/?fa=main.doiLanding&doi=10.1037/0033- 2909.111.1.62 Christy M.; Eccles, Jacquelynne S.; Becker, Jill B. Psychological Bulletin, Vol 111(1), Jan 1992, 62-107.
"Hormone Replacement Therapy: MedlinePlus." U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S. National Library of Medicine, n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2012. <http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/hormonereplacementtherapy.html>.
Emma Henry
Hinz
2012