Schedule Appointment
Understanding Hormones: The Basics
Hormones are tiny chemical messengers with a big job: they help your body decide what to do next. Sleep and wakefulness, appetite, stress response, growth, reproduction, metabolism, body temperature, and mood all depend on hormonal signals moving through the bloodstream and binding to receptors in different tissues.
When hormones are in a healthy range, most people do not notice them. When they drift too high or too low, you might notice changes that feel physical, emotional, or both. Many people are surprised to learn how often hormone shifts can resemble anxiety, depression, ADHD symptoms, or burnout.
What hormones are (and what they are not)
A hormone is a signaling molecule made by endocrine glands (and some other tissues). It travels through the blood to target organs, where it tells cells to speed up, slow down, release energy, store energy, build tissue, or change sensitivity to other signals.
Hormones are not “good” or “bad.” The same hormone can be helpful in one context and disruptive in another. Cortisol, for example, helps you wake up and respond to stress. Chronically high cortisol can leave someone feeling wired, tired, and emotionally stretched thin.
Hormones also work in networks, not in isolation. A thyroid lab value might look only slightly off, yet the person feels unwell because of how thyroid hormones interact with sleep, iron levels, inflammation, sex hormones, medications, and stress biology.
How the body regulates hormones: feedback loops in plain language
Most hormones are controlled by feedback loops, which are basically the body’s internal thermostat. When a hormone level rises, the body senses it and reduces production. When it falls, the body increases production.
One of the best-known examples is the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus (in the brain) sends signals to the pituitary gland, which then signals other glands, including the thyroid and adrenal glands.
A single lab result rarely tells the full story because:
Hormones can change across the day (cortisol is a classic example).
Sex hormones fluctuate across the menstrual cycle.
“Normal range” is based on population averages, not on your personal best functioning.
Symptoms can come from hormone sensitivity, not only hormone quantity.
The major hormone systems you hear about most
The endocrine system includes many glands and signaling pathways. The table below organizes some of the most commonly discussed hormones and what people often notice when levels are off. Symptoms overlap across conditions, so this is not a self-diagnosis tool, but it can help you ask more informed questions.
Gland / system
Key hormones
What they influence
When levels are off, people may notice
Hypothalamus / pituitary
“Master” signaling hormones (TSH, ACTH, LH/FSH, prolactin, growth hormone)
Signals other glands; growth; reproduction; lactation
Irregular periods, fertility issues, milky discharge, fatigue, headaches, changes in growth or body composition
Thyroid
T4, T3
Metabolism, temperature, heart rate, bowel patterns, skin and hair, energy
Low: fatigue, constipation, feeling cold, low mood. High: anxiety-like feelings, palpitations, heat intolerance
Adrenal glands
Cortisol, aldosterone, DHEA, adrenaline-related signals
Stress response, blood pressure, salt balance, energy availability
Sleep disruption, “tired but wired,” dizziness, cravings for salt, feeling easily overwhelmed
Pancreas
Insulin, glucagon
Blood sugar regulation
Energy crashes, intense hunger, weight changes, brain fog, shakiness when meals are delayed
Ovaries / testes
Estrogen, progesterone, testosterone
Reproductive function, bone health, muscle, libido, mood, sleep
PMS/PMDD symptoms, cycle changes, hot flashes, low libido, irritability, low motivation
Fat tissue (adipose)
Leptin and other signaling molecules
Appetite signaling and energy balance
Increased hunger, difficulty feeling full, weight changes that do not match habits
Gut and sleep hormones
Ghrelin, melatonin and others
Hunger cues, sleep timing
Late-night hunger, insomnia, daytime sleepiness
Hormones and mental health: why it can feel personal
Hormones influence neurotransmitters and brain circuits involved in mood, attention, and threat detection. That is why hormone shifts can feel deeply emotional even when the root cause is largely biological.
A few common patterns:
Thyroid changes can mimic depression (low thyroid) or anxiety (overactive thyroid). Some people mainly notice irritability, restlessness, or concentration problems.
Cortisol and chronic stress load can disturb sleep and memory, increase worry, and reduce emotional bandwidth. It can also shift appetite and cravings.
Estrogen and progesterone shifts across the menstrual cycle can affect sleep, migraine patterns, anxiety sensitivity, and mood stability. Some people have significant premenstrual worsening, including PMDD.
Testosterone (in all genders) can influence energy, drive, libido, and mood. Both low and high levels can be linked with irritability, sleep issues, and changes in motivation.
Blood sugar swings can feel like panic, agitation, or brain fog.
If you are already managing depression, anxiety, ADHD, or trauma-related symptoms, hormone changes can turn the volume up. That does not mean “it’s all hormones,” but it is often worth checking the basics.
Signs that might suggest a hormone issue (and when to pause and get checked)
Many symptoms are non-specific. The key is patterns: persistent changes, clusters of symptoms, or symptoms tied to cycle timing, sleep disruption, new medications, postpartum months, perimenopause, or significant weight change.
After you notice a pattern, it can help to write it down. People often track sleep, energy, appetite, mood, cycle dates, and any new supplements or prescriptions.
Common symptoms people bring up include:
Fatigue that does not improve with rest
New or worsening insomnia
Unexplained weight change
Heat intolerance or feeling unusually cold
Hair thinning or skin changes
Palpitations or tremor
Changes in libido or sexual function
Menstrual cycle changes
Mood swings, irritability, or anxiety spikes
Seek urgent medical care for chest pain, fainting, severe shortness of breath, confusion, thoughts of self-harm, or severe agitation. Hormone issues are usually not emergencies, but serious symptoms should never be waited out.
Testing basics: what clinicians often look at first
Hormone testing is most useful when it is matched to symptoms, timing, and medical history. A “big hormone panel” without context can create confusing results and unnecessary worry.
Clinicians commonly start with targeted labs that may include thyroid markers, metabolic markers, and, when relevant, reproductive hormones. Timing matters for some tests. A cortisol test drawn at 8 a.m. can mean something different than a late-day level. For cycling patients, certain labs are interpreted differently depending on cycle phase.
A helpful conversation with your clinician usually covers:
Current symptoms and when they started
Menstrual cycle details (if relevant), pregnancy history, contraception, and menopausal status
Sleep quality, snoring, and shift work
Medication list, including stimulants, antidepressants, steroids, and supplements like biotin (which can affect some lab assays)
Weight changes, nutrition patterns, and alcohol use
Family history of thyroid disease, diabetes, early menopause, or autoimmune conditions
If you are receiving psychiatric care, sharing your mental health medication list matters because some medications can influence weight, prolactin levels, sexual function, and sleep architecture.
Treatment options: matching the plan to the cause
Hormone-related symptoms can come from many directions, so treatment should be individualized and medically guided. Sometimes the most effective plan is not a hormone prescription at all. It may be treating sleep apnea, adjusting a medication, addressing iron deficiency, supporting nutrition, or managing insulin resistance.
When medication or hormone therapy is appropriate, the goal is typically to restore function and reduce distress while monitoring benefits and side effects. That can include:
Thyroid medication when hypothyroidism is confirmed
Treatment for diabetes or prediabetes when blood sugar regulation is the driver
Options for perimenopause or menopause symptoms, which may include hormone therapy for appropriate candidates
Addressing high prolactin when it is causing symptoms and linked to medication effects or pituitary causes
Treating underlying psychiatric symptoms in parallel when anxiety or depression is present
Some clinics, including integrated psychiatry and wellness practices, coordinate mental health care with services that can address weight, sleep, and hormone-related concerns. Next Step Psychiatry, for example, offers psychiatric care alongside wellness services, with both in-person and telepsychiatry options across Georgia, which can be helpful when symptoms overlap and you want coordinated next steps.
Everyday factors that affect hormones more than people expect
Hormones respond to daily inputs. You do not need perfection to see improvement, and you do not need to do everything at once.
A few themes tend to matter for most people, regardless of diagnosis:
Sleep consistency: Irregular sleep can disrupt cortisol rhythms and appetite signals.
Fueling patterns: Long gaps without food can worsen blood sugar swings for some.
Stress load: Not all stress is optional, but recovery time changes hormone signaling.
Movement: Both overtraining and complete inactivity can affect reproductive hormones and appetite cues.
Alcohol and nicotine: Both can affect sleep quality and hormone metabolism.
If you want a simple starting point, try picking one change you can sustain for two weeks, then reassess symptoms.
Here are practical options people often choose first:
Regular wake and sleep time
Protein with breakfast
A short walk after meals
Strength training twice a week
Caffeine cutoff in the early afternoon
A 10-minute wind-down routine before bed
Hormones across life stages: what changes are normal, and what is treatable
Hormonal shifts are expected during puberty, postpartum months, perimenopause, menopause, and aging in general. “Normal,” though, does not have to mean “you just suffer through it.”
Perimenopause can bring sleep disruption, mood changes, and cycle variability years before periods stop. Postpartum hormone changes can affect mood and anxiety, and they can overlap with thyroid conditions that are more common after pregnancy. Teens can experience mood variability during puberty that is normal, yet still deserving of support when it interferes with school, relationships, or safety.
For children and adolescents, it is especially important to avoid self-treatment with hormones or supplements marketed online. A pediatrician or child-focused specialist can help determine what is developmentally expected and what warrants testing.
Preparing for an appointment: getting answers without feeling dismissed
People seeking help for possible hormone issues often worry they will be told it is “just stress.” Stress can influence hormones, but that should not end the conversation. A good evaluation connects symptoms to a plan: what to test, what to try now, and what would prompt a follow-up sooner.
It helps to arrive with a short summary and a few focused questions.
Consider bringing:
Symptom timeline and top three concerns
Recent lab results (if any) and medication list
Menstrual cycle dates or tracking app notes (if relevant)
Family history highlights (thyroid disease, diabetes, early menopause)
A few useful questions to ask your clinician:
Most likely causes: What diagnoses fit my symptom pattern?
Testing plan: Which labs make sense, and when should they be drawn?
Medication effects: Could any of my current prescriptions affect weight, libido, sleep, or prolactin?
Next steps: If results are normal, what is the next thing we evaluate?
Monitoring: How will we track whether treatment is helping?
If mental health symptoms are part of the picture, you can also ask whether coordinated care between psychiatry and medical/wellness services is available, so mood, sleep, energy, and physical symptoms are treated as connected pieces rather than separate problems.
