Emotions are hitting you like air con in an SE Asian country… bam. You are angry, sad, elated, depressed, tearful, angry, moody; all whilst watching cat videos.

You have no idea what is going on, how long it’ll last, you’ll second-guess all your decisions of that day.

Until you realize…your period is due. Hormone changes due to the menstrual cycle are very normal and very common amongst females.

Some are blessed and experience the odd day of feeling a bit low, whereas some are hit with an almighty combination of emotions that can last quite a while and are totally unpredictable.

But what you need to watch out for are symptoms that indicate you could have a hormonal imbalance.

The menopause hits women between the ages of 40 and 50 and symptoms are hormonal changes, hot flashes, weight loss and gain amongst others. But some unlucky ladies see these symptoms in their 30s.

These indicators happen for a number of reasons (not early menopause) but have been linked to our lifestyle, diet, pollution and even toxins.

If you think you might be suffering from a hormonal imbalance, look out for the following symptoms.

Whilst individually these symptoms could mean nothing, they can really affect your quality of life if you are a sufferer. A simple blood test can tell you if your hormones are a little disjointed.

Hormonal imbalance symptoms:

1. Sluggishness

If you can’t make it through the morning without any sort of pick me up (coffee, fizzy drinks, biscuits…you name it) then you could be suffering from a hormonal imbalance.

There could be other reasons behind your lack of enthusiasm for being at work, but being frequently sluggish is something to keep an eye on. Try removing all sugar from your diet and replace it with natural high energy foods (like nuts).

2. Poor sleep

Having trouble sleeping is frustrating enough when it happens occasionally but if it’s a frequent occurrence it could be a sign of your hormones being out of sorts.

Try hitting the gym after work and have a really grueling workout, it might tire your body out enough to kick your insomnia and help you get a good nights sleep.

3. Buddha belly

If your stomach is looking a little rounder than normal, but you haven’t changed your diet it could be your hormones trying to tell you something. When the endocrine system is stressed, sometimes you produce less of some hormones and produce more of others.

There are some hormones (Cortisol is one of them) that when overproduced makes your body store fat. If the fat is on the belly, it could be a sign your hormones aren’t balanced.

4. Sweating

Some of us in this world is cursed with a predisposition to sweating.  But if you notice you’re dampening up more often than it might be down to your hormones. Our emotions can cause our internal temperature to heat up, causing us to sweat to cool down.

Next time you are feeling unusually clammy, try and take some deep breaths and think about what’s causing you to feel emotional.

5. Irregular cycle

If your cycle suddenly becomes late or early over time it could be down to a hormonal imbalance.  If you notice your cycle become irregular, it’s always best to go and get it checked out as it may be something more serious than hormonal imbalance.

These symptoms could be linked to many other physical problems so it’s worth going to your doctor and getting a blood test.


By Holly W.
