Five reasons you are probably stressed with PCOS
Rest assured the majority of people you know and meet in your everyday life will report some degree of regular stress. The World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified stress as the ‘Health Epidemic of the 21st Century’.
Infrequent bouts of moderate to high stress that are quick to resolve are vital. They keep us on our toes, help us to take action when necessary, and be productive when we have an impending deadline. The problem arises when an individual experiences constant or repeated stress over long periods of time, which is common in our modern day. This overexposure to cortisol and other stress hormones contribute to chronic widespread inflammation in the body and can have a deleterious effect on mental and physical health. This is a major contributing factor to the chronic diseases that riddle the vast majority of the worlds population today: heart disease, stroke, diabetes, depression, obesity, fertility issues, and more (Yaribeygi et al., 2017).
Stress in PCOS
If you, a friend, family member, or patient have PCOS, you will likely be familiar with the high levels of stress that are often experienced, and this is not without good reason. In our PCOS & Us programmes, stress management is something we ‘stress’ (excuse the pun) due to the central and complex role it plays in the cause & worsening of the syndrome (Basu et al., 2018; Brutocao et al., 2018).
Women with PCOS experience high levels of stress due to:
High Cortisol levels: Women with PCOS have been shown to exhibit an exaggerated stress response in their bodies compared to women without PCOS due to the hormonal and metabolic imbalances. The stress hormones cortisol and alpha amylase (a marker for fight or flight, sympathetic nervous system activity) are repeatedly elevated in studies conducted on women with PCOS. (Monash University MA, 2018). This is why we feel even more strongly about stress management in PCOS compared to the general population,
The symptoms: symptoms of the condition itself such as irregular periods, fatigue, acne, excess facial or body hair, thinning scalp hair, and infertility, although experienced to different extents by different individuals, can be extremely distressing.
The chronic & complex nature of PCOS: it’s hard to predict the course of your PCOS and how your symptoms might change through the different stages of your life. Fear of the future and what is to come due to the chronic nature of the condition can be daunting. However, through Lifestyle Medicine we can now optimise your chances of living a happy & healthy future.
Judgements & fear mongering from others: for alot of women this is arguably the worst part of their PCOS experience. We have encountered heart-breaking stories, many of which have made me emotional listening to them being recounted, where healthcare professionals, family members, or friends will leave completely inaccurate judgements of the individual. The most common one we hear is that a woman with PCOS is ‘lazy’ and ‘makes no effort’ to lose weight.
Setting yourself unrealistic goals & comparing yourself to others: Due to the complex hormonal nature of PCOS, it is often the case that you will not (externally) respond to lifestyle changes in the same way as someone without the syndrome. For example, you may have tried a highly restrictive diet with your partner who lost 2 stone, and you were yet to see any change on the scale. This is totally normal, the answer is small, stress-free, enjoyable, non-restrictive daily habits that will revolutionise your life over time. Go easy on yourself, set small and realistic goals. Practice self-compassion & do not compare your progress to that of others.
Managing stress through whatever way aligns with your life, whether its breathing exercises, meditation, spending time with friends, going for a swim, engaging in self care activities or cooking is vital for anyone experiencing high stress. However in PCOS, these elevated and prolonged levels of stress can lead to further worsening and exacerbation of PCOS symptoms and the development of other inflammatory related chronic diseases.
By Dr. Dana Saeed
References:
(Yaribeygi et al., 2017)
(Monash University MA, 2018)
(Basu et al., 2018; Brutocao et al., 2018)