Feeling Off Balance? Let’s Talk About Mood Swings and Fatigue
Have you ever felt like you're constantly swinging between emotions or just can’t shake off the fatigue, no matter how much rest you get? If this sounds familiar, you're not alone, and I want to help you understand what might be going on with your body.
When I hear about mood swings and ongoing fatigue, there are a few things that come to mind right away:
Thyroid Health: Your thyroid is like the engine of your body, and if it’s not running properly, it can cause low energy and emotional ups and downs. Checking your thyroid function is one of the first things I look at when these symptoms arise. Don’t settle for a TSH with a 10-fold (or more!) range of “normal.” A thorough thyroid evaluation will also look at total and free levels of both T4 and T3, reverse T3, and thyroid antibodies.
Hormone Balance: Hormones like estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, and cortisol play a huge role in both your mood and energy levels. One of my favorite ways to assess hormone balance is through the DUTCH test, which uses simple urine samples to give us a complete picture of how your hormones are functioning. It also includes and organic acids test to see if any nutrient deficiencies are contributing to your symptoms. If you’re noticing a loss of muscle mass, changes in your menstrual cycle, lubrication, or libido, checking into hormones is a great way to figure out what’s going on.
Anemia: If your body isn’t getting enough oxygen due to anemia, you’re going to feel tired, no matter how much rest you get. This happens when your blood doesn’t carry oxygen to your tissues effectively, and it's another key piece to consider. There are multiple types of anemia including iron deficiency, B-12/folate deficiency, and just anemia of chronic disease/inflammation. One thing is for sure, leaving this unaddressed will cause you to spin your wheels and get nowhere.
Glucose Stability: Your body needs a steady supply of glucose to function well. If you're dealing with insulin resistance or any challenges regulating glucose, your energy levels and mood can be affected. Glucose stability is critical to long term health but plays one of the biggest roles in day-to-day functioning. Getting this right is the foundation of so many health concerns! One key thing to ask yourself - does your energy level or mood CHANGE after you eat? If the answer is yes, we need to work on glucose stability. A quick starting place is making sure you’re eating enough protein at every meal and getting fiber into each meal, too. How much? Aim for one gram of protein per pound of lean body weight (or ideal body weight) as a starting point, then divide that among the number of meals per day. For fiber, you may need to slowly ramp up your intake to avoid digestive symptoms like bloating and gas. You can add fiber rich vegetables or a soluble fiber supplement to help keep you full. Bonus? It’s going to feed the beneficial bacteria in your gut and lead to an overall better balance in time.
It can be frustrating trying to figure out what’s going on, especially if you’re trying to do it alone. Working together to run the right labs and dive deeper into your symptoms often brings clarity. I’m here to help you uncover what’s really behind your fatigue and mood swings so you can start feeling like yourself again.
