Guilty - My Hormones and Me

But for lots of women, the big issue is that their moods go so off kilter, depending on where they are in their cycle. The WHO estimates that women are three to four times more likely than men to suffer depression. Prof Studd sees as many as five new patients a day with depression that has resisted all medications offered by psychiatrists.

Often GPs brush aside a hormonal basis for depression. Dr Magovern describes a typical pattern of mood and physical symptoms in a day cycle: She feels quite good from day five to after ovulation. The first suggests low oestrogen, the second oestrogen dominance, says Dr Magovern. You get a lot of brain fog with oestrogen deficiency.

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Progesterone — the pro-gestation hormone of pregnancy—— is the calming, relaxing, happy hormone. For Dr Gluck, hormones are like an orchestra. Both pregnancy euphoria and PND are down to hormones, she says. The big drop in progesterone after the birth causes the postnatal blues. Why do I feel like this now?

Isolation, Blues, Joy

Dr Magovern urges women who suspect their depression is hormone-linked to get their blood hormone levels measured. In a day cycle, this should be done on day one to three and again on day 18 to Dr McQuade recommends women keep a diary of their moods. I use a wide variety of pills and they all seem to do it. Sometimes changing to a different contraceptive pill, from among the 14 different types she prescribes, can do the trick. The next, you're in tears: Not only do you realize you can't go out for an impromptu lunch with friends, but you're also terrified by your baby's sudden and explosive bowel movement.

In other words, don't be surprised if you feel deliriously high and then completely bummed out -- all in the course of a single afternoon. Here's a look at common emotions new mothers experience and some suggestions on how best to cope. As nervous as you might have been about the physical act of giving birth, that's nothing compared with the anxiety many women experience when they first strap their baby into his car seat and head home. Those feelings of insecurity often continue for the first few weeks. This is a result, in part, of being overwhelmed by the physical demands of motherhood: So accept offers of help that come your way, or actively seek out assistance.

Friends and family will understand how valuable this help can be and will provide it gladly. Experts say new moms need a network of people they can call on to share their concerns. Not only can they give you advice on baby care , but they can also reassure you that pretty soon you'll start feeling a lot more confident in your mothering skills.

Regardless of how much you were looking forward to your baby's arrival, being at home with a newborn can make a woman feel isolated. Lisa Kirshenbaum, of Cranston, Rhode Island, recalls the early months with her son, who was born in December. Because of the cold weather, she was reluctant to take him out of the house; as a result, she spent most of the winter feeling cooped up and alone. As Kirshenbaum learned, a good remedy for isolation is to connect with other new moms as soon as you feel physically up to it. Find -- or form -- a group by calling women from your prenatal class or striking up a conversation when you're in the pediatrician's office.

Feelings of unexplained sadness and lethargy are quite normal, especially during the early weeks. That's be- cause levels of estrogen and progesterone drop, says Margaret Howard, Ph. Until these hormones balance out, new moms can expect to feel down from time to time.

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You may also experience a case of the postpartum blues. This is especially likely if you are a first-time mom.