We all have days when we don’t feel like getting out of bed. But sometimes you might wonder why you’re feeling especially down or sad. If you aren’t feeling your usual self, you should always speak to a healthcare professional. Here are five reasons you might be feeling low, and how they can impact your emotions.
Hormonal Changes
Both men and women go through several hormonal shifts in their lifetime. Women might feel low at the same time every month, or during pregnancy. Men actually experience a drop in testosterone levels from March to May, leading to mood changes and irritability. Occasionally, your doctor may identify a hormonal condition as the root cause of your low mood. For men, they might recommend you look for ‘TRT therapy near me’, while women might be referred for HRT treatment.
Lack Of Sleep
At least 70% of Americans have one bad night of sleep each month. You wake up the next morning feeling irritable, sleep-deprived, and ready to stay in bed. Sleep links directly to mood, and we need at least 7-9 hours of sleep each night to maintain regular body functions. A lack of sleep impacts our ability to think clearly and regulate our mood.
Stimulants
Stimulants refer to a number of substances that temporarily increase the dopamine levels in your body. Dopamine is a chemical produced in your brain that when released, makes you feel good. Stimulants can include illegal or harmful substances like drugs, all the way through to more accepted stimulants like caffeine. They boost the dopamine levels in your body artificially, leading you to feel good for a short period of time due to a dopamine spike. However, when the stimulant has left your body and your dopamine levels crash, it can cause your mood to crash with it.
Burnout
Is your work feeling like too much at the moment? You might be experiencing burnout. If you are feeling tired or drained in your job, you might need to take some time off to replenish your resources. Symptoms of burnout include feeling overwhelmed, cynical, or wanting to procrastinate. A recent Deloitte study revealed that as many as 84% of millennials report experiencing burnout.
Big Life Events
You might think that big life events like weddings and house moves are happy affairs - and they are. But any big life change, positive or negative, can cause extreme stress. Have you ever heard of Olympians that finally win their gold medal and then feel extremely low? Big life events can have a lot of build-up and then before you know it, it’s all over. The feeling of loss afterward can be unexpected and hard to deal with.
All Of The Above
You might find it hard to pinpoint why you’re feeling low. Several different, smaller, situations can have a bigger impact on you than you expected. The main thing is that you take a bit of time to look after yourself, practice self-care, and speak to a healthcare professional to get some advice and support. Remember that many of us feel low in our lifetime, and you are not alone.
*contributed post*
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