Your Mental Health
Having a pituitary condition can impact your mental health and wellbeing.
You may have feelings of anger, frustration and confusion around your diagnosis and what the future may hold.
Diagnosis with a rare condition can be a lonely and isolating experience.
You may have been through a traumatic experience, or be grieving, which can affect your mental health.
Becoming a parent is also a huge life change and sleep deprivation can really affect us.
Changes in hormones can also affect your mental health.
We currently have funded mental health sessions for women in the UK. These are funded by The National Lottery and in partnership with The Self Space. You can apply here.
How do hormones affect my mental health?
Symptoms of hormone deficiencies or excesses can include depression, low mood, brain fog, reduced quality of life, poor sleep, reduced libido, pain and anxiety.
Many people are unaware that these hormonal changes can impact their central nervous system (including the brain).
Scientists have discovered that there are receptors in the central nervous system that detect hormones in each axis. (See our page on hormones for more information).
This can then impact the structure and function of the brain.
Functions may include cognition (thinking), mood, sleep patterns and pain regulation.
Changes in psychological wellbeing and quality of life may continue following hormone replacement. It is thought this could be due to imperfections in treatment, or changes to the structure and function of the brain from hormone excesses or deficiencies.
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Support to understand your condition
Research suggests that how you perceive your condition can affect your psychological wellbeing.
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Like us, many women have not received the support and information they needed to understand their condition following diagnosis.
It can be a long journey to understanding; finding each puzzle piece to complete the jigsaw of learning to manage our health.
Many women describe feelings of frustration, desperation and exhaustion from trying to move forwards with their condition. There may also be additional pressures around work and relationships.
Maternal Pituitary Support is here to provide information and support and a community for you.