PCOS Anxiety, CBD, and Adrenal Fatigue

What happens where there is a chronic activation of the stress system in our body? On this episode of A Cyster & Her Mister, we talk about how our adrenal glands pump stress hormones and cause strong feelings of anxiety.

We get into how food and other external factors impact your stress hormones like cortisol and the overall influence this has on your body’s ability to produce & balance your levels of Progesterone and Estrogen, which impact anxiety. Not to mention, we uncover the triggers of stress in the body and what you can do to prevent the feelings of adrenal fatigue, stress, and anxiety!

Also – listen to our Win of the Week, where we talk about a cysters story and her latest wins losing weight and getting pregnant with PCOS!

Listened to the episode, but need a refresher? Read on!

Does PCOS Cause Anxiety

Okay Cyster’s, let’s get down to the nitty gritty. Yes – unfortunately, PCOS can most certainly lead to anxiety. Let me tell you why…

First of all, stress and anxiety don’t always come from dealing with difficult situations. It can, but not always. Anxiety can also stem from hormonal imbalance, inflammation, lack of good sleep and exercise, and more.

You’ll have to listen to the full podcast for all the specifics, but here are some examples of ways PCOS can lead to anxiety:

What Triggers Anxiety

First, an inflammatory diet of dairy, gluten, and/or alcohol can put undue stress on the body. When your body is dealing with this inflammation, you are much more likely to experience anxiety because your body is in “struggle” mode. Birth control pills may also cause inflammation that can lead to the same side effects of anxiety.

Second, if you’re not eating enough protein, iron, zinc, Omega threes, or B vitamins, you’re more likely to experience symptoms of anxiety and depression. The body NEEDS these nutrients in order to produce the proper amount of  hormones at the proper time, and keep them balanced. 

And one more example: exercise. Preventing both physical and mental stress is one of the main reasons why exercising is so important for women with polycystic ovary sydrome (PCOS). Without a regular exercise routine, hormones can build up in the body and present themselves in the form of stress and anxiety. 

PCOS Treatments for Anxiety 

There are many ways you can treat anxiety that stems from your PCOS. And honestly, all anxiety disorder in general. If you feel like your anxiety might be stemming from other sources in your life as well, these tips will still be helpful! 

Maintain a healthy diet.

Cutting inflammatory foods, as well as any other trigger foods you might have, is a great way to reduce stress on the body. And thus the mental state as well. A healthy gut is directly tied to better mental health. Just now cutting out dairy? It can be hard to cold turkey. Try these delish dairy alternatives. 

Get plenty of sleep and exercise. 

Sleep and exercise are REQUIRED for positive mental health. By burning off and getting rid of spent hormones, you can better clear your head and rid yourself of stress, anxiety, and even symptoms of depression. Sleep and exercise also help the body better regulate hormones, down to how much is released and when. 

Ensure you’re consuming plenty of vitamins and minerals.

ALL the essential nutrients are required for healthy hormone production and really, overall health in general. However, with PCOS, there are some key essential nutrients you’re going to want to stay up and up on. These include protein, iron, zinc, Omega threes, and the array of B vitamins. Oh, and don’t forget the vitamin D as well…for more on PCOS and vitamin D, click here. 

And probiotics, too!

In addition to the essential nutrients listed above, it’s also a good idea to consume plenty of probiotics. Consumption of probiotics is directly linked to better gut health. And as we mentioned earlier, good gut health is directly linked to better mental health. The body works in mysterious ways, but when the gut is healthy, you can expect better health in many areas – the brain, the skin, the hair, the immune system, and so on. 

Take time for self-care. 

Self-care is SO important when it comes to dealing with PCOS. Taking some time to focus on yourself and your overall health can reduce stress throughout the whole entire body. As well as give the mind a welcomed break. Both of which can reduce those feelings of anxiety. For tips on self-care with PCOS, click here. 

Speak to your healthcare provider about additional supplements.

If you feel like you’re doing EVERYTHING you can, and you’re still not seeing results, consider speaking to your healthcare provider about an additional supplement. There are PCOS supplements out there that can help manage these symptoms, as well as provide some of those essential nutrients we were talking about earlier. 

There’s no shame in asking for help, and if a supplement can improve your overall quality of life, it’s something to consider. Just be sure to always do your own research, and get a second opinion if needed!

Try CBD for anxiety management. 

Feeling anxious? CBD might be the perfect short-term cure. Nowadays, you can relieve stress and anxiety through the use of CBD oil and/or gummies. More on CBD and PCOS below! 

CBD For PCOS

So yes, CBD can totally reduce the anxiety you feel from PCOS. Really, it can do more than that. CBD is good for PCOS because it reduces inflammation throughout the whole body and provides a calming effect. Less inflammation not only means less anxiety (and social anxiety!), but also less of the other PCOS symptoms that come from inflammation. Think less hair loss, more normal and regulated menstrual cycles, improved insulin resistance, and more. Less inflammation also means reduced risk of endometrial cancer.

Furthermore, CBD can also improve appetite, sleep, and overall motivation, which will only make it easier to get all those essential nutrients, and get plenty of sleep and exercise. So many wins with CBD. BUT, only if it’s right for you. Keep in mind that not everyone enjoys the effects of CBD, and that’s OK. But, as a fellow Cyster, I do recommend giving it the old college try. You just might be surprised at the difference it can make. More on CBD and PCOS, here.

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While Tallene is a Registered Dietitian and Sirak a Personal Trainer, this podcast provides general information about PCOS. It is not meant to serve as fitness, nutrition or medical advice related to your individual needs. If you have questions, please talk to a medical professional. For our full privacy policy, please click on the following link: (bit.ly/PCOSPrivacyPolicy)

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