5 Signs Your Hormones Are Taking Over

Hormones are like teeny tiny control freaks that tinker with your mood, body and lifestyle habits when you least expect it. Maintaining a healthy schedule that consists of proper nutrition, exercise and sleep can certainly help you steer clear of unwanted side effects from a hormone imbalance, but if the equilibrium gets out of control, you could be in for some serious trouble. There are many reasons why our hormones go out of whack — some are easier to fix than others, but nevertheless should not be overlooked. Here are some signs of hormone havoc!

1. Insomnia: Among many things, hormones regulate sleep patterns. Low levels of progesterone are known to help facilitate 3 a.m. insomnia, and low levels of estrogen are known to trigger hot flashes and night sweats that disturb your beauty sleep. Click here to learn how to beat insomnia naturally.

>> Read more: Meet Maca: An Ancient Secret to Balancing Hormones

2. Fatigue: If you're a busy mom who is constantly running around from one thing to the next while still trying to make room for yourself, there's no doubt that you are going to feel tired most of the time. When feeling tired become more than just a temporary phase, you might want to consider getting your hormones checked out. Your thyroid, insulin, estrogen, progesterone, and adrenal hormones are commonly associated with fatigue. (via Rodale Wellness)

3. Low sex drive: When your testosterone levels are low, your desire to get some good ol' TLC in between the sheets becomes almost nonexistent. High cortisol, which is linked to stress, can also be a contributing factor here and can equally affect your sex drive. Both cortisol and testosterone are produced by the adrenal gland, so indulging in stress-reduction techniques such as deep belly breathing, yoga, meditation and acupuncture can help. (via Huffington Post) Click here to see 15 ways you can reduce stress in under a minute.

 4. Hair loss: Hair texture and density fluctuation are indicators of hormone disturbances. If you are thinning at the crown of your head, it can be a sign of a thyroid imbalance, while thinning at the temples can be a result of low progesterone or estrogen levels. Looking at strands of hair individually, if you notice that each strand is getting thinner, you may have too many androgens, or the hormone DHT, in your system.

>> Want more? Click here to read about solutions for women with thinning hair. 

5. Irritability: That cranky mood you stormed through your front door with may not be entirely from a rough day at work or post-rush hour frustration; even the most subtle shift in hormones can play a huge role in your temper. Some women notice these changes most visibly during certain points in their menstrual cycle, which is mostly characterized by an untreated hormone imbalance.