First, let’s clear something up — testosterone is not just the “male hormone.” Both men and women have testosterone; in fact, we share virtually all the same hormones, just in different amounts.
What is Testosterone?
Testosterone is an anabolic, or tissue building hormone as well as an androgenic, or masculinizing hormone. Unsurprisingly, men have a lot more testosterone than women, yet women certainly need it too.
Like many hormones, testosterone drops with age; however, testosterone can also be prematurely reduced (at any age) by stress, birth control pill use, diabetes, and narcotic use, along with many other reasons. Testosterone is the primary hormone responsible for libido in both men and women. Women suffering from chronic fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, and other issues often have very low testosterone levels and can improve dramatically with testosterone replacement.
Who Needs Hormone Replacement Therapy?
Virtually everyone who has diabetes, or uses narcotics regularly for pain control, has hypogonadism, i.e. low testosterone. Many women on birth control pills can have an extremely low testosterone level because of the increase in SHBG (sex hormone binding globulin) caused by the pills, that suck up all the available testosterone. Testosterone can be replaced at any age and in both sexes.
Using Testosterone Replacement Therapy
• Depression can be relieved
• Libido restored
• Motivation returned
• Energy revitalized
You CAN get your mojo back! There are hundreds of studies showing the medical benefits of testosterone replacement therapy. Not only is testosterone helpful for improving libido and mood, but also improving cognition, cardiac function, wound healing, muscle strength, stamina, recovery and energy.
Andropause
Men go through a form of menopause called ‘Andropause’ typically in their 40s and 50s. The symptoms of Andropause include lowered sex drive, decreased muscle mass, depression, lack of motivation, fatigue, increased body fat, and decreased strength and stamina. Many of the same symptoms can occur in women at any age that have a low testosterone level.
Proper Testing is Key
As is the case with many hormones, just because your testosterone is in the “normal range” does not mean it is optimal. Additionally, it is essential to check your free testosterone level in addition to your total testosterone level, due to the SHBG issue noted above.
Generally speaking, you always want your hormones to be in the upper-third of the normal range.
Just going from the lower third to the upper third of the normal range can dramatically improve your quality of life. Don’t settle for the “your blood tests are normal so you are fine” response from your doctor if you feel that you may be experiencing hormone imbalance. You and your mojo deserve to see a physician who specializes in hormone optimization.
We Can Help
Call Amen Clinics today at 888-288-9834 or visit us online.
Learn more about Bioidentical Hormonal Replacement Therapy from Dr. Mark Filidei of Amen Clinics Orange County, CA:
First, we must acknowledge there is significant room for improvement in mental health care as there remains an unacceptably high number of suicides among veterans, and the success rates for PTSD, depression, and anxiety disorders have not improved in years.
In addition, the fallout from 9/11/01 will forever impact veterans, families and our society for at least 70 more years. PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injuries (TBI), common among our veterans, all increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia.
These problems will not be solved without intense, long-term focus and commitment. Anything this country can do to improve mental health care to our war-injured, we should do. It is more than extending a helping hand.
Leslie and Her Story of 9/11 and PTSD
We asked Leslie how she deals with reoccurrences of PTSD, she says she doesn’t want to spiritualize the very real biological issues in her brain; but that for her, she begins by going to God in her soul and spirit in prayer and seeking His help and peace. She also seeks treatment from professionals trained in PTSD, along with reaching out to understanding family and friends. Writing and comforting others has also been therapeutic.
Leslie’s Daily Reminders
Leslie speaks kind reminders to herself, saying, “I am okay to not be okay. I am still beautiful, God loves me and He loves my brain that got so wounded by this trauma. I will climb out of the PTSD place, rung by messy rung. Sometimes when I am triggered it only takes a couple of days. But in the past, it has also taken weeks and even months to get balanced again.”
What Does PTSD Look Like on a SPECT Scan?
In a brain SPECT scan, PTSD shows up in a “diamond pattern.” The right temporal lobe, for example, involved in reliving and re-enacting past experiences and is one of the points of the “diamond” that lights up on a scan. Reliving past experiences or having flashbacks is one of the symptoms of PTSD.
When it is over-active, it tends to be hyper-vigilant which is why people with PTSD, when triggered, feel on the alert or that something or someone is out to harm them.
Amen Clinics Can Help Today
The good news is that PTSD can be treated. At Amen Clinics, we use a variety of natural methods, including eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) and neurofeedback to help people with PTSD. If you or someone you love is suffering with PTSD, call us today at (888) 288-9834 or tell us more online to seek guidance.
