Bioidentical hormones and stress

Our genes shape more than just visible traits like eye colour or height. They play a profound role in how we feel and how we navigate life's stresses. Think of our brain cells as carrying an ancestral "instruction manual" - a deeply personal legacy passed down through generations that we cannot alter, yet shapes our daily experience of life.

Genetic Predisposition

Deep within our brain lies what we call the reptilian brain - an ancient storyteller of our survival instincts. Here, brain cells follow a simple yet profound script: attack or pause. These cells carry their own genetic wisdom, a delicate choreography that determines how they respond to or ignore life's many signals.

When this cellular choreography - our inherited instruction manual for handling stress - becomes disrupted or goes missing, it can manifest in various ways that touch our daily lives. You might find yourself struggling to make phone calls with an open window, awakening to the softest sounds at night, or losing focus when music plays in the background. These aren't just random responses - they're chapters in your body's unique story of how it processes the world around you.

Environment as Part of the Cause

Example 1:

People who are easily distracted due to their genetic regulation are often less suited for jobs in teams or collaborative projects. Their concentration can be easily interrupted, which affects their work performance. However, when these people can work alone and without distractions, they are highly focused and deliver their best performance.

If you find yourself in such a stressful work environment, you have the option to reduce your stress by changing your working conditions or even your job. In psychosomatic medicine, people often talk about being "victims of circumstances." But upon closer inspection, this victim role is often already anchored within us, and we have the power to change it. Here, the genetic regulation of our personality plays an important role.

If you notice that teamwork is not your strength, and it constantly causes you stress, it would be more sensible to work alone on projects where you can best utilize your strengths.

Example 2:

People who are genetically regulated to work better in teams are often not suitable for individual projects, as they tend to make smaller contributions. However, they cope better with constant changes in the work environment. For such individuals, it is more advantageous to share project responsibility with others to avoid stress. The insights about the role of the reptilian brain in stress management are not only relevant for everyday work life. This knowledge can also be useful in other areas of life, such as family, relationships, and partnerships. Conflicts, separations, and even psychological problems like depression can often be traced back to different stress coping mechanisms that are influenced by our genetic regulation.

Bioidentical Hormones and Their Effect on Stress

The treatment of stress using bioidentical hormones varies depending on your way of dealing with stress. Bioidentical hormones will not cure your stress. However, the positive effects of taking them can help you cope better with stress.

For people who work best alone, bioidentical progesterone and ashwagandha, an adaptogenic plant, can be helpful. Additionally, bioidentical testosterone can help strengthen self-confidence and assertiveness. Bioidentical estrogen can also promote concentration. It is important to note that the dosage through hormone therapy is individually adjusted, and this therapy has no influence on stress from other areas of life such as family or work.