Can Low Testosterone Cause Anxiety and Depression?

There has been a talk about how the level of testosterone can affect a person’s mood and make way for mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. Today we are going to understand and explore how testosterone can affect one’s mental health.

Testosterone is a human hormone that is said to be a male hormone but is also present in women. Men do have a large amount of testosterone as compared to women but both genders have it, therefore the effect can be seen in both men and women.

Testosterone is responsible for a lot of body functions like muscle strength, bone density, body fat distribution, sperm production, and sex drive. According to some studies, low testosterone can mimic symptoms of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.

Let’s understand why that may happen…

Does Testosterone Make You Angry Or Moody?

The human body produces a lot of hormones and it is important for each of your hormones to be at a certain level so that your body functions properly. The increase or decrease of any hormone can make your body react physically and emotionally.

The same goes for the testosterone level in your body. According to studies, when your testosterone is high you’re most likely to experience a lot of irritability and anger. On the other hand, when your testosterone drops, your body reacts differently. It makes you feel low on energy and has symptoms similar to depression.

Testosterone is said to start declining as you age. Well, experts say it begins to drop once you’ve crossed 30 years of age. Therefore, as the testosterone level decreases you experience physical and emotional responses in your body. The most common response for low testosterone is lack of energy, disturbed sleep, and changes in appetite.

Also read: Happy Hormones, Happy You! 12 Best Ways To Increase Happy Hormones In Your Body

These responses can be accompanied by stress, and a lack of physical activities because of aging. All these factors combined can make you moody and irritable resulting in severe emotional responses that mimic symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Can Low Testosterone Cause Anxiety & Depression?

As we discussed earlier, low testosterone can mimic emotional responses to mental health conditions like anxiety and depression. If you have been feeling low on energy or have stopped enjoying things in life, you should get your mental and physical health checked.

I say so because symptoms of low testosterone and symptoms of anxiety & depression are very similar. Only the cause of these symptoms differs, low testosterone can make you feel emotionally disturbed but that doesn’t mean it can cause depression or anxiety.

Also read: Is It Just Boredom Or Is It Depression? | Can They Be Related?

Low testosterone can cause symptoms very similar to depression and anxiety but it is not responsible for your developing depression. Many people with low testosterone are misdiagnosed with clinical depression.

Let’s look at some symptoms of low testosterone and depression that look alike;

• Constant irritability
• Mood swings
• Reduced motivation
• Social alienation
• Decrease libido
• Reduced concentration
• Disturbed sleep
• Restlessness
• Fatigue
• Anxiety

Therefore, it is very important to rule out all physical causes of depression-like symptoms before a diagnosis is made. Low testosterone does not cause depression or anxiety, all it causes are emotional symptoms similar to depression and anxiety.

When To Meet The Doctor?

It’s important to keep a check on your mental and emotional health. A regular doctor’s visit can only help you take care of yourself better. If you think you have been experiencing symptoms like a sudden loss of appetite or low sex drive or you are easily irritated, don’t enjoy spending time with anyone anymore, get yourself checked.

Now, it will be wise to get both physical as well as mental health testing done so that there is no chance of being misdiagnosed. Low testosterone can mimic symptoms of depression and anxiety. No matter how similar the symptoms might be, the treatment procedure can be completely different.

That’s All Folks!

I hope you found this blog about low testosterone and its relation to depression and anxiety helpful, interesting, and informative. Do share this blog with your friends and family so that we can all stay clear of being misdiagnosed. It’s important to always rule out both physical and mental health causes for your emotional symptoms.

Thanks for reading.

Take care and stay safe.