Episode #25: PCOS and Depression
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What you’ll learn in this episode
Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) are more likely to experience depression. Studies say that anywhere from 27 percent to around 50 percent of women with PCOS report being depressed, compared to around 19 percent of women without PCOS. That is more than double…. But does depression have to your reality and how can you break past these statistics so that you can live a life that you are excited to engage in? That is what today’s episode is all about.
Disclaimer
Before we dive into this topic I want to give a disclaimer! Depression is a serious situation and one that I encourage you to seek help from your medical doctor as well as your therapist. And if you feel like your depression is at all putting you at risk call a crisis line and ask for assistance. I will add some resources in the show notes to offer a starting point for further support. This episode is meant to offer encouragement that it can get better and a holistic approach to health that you can implement alongside the support of your medical team. This episode is not meant to treat depression or to take the place of seeking medical help.
PCOS & Depression: What’s the Connection?
Here is what we do know about why depression and PCOS often occur together.
Our mood and mental outlook are very complicated. They are a combination our what is happening in our lives and our skills at coping with it, Also our mindset and the thoughts that we keep rehearsing in our minds as well as our current chemical or hormonal state.
What is the treatment for depression if you have PCOS?
In addition to working with your medical team, you can take a holistic approach by caring for your PCOS-related hormones and root cause.
If you would like to get started caring for your PCOS root cause the best place to start is to take the PCOS root cause quiz and then go back and listen to episodes 3 & 4 which I will link to in the show notes below.
The PCOS and Depression Cycle
For women with PCOS and depression, there may be a cycle of depression symptoms and PCOS symptoms. For example, depression can cause weight gain, which can make PCOS worse. This, in turn, can worsen depression.
But you can also break this cycle by addressing the root causes of insulin, stress, inflammation, nutritional deficiencies, or hormone disturbances. And that starts by taking the PCOS root cause quiz.
Resources & References Mentioned in this episode
Take the PCOS Root cause quiz to learn what your body needs to heal
Results are not guaranteed. Please see Medical Disclaimer for more detail.
Similar Podcasts You Will Enjoy
Episode #190: Why Women With PCOS Feel So Exhausted
If you are exhausted all the time and you have been blaming yourself for it, this episode is going to offer you a very different explanation. One that has nothing to do with discipline or motivation and everything to do with cortisol, nervous system overload, sleep disruption, and metabolic stress. We are reframing exhaustion as a physiological signal rather than a personal failure and exploring what genuinely supportive recovery looks like for women with PCOS in real everyday life.
Episode #189: Supporting Hormones Without Obsessing Over Them
If your PCOS healing journey has started to feel like a full time job you are somehow still failing at, this episode is for you. We are talking about what happens when healthy habits become another source of stress, why restriction and overcontrol often backfire with PCOS, and what genuinely sustainable hormone support looks and feels like in real life. Because health should not feel like one more stressful thing. And healing does not have to be this hard.
Episode #188: Wish Someone Had Told Me After My PCOS Diagnosis
If you were handed a PCOS diagnosis and then essentially left to figure it out alone, this episode is the conversation you deserved to have that day. We are talking about the emotional reality of diagnosis, why your symptoms are connected and not random, why conflicting advice online creates so much confusion, and where to actually start without overhauling your entire life. You are not broken. You are not behind. You are just missing some information you absolutely should have been given.
PCOS FERTILITY MEAL GUIDE
What I changed to finally get pregnant after almost 2 years of trying.
What the heck to eat to boost PCOS fertility
It’s not a one size fits all
Sample Meal Plan Included
Plan and Prep Guide Included
Go beyond diet & nourish your hormones to boost fertility
I share the steps I followed in this FREE MEAL GUIDE.
About the Show
Welcome to The PCOS Repair Podcast!
I’m Ashlene Korcek, and each week I’ll be sharing the latest findings on PCOS and how to make practical health changes to your lifestyle to repair your PCOS at the root cause.
If you’re struggling with PCOS, know that you’re not alone. In fact, it’s estimated that one in ten women have PCOS. But the good news is that there is a lot we can do to manage our symptoms and live healthy, happy lives.
So whether you’re looking for tips on nutrition, exercise, supplements, or mental health, you’ll find it all here on The PCOS Repair Podcast. Ready to get started? Hit subscribe now
