Hormones, Mental Health, and Somatic Therapy San Francisco: A Deeper Understanding of the Mind-Body Connection

As a somatic therapist in San Francisco who works a great deal with women, I have seen firsthand how hormones can affect mental health. Although the effects of hormones on mental well-being has been anecdotally acknowledged by practitioners for many years, there recently have been more research studies and more of an emphasis on hormones in the field of mental health in general. For many women, this comes as a great relief. . .the fluctuations in feelings they experience are valid and deserve more than a passing glance.

As a provider of Somatic Therapy San Francisco, I see how connecting to our bodies can help improve our mental health. Now important components that influence everything in the body—hormones—are being critically examined for how they influence mental health. Scrutinizing the role of hormones feels so obvious yet is integral to helping women with mental health conditions.

Read on to understand more about the connection between mood and hormones and to find out how Somatic Therapy San Francisco can help build the relationship between the body and mind.

Two Major Ways Hormones Are Being Acknowledged In the Mental Health Field

1) Mental Health Conditions Such as Postpartum Depression and Anxiety Are Now Part of Public Discourse

The fact that many women experience irritability, brain fog, and mood swings while pregnant as a result of changing hormones is widely known. However, the focus on postpartum mental health has been lacking despite many postpartum mental health conditions also being the result of those same hormonal fluctuations.. According to CDC data, approximately 1 in 8 women show symptoms of postpartum depression. However, stigma as well as access to mental healthcare remain obstacles to receiving treatment. Per the Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health, “a 2019 research review found nearly 50% of women with postpartum depression go undiagnosed, and another recent review observed that only 22% of women screening positive for depression received mental health treatment.” Clearly, there is still work to be done around understanding conditions that those who are born biologically female experience during pregnancy and postpartum, including but not limited to postpartum depression, postpartum anxiety, and postpartum psychosis. The one bright spot is that postpartum mental health conditions are now much more widely talked about and seen as important in popular culture and often viewed as critical by mental health professionals, even though other medical professionals may not be screening as routinely for these mental health conditions.

2) New Research Shows Hormones Have An Affect On Symptoms of Mental Health Throughout a Woman’s Menstrual Cycle

Research shows that throughout the menstrual cycle, women experience changes in mood related to hormones. Often when hormones like progesterone dip, there can be an exacerbation of symptoms that occur in mental health conditions such as depression, ADHD, and anxiety. A comprehensive review of research literature by Handy et al. (2022) noted that “menstrual-related exacerbation of psychiatric symptoms occurs most commonly during the premenstrual and menstrual phases, and that, for some symptoms, progesterone-to-estradiol ratios play important roles in this relationship.” In other words, right before and during a woman’s period, symptoms from psychological illnesses are likely to worsen. That can include depression and anxiety. For those diagnosed with ADHD, depending on the profile of symptoms, different hormones may affect when in the menstrual cycle the symptoms are worse. For those whose ADHD manifests with low energy, anxiety, and inattention, the first part of the menstrual cycle (days 1-14) may be especially productive. In comparison, those with more hyperactivity and impulsivity may struggle with risk-taking behavior during that time. (Dorani et al, 2021; Eng et al. 2024; Roberts et al, 2018). An additional finding is that ADHD medications may not be as effective at certain points during a woman’s cycle (Skoglund, L.B. (2025).

So what does this mean for those whose hormonal fluctuations affect their mental health and how can somatic therapy be of help?

How Somatic Therapy San Francisco Can Help

1) Somatic therapy modalities place an emphasis on the connection between the body and the mind. So instead of having a therapist who is only looking at how your mind is functioning, a somatic therapist is going to pay attention to bodily cues that alert them to what may be affecting your mood.

2) Somatic therapy works on building body awareness. Not only is the somatic therapist looking at your movement and body language, they are helping you to notice what feelings and sensations arise in real time. Body awareness is a skill that you can use at any time and somatic therapy helps you develop that skill.

3) Somatic therapy gives you space to process what is happening in your body and mind. A skilled somatic practitioner helps make explicit bodily movements that otherwise stay below consciousness. They then allow you to make meaning of what is happening in your body and mind by helping your process through thoughtful questions and observations.

4) Somatic therapy helps you track your experience over time. One of the things about the human condition is that we often forget what isn’t right in front of us. Having a somatic therapist that takes notes and recalls fluctuations in mood over time can be really helpful when starting to discern how hormones may be affecting your mental health.

Seeking Somatic Therapy San Francisco?

Lastly, if you have any questions about the role of hormones on your mental health or about Somatic Therapy San Francisco, please feel free to email me at lisa@lisamanca.com or give me a call at (415) 212-8780. I would be happy to help you on your healing journey.

If you are looking for a somatic therapist in San Francisco, I offer somatic therapy for women navigating anxiety, depression, ADHD, life transitions, and the complex ways hormones can influence emotional well-being. Below are some frequently asked questions about somatic therapy to get you started.

FAQS

What is somatic therapy?

Somatic therapy is a body-centered approach to mental health treatment that helps people notice physical sensations, emotions, movement patterns, and nervous system responses. The goal is to strengthen the connection between the mind and body to support healing and self-awareness. There are many different types of somatic therapy but I am trained in dance therapy.

How can somatic therapy help with anxiety?

Somatic therapy can help people identify how anxiety shows up in the body, develop awareness of physical sensations, and learn techniques that support nervous system regulation. Somatic therapy can also be used to cultivate a feeling of safety in the body, which is missing for those who suffer from anxiety.

Can hormones affect anxiety and depression?

Research suggests that hormonal fluctuations can influence mood, anxiety, depression, ADHD symptoms, and emotional regulation. Many women notice changes in mental health symptoms during different phases of the menstrual cycle, or during life changes such as pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause.

What should I expect from Somatic Therapy in San Francisco?

Somatic Therapy San Francisco sessions typically involve exploring thoughts, emotions, bodily sensations, movement patterns, and nervous system responses. The approach is collaborative and tailored to each individual's needs and often includes dance therapy.

Is somatic therapy helpful for women experiencing hormonal changes?

Many women find somatic therapy beneficial because it encourages awareness of the body's signals and creates space to understand how physical and emotional experiences interact throughout hormonal transitions. The more you know and understand your body, the easier it is to navigate hormonal shifts.

References:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020, May 15). Vital signs: Postpartum depressive symptoms and provider discussions about perinatal depression - united states, 2018. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6919a2.htm?s_cid=mm6919a2_w

de Jong, M., Wynchank, D. S. M. R., van Andel, E., Beekman, A. T. F., & Kooij, J. J. S. (2023). Female-specific pharmacotherapy in ADHD: premenstrual adjustment of psychostimulant dosage. Frontiers in psychiatry, 14, 1306194. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyt.2023.1306194

Dorani, F., Bijlenga, D., Beekman, A. T. F., van Someren, E. J. W., & Kooij, J. J. S. (2021). Prevalence of hormone-related mood disorder symptoms in women with ADHD. Journal of Psychiatric Research, 133, 10–15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jpsychires.2020.12.005

Eng, A. G., Nirjar, U., Elkins, A. R., Sizemore, Y. J., Monticello, K. N., Petersen, M. K., Miller, S. A., Barone, J., Eisenlohr-Moul, T. A., & Martel, M. M. (2024). Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and the menstrual cycle: Theory and evidence. Hormones and behavior, 158, 105466. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yhbeh.2023.105466

Handy, A. B., Greenfield, S. F., Yonkers, K. A., & Payne, L. A. (2022). Psychiatric Symptoms Across the Menstrual Cycle in Adult Women: A Comprehensive Review. Harvard review of psychiatry, 30(2), 100–117. https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000329

Roberts, B., Eisenlohr-Moul, T., & Martel, M. M. (2018). Reproductive steroids and ADHD symptoms across the menstrual cycle. Psychoneuroendocrinology, 88, 105–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psyneuen.2017.11.015

Skoglund, L. B. (2025, June 23). The menstrual cycle impacts ADHD symptoms in disparate ways. ADDitude. https://www.additudemag.com/adhd-and-periods-menstrual-cycle-hormones/?src=embed_link#footnote2

U.S. maternal depression screening rates released ... (n.d.). https://policycentermmh.org/u-s-maternal-depression-screening-rates-released-for-the-first-time-through-hedis/