PCOS & Mental Health: Navigating the Psychological Effects of a Complex Syndrome
Editor’s Note: The following post is by Resha Altai, an Associate Clinical Social Worker at Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy. If you’re interested in working with her, she’s now accepting new clients. Read her full bio and book a FREE consultation here.
PCOS awareness has grown over the past few decades and increasingly, there is better understanding, support, and treatment for this complex and often misunderstood syndrome. While anxiety and depression have been linked to this endocrine condition for some time, there is increasingly more evidence of an association between PCOS and early childhood emotional abuse. Therapy can be a helpful space to explore and process the impacts of PCOS on your well-being.
What is PCOS?
Polycystic ovarian syndrome, commonly referred to as PCOS, is one of the most common endocrine disorders affecting reproductive-age women. According to the Rotterdam definition, which is the one most commonly used for PCOS, this disorder can be diagnosed in any woman who exhibits at least two of the following three symptoms: clinical and/or biochemical hyperandrogenism, ovulation dysfunction, or the presence of ovarian cysts in an ultrasound examination. Dealing with and healing from a complex endocrine disorder has far-reaching physical, social, and emotional impacts on a woman’s life that can be difficult to cope with and manage.
PCOS & Mental Health
There is a well-established connection between PCOS and a greater prevalence of mental health issues. Recent studies have shown that women with PCOS are six times more likely to develop anxiety and four times more likely to develop depression than women without PCOS. The physical effects of PCOS such as unwanted excess hair, weight gain, acne, hormonal shifts, insulin resistance, and difficulty becoming pregnant can lead to challenging self-esteem and body image issues in those diagnosed with the syndrome. Particularly for those women wanting to become pregnant and experiencing infertility, receiving a diagnosis can bring up feelings of grief and inadequacy.
The Role of Childhood Emotional Abuse
Emotional abuse in childhood includes yelling, criticism, withholding love, attention, and nurturing, threats or rejection, and ignoring or dismissing feelings.
A 2022 study from Poland evaluated the impact of child maltreatment, including various forms of abuse and neglect, on women's reproductive health outcomes, specifically PCOS. The study found that child maltreatment is independently associated with PCOS in women who don’t have psychiatric disorders. Furthermore, the study found an association between women with PCOS and a history of childhood emotional abuse. This important study suggests the unique effect of childhood emotional abuse and the development of PCOS.
How We Support Clients in their PCOS Journey
Increasing Resilience
Getting a new medical diagnosis like PCOS can often bring confusion and stress. For many women, the experience of receiving a PCOS diagnosis can be deeply frustrating, especially for those trying to become pregnant and experiencing infertility. While it may be relieving and motivating to finally receive a diagnosis and develop a treatment plan, many women can feel overwhelmed and afraid of the lifestyle changes necessary to heal PCOS. Our therapists are here to support you in building resilience around this experience and processing the understandable emotions that come with a diagnosis. Through skill-building that can include mindfulness, reframing negative thought patterns, and psychoeducation, clients can begin to build resilience and hope around healing the impacts of PCOS.
REPAIRING SELF ESTEEM & BODY IMAGE ISSUES
Feeling like you’re at war with yourself and your body is a draining experience. Many women with PCOS have spent years experiencing complex symptoms that haven’t been adequately addressed by providers or connected in a bigger picture way. Our team of compassionate therapists are skilled at supporting women with PCOS in improving their relationship towards themselves and their bodies.
HEALING THE LEGACY OF CHILDHOOD ABUSE
While not all women diagnosed with PCOS have experienced childhood emotional abuse, it is a common thread for many women with PCOS. Emotional abuse in childhood can have far reaching impacts on your adult life including difficulty with anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem. Our team of trauma therapists are skilled at supporting women with PCOS to identify and heal from childhood emotional abuse. Therapists at Highland Park Therapy use various interventions including Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) as well as IFS-informed therapy, to support clients in digesting experiences so that traumatic memories and their impact on our bodies can be properly stored in the past.
Work with a Therapist in Los Angeles, CA Knowledgeable About PCOS
At Highland Park Holistic Psychotherapy, we stand ready to support you. Our team of caring therapists is happy to offer support from our LA-based practice and across the state. You can start your therapy journey with a caring therapist by following these simple steps:
Learn more about our team
Start repairing self-esteem and healing.
Other Services Offered with Highland Park Therapy
PCOS support isn’t the only service our team of therapists offers. We provide a wide range of mental health services through online therapy statewide in California and in-person at our Los Angeles, CA office. Other services offered include depression treatment, teen therapy, grief counseling, eating disorders, stress management therapy, and trauma therapy. We also offer EMDR, HSP counseling, religious trauma therapy, and couples therapy. You can also read more by visiting our blog, FAQ, about us, or groups page.