Depression – New Leaf Wellness

Holiday Stress & Hormone Health: What Your Body’s Trying to Tell You

The holidays can be joyful—but they can also leave you feeling depleted. If you’re experiencing fatigue, mood swings, or trouble sleeping this time of year, it may be more than just seasonal stress. Hormone imbalance could be amplifying how you feel.

When stress levels rise, your body produces more cortisol—your primary stress hormone. Over time, elevated cortisol can disrupt key hormone systems like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. This can lead to energy crashes, irritability, brain fog, and difficulty managing your weight.

If you’re feeling “off” this season, pay attention to these signs:

Constant fatigue, even after rest
Restless sleep or waking in the night
Mood swings, anxiety, or irritability
Brain fog or poor concentration
Weight gain around the midsection
Low libido or motivation

At New Leaf Wellness, we specialize in natural hormone therapy to help rebalance your body and restore your sense of well-being. Through personalized treatment plans, comprehensive lab testing, and bio-identical hormone solutions, we help you feel like yourself again—without guesswork.

Take this season as a chance to invest in your health. Start with a complimentary hormone evaluation at one of our clinics in Tulsa, West Des Moines, or Omaha—and head into the new year feeling balanced, energized, and supported.

👉 Schedule Your Evaluation Today

Male Menopause? Yes, It’s Real.

While most people are familiar with menopause in women, fewer realize that men experience their own version of hormonal change—called andropause. Andropause refers to the gradual decline in testosterone levels that typically begins in a man’s 40s and continues with age.

This hormonal shift can bring on a range of physical and emotional symptoms, including:

Low energy
Decreased muscle mass
Sleep issues
Reduced libido
Erectile dysfunction
Mood changes like anxiety, depression, irritability, and brain fog
Sound familiar? Many of these symptoms mirror what women experience during menopause, although they tend to be milder in men.

The term “low T” gained popularity in the early 2000s thanks to marketing campaigns promoting testosterone replacement therapy (TRT). Today, it’s estimated that 24–39% of men aged 30 to 79 have testosterone levels considered low (below 300 ng/dL). Even more concerning, testosterone levels appear to be dropping faster than in previous generations—likely due to lifestyle and environmental factors.

But does that mean most men with low testosterone should jump straight to TRT? Not necessarily.
Only about 6% of men with low testosterone actually show symptoms of androgen deficiency. Without those clinical symptoms, testosterone therapy isn’t usually recommended.

In fact, testosterone supplementation comes with real risks:

Heart attack, stroke, and blood clots (especially in older men)
Infertility
Sleep apnea
Enlarged prostate and elevated PSA levels
Acne
Testicular shrinkage

If you’re experiencing symptoms and suspect low testosterone, it’s best to start by talking with your healthcare provider, such as a primary care physician or urologist. Bloodwork can help determine whether hormone levels are a concern—and if treatment is appropriate.

In many cases, lifestyle changes can go a long way in supporting healthy testosterone levels and improving how you feel:

✅ Strength training (weights or bodyweight exercises)
✅ Reducing alcohol intake
✅ Managing stress
✅ Prioritizing sleep (aim for 7+ hours per night)
✅ Maintaining a healthy weight

These steps may seem simple—but they’re not always easy. Still, incorporating them into your routine can help slow testosterone decline, boost energy, and benefit your overall well-being.

Bottom line? Male menopause is real, but it doesn’t mean hormone therapy is the answer for everyone. Start with the basics, talk with your doctor, and take a proactive approach to aging well.

Are You Tired, Stressed, and Just Not Feeling Like Yourself? It Could Be Adrenal Fatigue.

Many people don’t realize that stress and poor health are deeply connected. If you’re constantly stressed or not getting enough rest, it can take a serious toll on your body—specifically on your cortisol levels.

Cortisol is one of over 50 hormones produced by the adrenal glands—two small but powerful glands that sit just above your kidneys. These glands play a key role in maintaining energy, managing stress, and supporting your immune system.

One of the most common things we hear from patients struggling with adrenal fatigue is:
👉 “After [a major stress or life event], I was never the same.”

That turning point often follows periods of:

Financial stress
Emotional strain
Infections or illness
Poor diet (especially sugar and processed foods)
Smoking or drug use
Unemployment or life instability

Over time, these stressors can cause your adrenal glands to struggle, leading to reduced cortisol production—your body’s main stress-handling hormone. And when cortisol levels drop, your energy, focus, and even your mood can take a hit.

Common Symptoms of Adrenal Fatigue:

Chronic fatigue
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Low blood pressure or blood sugar
Frequent headaches
Anxiety or panic attacks
Depression
Low libido
Fertility issues
Feeling “off” or not like yourself

💚 You don’t have to keep pushing through. If this sounds like you, New Leaf Wellness in West Des Moines and all the other locations can help. We offer cortisol testing and personalized support, including supplements designed to restore balance and help you feel like yourself again.

✨ Let us help you restore your energy, health, and vitality—naturally.

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