Dr. Louise Newson

Yeah.

Yeah.

Absolutely. If you think very basically, our hormones all derive from cholesterol. So cholesterol is not all bad. It can form our cell membranes, but it's really important. So cholesterol forms progesterone. Progesterone then forms testosterone, which then forms estradiol. But going further up, progesterone also forms cortisol and cortisol are stress hormones. So it's a bit like a seesaw really.

Absolutely. If you think very basically, our hormones all derive from cholesterol. So cholesterol is not all bad. It can form our cell membranes, but it's really important. So cholesterol forms progesterone. Progesterone then forms testosterone, which then forms estradiol. But going further up, progesterone also forms cortisol and cortisol are stress hormones. So it's a bit like a seesaw really.

If you've got more stress and more stress hormones, you're likely to have less progesterone. And that's why often progesterone having the right balance and dose is quite calming as well. And what worries me sometimes is that A lot of emphasis is put on what's gone on in the past, like previous events, trauma.

If you've got more stress and more stress hormones, you're likely to have less progesterone. And that's why often progesterone having the right balance and dose is quite calming as well. And what worries me sometimes is that A lot of emphasis is put on what's gone on in the past, like previous events, trauma.

And of course these things have an effect on the brain, but they're exemplified and worsened if we don't have the right hormonal balance. If you've got too much adrenaline or adrenaline, cortisol going on, it's going to make that brain more hyper-aware, hyper-vigilant, but also that worry, that reactivation of maybe some negative things that are going on.

And of course these things have an effect on the brain, but they're exemplified and worsened if we don't have the right hormonal balance. If you've got too much adrenaline or adrenaline, cortisol going on, it's going to make that brain more hyper-aware, hyper-vigilant, but also that worry, that reactivation of maybe some negative things that are going on.

And then it's just almost people are, I don't know, not really labelled, but I think so many people will say, oh, well, it's related to previous trauma. We understand why that's happening. But actually lots of people have trauma. Not everyone has symptoms that's going to then cause a problem in the future. But thinking about that balance of hormones is so crucial.

And then it's just almost people are, I don't know, not really labelled, but I think so many people will say, oh, well, it's related to previous trauma. We understand why that's happening. But actually lots of people have trauma. Not everyone has symptoms that's going to then cause a problem in the future. But thinking about that balance of hormones is so crucial.

And thinking about how the hormones affect, like I say, cortisol and cortisone. You know, it's just this direct pathway. But also, like I said before, about how they affect different neurotransmitters in the brain. So like noradrenaline, adrenaline. dopamine, serotonin, all of those have a really important, crucial effect.

And thinking about how the hormones affect, like I say, cortisol and cortisone. You know, it's just this direct pathway. But also, like I said before, about how they affect different neurotransmitters in the brain. So like noradrenaline, adrenaline. dopamine, serotonin, all of those have a really important, crucial effect.

And I think so often in the brain, people think about one area or one chemical without thinking about how they all interfere with each other. So I think, you know, doing a proper assessment is crucially important. But I do... I feel sometimes that there's a bit too much, not blame, but emphasis maybe put onto previous events that could have triggered something else.

And I think so often in the brain, people think about one area or one chemical without thinking about how they all interfere with each other. So I think, you know, doing a proper assessment is crucially important. But I do... I feel sometimes that there's a bit too much, not blame, but emphasis maybe put onto previous events that could have triggered something else.

And I don't know sometimes that's helpful because then... People aren't being treated in the right way. It's almost like associated with something that's happened in the past, and of course that's going to affect their brain, that's going to affect their processing. But actually, with the right treatment, it doesn't all have to be related to previous events. Does that make sense?

And I don't know sometimes that's helpful because then... People aren't being treated in the right way. It's almost like associated with something that's happened in the past, and of course that's going to affect their brain, that's going to affect their processing. But actually, with the right treatment, it doesn't all have to be related to previous events. Does that make sense?

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah, yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.