Most people associate testosterone with something physical such as muscle building or simply bodily strength. But did you realize that healthy testosterone levels can also promote an individual’s mental health?
Yes, you read it right, testosterone is not just a male’s pec muscle but rather it touches on how one feels, thinks, and even interacts with other people. Let us focus on the five major psychological benefits of managing your testosterone levels.
In order to appreciate testosterone’s psychological benefits deeply, it is important to understand what testosterone is and why it is important to keep a balance in its levels.
Testosterone is a steroid hormone that is produced within the testicles of men and by a smaller percentage in women’s ovaries. Because of its primary function in male evolution, it is often known as a ‘male hormone’ but not limited to men only.
Testosterone affects many physiological processes including muscle and bone development, fat balance, and red blood cell production. However, it must be emphasized that the influence of testosterone is much more than meets the eye. Testosterone affects the emotions, the brain, and even the general mental wellness of humans.
Males produce the highest amount of testosterone during their early adulthood. This production decreases as you age and affects your physical and mental state. Testosterone and Mental Health are interlinked. You must balance your testosterone levels to keep your mental health stable.
Testosterone is popularly known as the male happiness hormone. It directly affects your mood. If your testosterone levels are low, you may feel more agitated than usual — and that’s an extremely slippery slope. Healthy testosterone levels, on the other hand, can protect you from these bad feelings.
Research shows that people with low testosterone are more likely to experience symptoms of depression. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter that affects mood and mental well-being is also under the influence of testosterone.
When your brain knows that you have low levels of serotonin to make you happy, your mood can change so fast and lead to excessive mood swings. So, it helps to have your testosterone under control.
A little confidence goes a long way to success in most aspects of life and healthy testosterone levels can help with that. Studies have shown testosterone to positively affect your self-esteem, which means it can make you feel more confident in social situations.
You truly do feel like a man when you have these heightened self-confidence levels. But, most importantly when your testosterone levels are healthy and balanced, you’re able to take on a challenge, express your opinion, and defend yourself. You wouldn’t become aggressive unnecessarily, it’s just that you won’t back down.
Testosterone can help keep your brain as sharp as a tack. Testosterone levels are essential for our most important function of all – cognition. They affect memory, focus, and decision-making.
In fact, testosterone protects the brain from aging. It helps keep the connections between brain cells alive. These connections are called synapses, and they are essential to memory and learning. When your testosterone levels are good, you’ll notice that you can focus, remember things better, and make quicker and better decisions. You can’t even imagine how important these brain perks are to keep you sharp and sound as you grow old.
Sure, life is full of stressors and we all experience a bit of anxiety every now and again. But testosterone levels take anxiety from a basic itch to a full-on rage. Testosterone helps keep your brain calm by regulating your cortisol levels. When your testosterone levels are right, your body is hard-wired to deal with stress. You do not worry as much. You will be feeling good and coping even with very rough circumstances.
Anxiety can not, of course, disappear with magic. But you could manage it better. With balanced testosterone, you can prevent chronic stress and anxiety.
High testosterone levels affect your outgoingness, feelings of empathy, and social confidence. When your testosterone levels are healthy, you’ll be the kind of guy who enters social situations voluntarily and with a smile on your face.
Testosterone influences the very brain regions that create and manage relationships. When your testosterone levels are optimal, you’ll make new social interactions a breeze. You will easily form relationships, and communicate lovingly with the people around you. And in the end, you’ll keep everyone close, both socially and emotionally.
Keeping testosterone at healthy levels is not just about genetic luck; it can be influenced by our lifestyle choices.
Healthy testosterone levels translate into more than physical health, so they are essential for psychological well-being. From mood, confidence, and cognitive abilities to social relationships, testosterone impacts how we feel and function each and every day.
If you suspect your testosterone levels might not be where you want them to be, speak with a qualified healthcare professional. They can help you interpret your levels and guide you in making the decisions necessary to keep testosterone in a healthy range. Be it through lifestyle interventions, dietary changes, or medicinal approaches, healthy testosterone levels can make a big difference in the way we think and feel. Keep your eye on this important hormone—it is the two-way key to psychological and physical fitness.
