Natalia Gomez Carlier Psychologist & Art Psychotherapist MAAT, ATR-BC
Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, frequently known as PCOS, is a hormonal disorder where small cysts grow on the ovaries. It affects 1 in 5 women worldwide. Its physical side effects include weight gain, irregular periods and it might affect women’s fertility. Its impact on mental health is often forgotten and not addressed. It is common that women diagnosed with this condition are not even told that they might have to observe and support their mental health.
Recently a study conducted in Finland showed a link between PCOS, low mood and a general lowering of the quality of life. Other studies have found links to depression, anxiety and eating disorders. Although there is more to be studied the general conclusion is that women with PCOS are 3 times more likely to experience issues in their mental health than women without this disorder. This is a case of the chicken and the egg, we do not yet know if the impact to our mental health results from having this diagnosis or if the changes in the biochemistry of our body impact our mental health.
Our perspective of mental health is holistic, we believe in including the whole self when people access our services. Often our clients do no share with us diagnosis such as this, but we are mindful to include questions in our intake that invite this information.
In the case of PCOS having a chronic condition changes the way we perceive ourselves. As there is no cure of this disorder, we might feel that we have lost control over our bodies, especially as the common physical symptoms of excessive hair, acne, weight gain and pain show up on a regular basis. Fears around conception and fertility can also arise. And, we might feel we are forced to ride a rollercoaster of moods and symptoms that we cannot control.
Self-blame and negative self-image might follow; especially when PCOS is experienced in the teenage years. Facing the hormonal shifts on a daily basis can be grueling and difficult to understand. The struggle to maintain a certain desired weight can also increase the frustration and challenge, and on occasion disordered eating can feel like taking control back, but this is just an illusion. Another common experience is that of giving up and not deal with the emotions and symptoms, which unfortunately only worsens our physical and mental health.
This experience can also affect relationships, concerns about being a burden, shame and fear of judgement are common occurrences shared by women with PCOS. It is hard to start this conversation, how do we share the strange and complicated experience of PCOS with our family and friends? But, it is important to create space and share the emotional experience with someone you trust. It is important to understand that it is normal for women with this diagnosis to experience changes in their mood, self-image and self-esteem. If our thoughts and behaviors show that we are having difficulties accepting the PCOS as part of your life, then it might be useful to seek professional help alongside the medical management of the disorder.
And what does art therapy have to do with it? Art therapy is a form of psychotherapy where clients are active and creative participants in their journey towards healing. Creating art in the presence of an art therapist shifts our perspective, and we move from being victims of a chronic disease and become creators of our healthy and conscious life. The artmaking experience is also able to contain all of our feelings: the shame of having strange hair growing, the fear around our fertility and our feeling of not having any power to change the diagnosis. But we do have the power to create change, if we accept this diagnosis and process our feelings around it, we can then mindfully create lifestyle changes that can support our health. Art therapy can help us understand this diagnosis and provide us with the support towards an overall improved health, mind and body.
References Boivin, J., Takefman, J., & Braverman, A. (2011). The fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) tool: development and general psychometric properties. Human Reproduction, 26(8), 2084-2091. Conte, F., Banting, L., Teede, H. J., & Stepto, N. K. (2015). Mental health and physical activity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome: a brief review. Sports Medicine, 45(4), 497-504. Himelein, M. J., & Thatcher, S. S. (2006). Polycystic ovary syndrome and mental health: a review. Obstetrical & gynecological survey, 61(11), 723-732. Karjula, S., Morin-Papunen, L., Franks, S., Auvinen, J., Järvelin, M. R., Tapanainen, J. S., … & Piltonen, T. T. (2020). Population-based data at ages 31 and 46 show decreased HRQoL and life satisfaction in women with PCOS symptoms. The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism, 105(6), dgz256. Lee, I., & Dokras, A. (2020). Mental Health and Body Image in PCOS. Current Opinion in Endocrine and Metabolic Research
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