When Progesterone Backfires: The Hidden Link Between Hormones, Anxiety & Trauma

Dr. Brendan McCarthy

Welcome to the podcast with Dr. Brendan McCarthy!

While progesterone is often prescribed for its calming and hormone-balancing effects, some women experience the exact opposite—increased anxiety, depression, and emotional instability. This phenomenon, known as reverse responding, is more common than many realize.

In this episode we explore:

The neurological effects of progesterone and why it can backfire

The role of allopregnanolone and the GABA receptor

How trauma, PTSD, and adverse childhood experiences impact hormonal response

Safer and more personalized treatment options—including transrectal delivery, low-dose titration, and supportive therapies like EMDR and testosterone modulation

Why addressing hormone imbalances requires more than symptom management—it requires a deeper understanding of the brain-body connection

This science-driven, trauma-informed conversation offers vital insights for any woman who’s felt worse after starting progesterone—and for the healthcare providers who want to help them.

Dr. Brendan McCarthy founded Protea Medical Center in 2002. While he’s been the chief medical officer, Protea has grown and evolved into a dynamic medical center serving the Valley and Central Arizona. A nationally recognized as an expert in hormone replacement therapy, Dr McCarthy s the only instructor in the nation who teaches BioHRT on live patients. Physicians travel to Arizona to take his course and integrate it into their own practices. Besides hormone replacement therapy, Dr. McCarthy has spoken nationally and locally before physicians on topics such as weight loss, infertility, nutritional therapy and more.

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Check out Dr. Brendan McCarthy's Book! https://www.amazon.com/Jump-Off-Mood-...

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Clinic Website: www.protealife.com