Episode 15: Depression Is an Estrogen Deficiency: Why Women Are Being Misdiagnosed

Depression is not a character flaw.

It is not a weakness.

And for most women—it is not a primary psychiatric disorder.

In this foundational episode of the Clinical Indicator Series, Clinical Hormone Coach Marie Hoäg, MBA, reframes depression as a biological signal of estrogen deficiency and explains why symptom-management approaches consistently fail women.

This episode is essential listening for women who:

• Feel emotionally flat, heavy, or disconnected
• Have been told they’ll need antidepressants indefinitely
• Are on HRT yet still feel depressed or anxious
• Sense that something fundamental has been missed

What You’ll Learn

Without giving away the full framework, this episode explores:

• How estrogen regulates neurotransmitters and emotional resilience
• Why depression often resolves rapidly when estrogen is adequately restored
• The difference between “standard” HRT and physiologic hormone restoration
• Why clinical indicators often appear before abnormal lab results
• How women regain clarity, motivation, and emotional stability

Who This Episode Is For

• Women experiencing PMS, perimenopause, or menopause
• Women on low dose patch hormone therapy
• Women with a history of depression or antidepressant use
• Women whose symptoms were dismissed or psychologized
• Clinicians seeking a deeper hormone-based lens