The Link Between PTSD and Low Testosterone
PTSD can disrupt the body’s hormone system and lead to low testosterone. Many patients feel tired, irritable, and unfocused without realizing it is hormonal. This post explains the connection and how treatment can help.
How Trauma Can Affect Hormones and Overall Health
Post traumatic stress disorder is most often discussed in terms of mood, sleep, flashbacks, and anxiety. What many people never hear about is the physical side of PTSD, especially how it affects hormone levels. One of the most common findings in people with chronic stress and PTSD is low testosterone.
Understanding this connection can help patients make sense of their symptoms and get the right support. At Doctor Springs Hormone Care, we see this pattern often, especially in veterans and first responders.
How PTSD Impacts Hormones
PTSD is not just a mental or emotional condition. It is a full body stress response that stays active long after the original trauma. When the brain is stuck in a high alert cycle, the body releases higher levels of cortisol, which is the primary stress hormone. Cortisol and testosterone compete with each other. When cortisol stays high for long periods of time, testosterone production drops.
This disruption affects the hypothalamic pituitary gonadal axis. That is the hormone communication system that tells the testes to make testosterone. When this system is disrupted by chronic stress signals, testosterone naturally falls.
Common Symptoms Patients Notice
Many symptoms of low testosterone overlap with symptoms patients already experience with PTSD. This can make it easy to overlook hormone imbalances. Signs of low testosterone often include:
• Low energy
• Low motivation
• Irritability
• Brain fog
• Trouble sleeping
• Low libido
• Slower recovery after exercise
• Unexplained weight gain
• Lower muscle mass
When PTSD and low testosterone happen together, these symptoms can feel more intense and harder to manage.
Why Treatment Helps
For patients with PTSD, stabilizing hormone levels often leads to noticeable improvements in mood, energy, and resilience. When testosterone is restored to a healthy range, people often describe feeling more balanced, more focused, and more like themselves again.
Hormone therapy does not replace mental health care, but it can support the body so patients have a stronger foundation to work from.
A Personalized Approach
At Doctor Springs Hormone Care, every patient is evaluated individually. We review symptoms, lifestyle factors, and lab results to create a plan tailored to each person’s needs. Dr. Springs has years of clinical experience treating both men and women with hormone imbalance, and she has a special understanding of stress related conditions due to her background as a Navy veteran.
If you have PTSD and think you may also have low testosterone, getting your levels checked is a simple first step that can make a major difference in how you feel.
Ready To Schedule your FREE consultation?
You can call or text us at 813 485 5954 or schedule a no-risk consultation directly here on DoctorSprings.com. We offer convenient appointments in person or via telehealth.
Understanding “Like-Kind” Conditions in Florida’s Medical Marijuana Program
Learn about “like-kind” conditions under Florida’s medical marijuana program. Many Tampa patients qualify for a medical marijuana card with the help of an experienced MMJ doctor like Dr. Julia Springs.
If you’ve ever looked into qualifying for a medical marijuana card in Florida, you’ve probably seen the official list of conditions—things like cancer, PTSD, Crohn’s disease, and epilepsy. But here’s the cool part: the list isn’t the only way patients can qualify. Florida also recognizes something called “like-kind” conditions—and this opens the door for a lot of people who might not realize they’re eligible.
What Does “Like-Kind” Mean?
The Florida Department of Health explains that patients can qualify if they have a medical condition that is “of the same kind or class” as the specifically listed ones. In plain English: if your condition causes similar symptoms, side effects, or impairments as the listed qualifying conditions, your MMJ doctor may be able to recommend you for an MMJ card.
As one Florida attorney noted, “It’s intentionally broad. The legislature wanted doctors to have some flexibility when a patient’s suffering is real, even if the diagnosis doesn’t match the exact words on the list.”
Real-Life Examples
Let’s say you don’t have PTSD, but you have anxiety that leads to panic attacks, insomnia, and social withdrawal. That shares many symptoms with PTSD and could be considered “like-kind.”
Or maybe you don’t have multiple sclerosis, but you struggle with chronic muscle spasms and pain from another neurological condition. Again—this could qualify as “like-kind.”
Other cases we see in Tampa often include:
• Anxiety disorders
• Chronic pain from injuries
• Migraines resistant to traditional treatment
• Autoimmune conditions that cause pain, nausea, or wasting
Why This Matters in Tampa
Here in Tampa, many patients are surprised to learn they already meet the criteria—they just need an MMJ doctor who understands the nuances of Florida law and takes the time to look at the bigger picture.
That’s where Dr. Julia Springs comes in. At her downtown Tampa office, she combines medical expertise with a patient-first philosophy. Unlike big chain marijuana doctors who rush people through, Dr. Springs actually sits down with you, reviews your history, and explains how your condition may fit under Florida’s “like-kind” provisions.
One of our patients put it best:
“I thought I’d be turned away because my condition wasn’t on the list. But Dr. Springs explained how it fell into the ‘like-kind’ category, and now I have relief I never thought possible.”
The Bottom Line
Florida’s medical marijuana program is more flexible than many people realize. If you’re dealing with a condition that affects your quality of life in ways similar to the listed diagnoses, you may very well qualify.
So if you’re in Tampa—or anywhere nearby—and you’ve been on the fence, it might be time to take that step. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Julia Springs today and find out if your condition qualifies for a medical marijuana card.
Because at the end of the day, the law was written for you—the patient who deserves relief.
New Florida Law Could Revoke Your Medical Marijuana Card – Here's What You Need to Know
A new Florida law going into effect July 1, 2025, could result in the suspension or permanent revocation of your medical marijuana card—just for being charged with certain drug offenses. Learn what this means for MMJ patients and caregivers, how to stay compliant, and what steps to take if your registry status is affected.
As of July 1, 2025, a new Florida law is changing the rules for medical marijuana patients and caregivers. If you are certified for medical cannabis in the state of Florida, it's crucial to understand how this legislation could impact your ability to stay in the program.
What the New Law Says
Under Senate Bill 2514, any qualified medical marijuana patient or caregiver who is charged with a drug-related offense under Florida's Controlled Substances Act will have their Medical Marijuana Use Registry (MMUR) ID immediately suspended—even before any court decision is made.
If you are convicted of certain offenses—such as trafficking, selling, manufacturing, delivering, or possessing with intent to sell or distribute controlled substances—your MMUR ID will be revoked permanently.
Can I Reapply?
Yes—but only after completing all sentencing requirements, including jail time, probation, or community control. You must submit a notarized attestation confirming that all legal terms have been fulfilled. Submitting a false attestation is considered a second-degree misdemeanor.
Why This Matters
This law marks a shift toward tighter regulation of Florida’s medical marijuana program. It’s designed to ensure that the registry is used only by individuals complying with state drug laws. However, it also means that:
You could lose access to your medicine immediately just by being charged.
You’ll need to go through the full certification process again if your ID is revoked.
Any missteps with unrelated substances could jeopardize your access to medical cannabis.
What You Can Do
Stay informed about Florida medical marijuana laws.
Use your medical cannabis in Tampa responsibly and within legal parameters.
If you have questions about your medical marijuana card in Florida, contact our office.
Dr. Julia Springs and her team at our Tampa medical marijuana clinic are committed to helping patients stay compliant and informed. Whether you're a new patient or looking for MMJ recertification in Tampa, we're here to support your health journey.
Keywords: medical marijuana card Florida, MMJ doctor Tampa, cannabis clinic Tampa, marijuana doctor near me, Florida medical cannabis laws, MMUR suspension, medical marijuana recertification Tampa, Dr. Julia Springs
Sources: Florida SB 2514 (2025) – Medical Marijuana Use Registry Revisions