Menopause is a natural transition that all women go through as they age. The years leading up to menopause are called perimenopause. During this time, women may experience changes related to shifting hormone levels. Some key points about menopause and mental health:
- Fluctuating estrogen levels can contribute to mood changes like irritability, anxiety, sadness, and trouble focusing or remembering things. However, menopause does not cause severe mental illness or "craziness."
- Many women transition through menopause without major issues. But others find symptoms seriously impact their quality of life.
- Risk factors like previous anxiety/depression, severe PMS, trauma history, and lack of social support can make menopausal mood changes worse.
- Hormone changes interact with stress, sleep issues, health problems, and life events during midlife. This "perfect storm" of factors can worsen mood.
- Treatment options like hormone therapy, medications, therapy, meditation, exercise, and social support can help alleviate symptoms.
Common menopausal mental health symptoms
- Anxiety - Feeling tense, panicky, worried
- Irritability - Quicker to anger and frustration
- Sadness - Feeling down, hopeless, tearful
- Lack of motivation - Can't get going, feeling blah
- Trouble concentrating - Hard time focusing and retaining info
- Memory issues - Forgetting things like words or events
- Insomnia - Difficulty falling and staying asleep
- Fatigue - Feeling wiped out and weary
For most women, these symptoms are
manageable. But without support, they can severely impact work performance, relationships, and quality of life.
Tips for coping with menopause mood changes:
- Get screened for depression/anxiety and ask for help if needed
- Take care of health - nutrition, exercise, preventative care
- Reduce stress through yoga, meditation, nature
- Get quality sleep by improving sleep hygiene
- Spend time with supportive people who listen well
- Practice self-care by setting boundaries, saying no
- Consider hormone therapy if mood symptoms are moderate-severe
- Explore professional help like therapy and life coaching
The psychologists and medical providers at
Vitality Hormone Clinic specialize in helping women navigate perimenopause and menopause. Our compassionate experts provide cutting-edge testing, hormonal treatments, therapy, nutritional guidance, and wellness plans tailored to your unique needs. We empower women to transition gracefully into this next stage of life. Contact us today for a consultation.
I hope this overview has provided more insight into menopausal mental health changes. While hormone fluctuations can certainly impact mood, there are many supports available, and most women do not "go crazy." However, it's important to take symptoms seriously and get help if you are struggling with anxiety, depression, or other difficult emotions during this transition. Be compassionate with yourself and realize you don't have to tough it out alone.
