Changes in your hormones during menopause can impact your mental health as well as your physical health. You may experience feelings of anxiety, stress or even depression. Menopausal symptoms may include: anger and irritability.
Hormonal Fluctuations
The same hormones that control your menstrual cycle also influence serotonin, a brain chemical that promotes feelings of well-being and happiness. When hormone levels drop, serotonin levels also fall, which contributes to increased irritability, anxiety and sadness.
However, other factors may also play a role, including a person's mental and physical health, and societal attitudes toward menopause and aging. The risk of depression appears to return to normal 2–4 years after the last menstrual period.
Typically, the mood changes that accompany female hormonal changes during the menopausal transition won't last. "Data show that these hormone-related risks ease with increasing time after menopause," says Dr. Joffe.
For other women, the menopausal transition can bring hot flashes, trouble sleeping, pain during sex, moodiness and irritability, depression, or a combination of these symptoms. Some may decide to talk with their doctor about lifestyle changes or medications to treat their symptoms.
The cessation of menstrual periods is often associated with a variety of unpleasant symptoms, including anxiety, depression, decreased libido, vaginal dryness, insomnia, difficulty concentrating, and vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes and night sweats). These symptoms may last years after the menopause transition.
Changes in your hormones during menopause can impact your mental health as well as your physical health. You may experience feelings of anxiety, stress or even depression. Menopausal symptoms may include: anger and irritability.
Menopause and anxiety. A common symptom that leaves you feeling stressed, fearful or tense. It can cause physical symptoms, like palpitations, and can make symptoms like hot flushes worse.
Restoring hormones (HRT) and SSRI antidepressants have both been shown to help with depression in mid-life women. There are other things that have also been proven to help. Many women experiencing menopause have sleep disturbance.
Treating sleep disturbances and engaging in mind-body practices like yoga and meditation can also help alleviate symptoms. Additionally, research suggests that estrogen therapy and estradiol therapy may have antidepressant effects for depressed women before their final cycle.
SSRIs – The selective serotonin receptor inhibitors (SSRIs) are the class of antidepressants used most commonly for treating hot flashes. A form of paroxetine (sample brand name: Brisdelle) is an SSRI and is the only nonhormonal therapy that is specifically approved for hot flashes in the United States.
Menopause is divided into three basic stages: perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. During this time, the ovaries begin to atrophy which causes a decline in the production of the hormones that stimulate the menstrual cycle; estrogen and progesterone.
Menopause Anxiety Medication
If anxiety is severe, a doctor may recommend an anxiety medication like a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) to help stabilize mood. Examples of SSRIs include Zoloft, Paxil, or Prozac. Be sure and ask about any potential side effects.
understand that some (not all) mood changes may be due to menopause. allow your partner to express their feelings, even if you don't understand them. ask your partner to help you understand their symptoms. encourage your partner to talk about what they need and when they need it.
Low confidence can impact anyone at any age but can be particularly pervasive in menopause. It's difficult to put an exact figure on it, but: Menopausal women report feeling less confident in their work abilities. Levels of confidence and self-esteem typically peak around middle age and then decline after 60.
Additionally, the many symptoms of menopause have been known to have drastic impacts on the state of relationships. Causing an increase in disputes, a lack of understanding, reduced physical intimacy, poor communication and eventually the breakdown of a relationship.
You might feel a little bit lightheaded or a little bit fuzzy. You might find that you've got vertigo, that you get really dizzy. And you may find that you get ringing in the ears, which is something called tinnitus. This can be caused by several things.
Common Emotional Symptoms of Menopause
Irritability. Increased impatience or total lack of patience. Aggression. Lack of motivation.
During this transition time before menopause, the supply of mature eggs in a woman's ovaries diminishes and ovulation becomes irregular. At the same time, the production of estrogen and progesterone decreases. It is the big drop in estrogen levels that causes most of the symptoms of menopause.