You may have started experiencing some of the physical symptoms of menopause. Hot flashes, headaches, and the other forms of physical discomfort that often accompany menopause can be deeply frustrating. However, while many women are familiar with some of the most common physical symptoms of menopause, they are not necessarily prepared for how this shift will affect their mental health. The mental health impact of menopause is less understood. But menopause can have a significant influence on your mental health.
Women who enter menopause may be caught off guard by the sudden changes in their moods or their vulnerability to anxiety or depression. Let’s explore the many ways in which menopause can influence your mental health.
Changing Hormone Levels
First, it’s important to delve into exactly why menopause can affect your mental health. It’s because your hormone levels and your mental health are intrinsically connected. When your hormone levels change, it will inevitably have an impact on your mood.
Additionally, some of your usual strategies for lifting your mood, like focusing on positive affirmations, practicing self-care, or getting lost in a good book, might not be as effective as they once were. It will take time to adjust to your shifting hormone levels, and some women find that the best way to feel relief is through prescribed hormone treatments.
Mood Swings
One day, you feel perfectly fine and content. The next day, it’s as though everything makes you cry. Sometimes, your mood swings aren’t day to day - they seem to occur minute to minute. You never know when something will set you off, and the tears will suddenly start falling.
This is a common experience during menopause. The mood swings can be frustrating, especially if you find that these feelings interfere with your relationships or professional life.
Irritability
Maybe you’ve caught yourself feeling annoyed at minor things more and more often. You end up complaining about things that never used to bother you. Sometimes, you try to hold your tongue, but suppressing these feelings only leads you to feel more irritated as the day goes on.
Perhaps you’ve snapped at the people you love, and you regret it. Irritability is a frustrating yet normal emotional aspect of menopause.
Difficulty Sleeping
Hot flashes can keep you up at night. But the hormonal swings that come along with menopause can also contribute to you tossing and turning for hours. Perhaps you never had trouble sleeping before, yet lately, you’ve barely been able to get an uninterrupted eight hours.
If you’re unable to sleep well, this can exacerbate your mood swings during the day. Exhaustion alone is enough to affect your mood negatively. But compounded with the influence of your changing hormone levels, you may feel depressed, anxious, or completely fatigued during the day.
Reconsidering Your Role in Life
Menopause also marks a new chapter in your life. Right now, you may be wondering where you fit in, and what comes next for you. Maybe you’ve felt a shift in your personal identity ever since you began experiencing symptoms of menopause.
Re-framing your own self-perception can come with feelings of anxiety. You might even feel depressed about leaving a previous chapter of your life behind. This is a time to reflect on your next steps and what goals and dreams you can pursue in this new stage of your life. There are exciting opportunities ahead.
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Are you struggling with the transition to menopause, especially in regards to your mental health? It may be time to start working with a therapist. Get in touch with us to learn more about scheduling your first session for women’s therapy.