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Menopause is a period in a biological female’s life that can cause immense hormonal changes. These changes can have a significant impact on a person’s physical and mental health. Specifically, for individuals who have suffered with depression or anxiety throughout their lifetime, menopause may cause a resurgence in symptoms. And for those who are new to mental health struggles, menopause can be the cause of initial signs. In this piece, we look at menopause and its impact on mental health.
PMS (Premenstrual Syndrome)
PMS is something most biological females experience during their time with a period. From the onset of menstruation, many individuals experience the following symptoms before and during their cycle. Symptoms can include:
- Unexplained angry outbursts
- Irritability
- Depression
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety
- Brain fog
- Fatigue
- Mood swings
But because of the hormonal changes experienced during menopause, many people struggle with continuing symptoms of PMS. Feelings of being cranky or uncomfortable are fairly common throughout this chapter.
Menopause and Depression
According to the MGH Center for Women’s Mental Health, “Longitudinal studies in the general population consistently demonstrated that depressive symptoms are more common during the menopausal transition than premenopause. A study in the National Library of Medicine reports, “Depression exacts great emotional, social and economic costs in the form of treatment expenses, lost productivity, and emotional and social impairment. This is particularly consequential for women because the lifetime prevalence of major depression alone is more than 20%.” According to various findings, menopause, specifically the perimenopause stage, significantly increases the risk for women to experience depressive symptoms because of major hormonal changes.
Anxiety and Menopause
Harvard Health reports, “While research has clearly linked menopause and depression, the connection is less clear when it comes to anxiety. ‘We know a lot less about anxiety in menopause,’ says Dr. Joffe. There is some evidence that women are more likely to experience panic attacks during and after the menopausal transition,’ she says.”
Some women have reported having difficulty differentiating between hot flashes and anxiety symptoms. During a panic attack, your heart may race and you may feel sweaty and hot. The same is true of hot flashes. For women who have migraines, the hot flash can be preceded by a panicky feeling or a sense of doom, much like a panic attack. As a result, menopause may be causing anxiety inducing symptoms.
Treatments for Menopause and Mental Health
If you notice consistent mood swings that are impacting your life, you should consider discussing these issues with a medical professional. Whether a primary care doctor or a therapist, a medical practitioner can help you to navigate this tricky stage of life. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “Many symptoms of perimenopause respond well to hormonal medications. An estrogen patch with progesterone pills or a very low-dose oral contraceptive pill may offer relief.” You have to consider your lifestyle choices when looking into hormonal medications as those who smoke, have hypertension, blood clots or are already postmenopausal may not respond well to this type of treatment.
Antidepressants are also a treatment option to consider when looking for relief. These medications can be used to treat both depressive symptoms and anxiety. “Studies show antidepressant treatment coupled with cognitive behavioral therapy is the most effective approach to managing depression.”
These courses of treatment paired with healthy lifestyle habits are known to combat the mental health issues brought about by perimenopause and menopause. If you are struggling, do not wait to seek help. You deserve relief. Join us in the Women’s Health and Pregnancy discussion group to find others going through something similar. And as always, take care of yourself.
