Mood swings and menopause
One minute you are euphoric and the next you feel that life is not worth living. Or a restless feeling slowly creeps up on you. You may feel nervous or irritable, or have uncontrollable crying spells. Navigating the emotional rollercoaster of menopause can be challenging, to say the least. But rest assured, you are not alone: up to 40 percent of women have mood swings during perimenopause.
One minute I’m sobbing, the next I’m laughing. I can’t seem to control my emotions. - Anna (age 49)
Many women don’t realise their mood swings are menopause related. In fact, it is not uncommon for doctors to misdiagnose menopausal symptoms. This is in part because you can start experiencing mood swings very early in perimenopause, even before your menstrual pattern changes. Changes in mood are often a first sign of perimenopause. So if your doctor wants to prescribe antidepressants, for example, rather than considering menopause as the culprit behind your moodiness, they should be challenged as to why. The guidelines are clear: antidepressants should not be used to treat low mood associated with perimenopause and menopause. There are other solutions.
What is happening in your body?
Menopausal mood swings are caused by hormonal changes. The transition from menstruation to menopause is marked by a period in which your ovaries gradually produce less of the female sex hormone oestrogen. This can throw off the balance of hormones in your body. A hormonal imbalance can affect your brain chemistry.
For example, oestrogen stimulates the production of the happiness hormone serotonin. Serotonin has a positive effect on mood and emotions, but also helps with digestion and sleep. When oestrogen levels drop, serotonin levels also fall, which contributes to increased irritability, anxiety and sadness. In short, it can make you overly emotional.
Other causes
Menopause is not the only cause of mood swings in women. Other factors can cause or exacerbate mood issues as well – for example, lack of sleep (less time for recovery = less tissue buildup and hormone production), stress and an unhealthy diet.
By the way, it's common for women to experience multiple symptoms of menopause. So you may have mood swings as well as hot flashes, weight issues and vaginal dryness. All of these symptoms can affect how you feel about yourself.
How to identify mood swings?
Mood swings are sudden, dramatic changes (swings) in how you feel at a particular time (mood). In other words, when your mood does a 180 in a span of a few seconds, you’re experiencing a mood swing. Mood swings can make you feel like you're not in control of your emotions or can cause you to not feel like yourself. You can identify mood swings by:
- Irritability: you get annoyed easily by small things
- Rapid mood changes
- Nervousness or restlessness
- Crying spells for no apparent reason
- Emotional outbursts: small things can make you overly emotional Impatience
- Feeling gloomy or depressed
You may also feel jittery, restless or unhappy for longer periods of time. It’s also possible that, instead of mood swings, hormonal imbalances cause a constant low mood.
What can you do?
Having to deal with mood swings can be draining for you and your loved ones. Temper tantrums, uncontrollable sadness... All these emotions can be overwhelming. Do you no longer recognise the person you've become?
- Acknowledging and accepting your emotions is the first step. Realise that your hormones are causing you to feel this way. It can also be helpful to talk with a friend, your partner or other women with similar experiences.
- Diet is also important. A lot of your body's serotonin is produced in the gut, so it makes sense to look at what you're eating. What you eat can definitely affect how you feel. Avoid refined carbohydrates and eat 500 grams of fruit and vegetables a day to stabilise your blood sugar. Stable blood sugar contributes to a stable mood.
- Also, you should get at least 30 minutes of physical activity a day. Exercise relaxes the mind and has a positive influence on mood. Taking long walks is also a good idea as walking improves sleep quality.
- Support your health with high-quality supplements. Nutrients give you energy and allow processes in your body, such as the production of hormones, to work properly. This can also have a positive impact on mood. High-quality supplements, such as magnesium, saffron and ashwagandha, can support your mood* as you go through menopause.
*Health claims pending approval by the European Commission.
Medication for mood swings
If adopting a healthy lifestyle does not reduce your mood swings, then hormone therapy might be an option. Explore what products can support your health.
What treatment is right for you?
During menopause, levels of oestrogen and progesterone in the body start to fluctuate and decline, which in turn causes levels of serotonin to fluctuate. The neurotransmitter serotonin is a natural mood stabiliser. Low serotonin levels can lead to emotional changes, such as mood swings, crying spells, low mood and constant restlessness. Hormone therapy can restore balance, improving your mental well-being.
Hormone therapy and mood
Hormone therapy can provide relief in women with (severe) mental health issues. It can take the form of bioidentical hormones or synthetic hormones. Which type you choose depends on your personal needs. Options include Progynova or Trisequens. If your symptoms are not caused by hormonal disruptions, then talk to your doctor about other treatment options.
I've made a lot of changes to my diet and I've started taking supplements. I don't feel 100% yet but I do feel a lot better. - Wilma (age 50)
Sources
Your path to a smooth menopause starts here
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FAQ
Can the menopausal transition affect you emotionally?
Absolutely! As your body transitions into menopause, you may experience a wide range of emotions. Irritability, mood swings, anxiety, crying a lot and difficulty concentrating are all common symptoms. You may also feel restless, insecure, overly emotional or gloomy.
Who is SeeMe-nopause?
SeeMe-nopause was founded on the initiative of a group of women and is part of the eHealth Ventures Group, a leading organisation specialising in digital health solutions with platforms in 14 countries.
With a team of doctors and menopause specialists, we provide access to information and supplements. We will also offer medicinal products and therapies in the near future. Our goal is to give women the tools they need to not only survive but thrive through perimenopause and beyond. More about us.
What can SeeMe-nopause do for me?
We can help alleviate menopausal symptoms by helping you make minor adjustments to your life and by providing expert support. We make specialist knowledge, scientific advice and medical support accessible. Discover how you can feel more energised, relaxed and balanced by, for example, eating healthier and exercising. There are also supplements to support your health as you go through the menopausal transition. In the meantime, we are working hard to make medical treatments, including hormone therapy, accessible through our platform.
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