How Menopause Affects Your Mental Health

Menopause is a normal part of aging in women, but you may not realize until menopause occurs that the process can affect not only your physical body but also your mental health.

You should know that this is normal and that your health care provider can help you work through whatever you might be experiencing.

Dr. Shamsah Amersi and our team are caring, compassionate professionals who have deep experience in walking women through the symptoms of menopause. Here’s what we want you to know about how menopause affects your mental health.

What is menopause?

Menopause in women means your reproductive years have to come to a close. Your ovaries shut down, leading to an end to menstruation and a drop in your estrogen and progesterone levels. Menopause is officially defined as 12 consecutive months without a period, but symptoms often begin well before menopause, which is a window of time known as perimenopause. 

Thanks to the drop in hormone levels, symptoms of perimenopause and menopause include many physical issues such as night sweats, hot flashes, weight gain, and vaginal dryness.

How does it affect your mental health?

The lower hormone levels can also lead to mental health issues, including anxiety and depression. No direct link between menopause and depression has been proven yet, but the risk for depression rises by up to four times during menopause. The dip in hormone levels may disrupt neurotransmitters in your brain, which can lead to moodiness, irritability, and even depression.

The changes your body undergoes can also cause mood swings and anxiety, and if you have a history of mental health issues, those issues may become worse during this time. 

What can you do to alleviate symptoms?

If you feel unsettled, anxious, or depressed during menopause, one of the most effective treatment options you can find is hormone replacement therapy, which is designed to replace the hormones your body has naturally lost over time. Depending on your situation, the replacement hormones may be available in pills, patches, injections, creams, or pellets.

Therapy can help treat depression, and other antidepressants may be an option. In addition, lifestyle changes can make a huge difference in your outlook, such as exercising, getting adequate sleep, spending time outside, and eating a balanced diet.

If you are ready for some help navigating the physical or emotional symptoms of menopause, Dr. Amersi and our team can guide you well. Just call our office or use our online booking tool to schedule an appointment.