Your mood and menopause
Hormone changes create a window of vulnerability for mental health. We see this in puberty, pregnancy and postpartum, so it’s no surprise that we also see this in the menopause transition.
During the menopause transition, people are at a higher risk of developing depression, anxiety, and stress. Some studies indicate the risk of depression may be 14x higher in the first 2 years after the final menstrual cycle. This is thought to be partly in relation to how hormones directly impact mood, how the drop in hormones exacerbates other symptoms such as hot flashes and insomnia, and likely our cultural attitude towards aging where many associate menopause with old age.
So what do we do about it?
Being aware is important! Noticing symptoms of anxiety, depression and increased stress can allow for earlier treatment and support.
Ensure you have the building blocks for mood in place: sleep, exercise, outdoor time, a sense of purpose/meaning and nutrition all play a big role in terms of mood
Ensure you do not have nutrient deficiencies: Vitamin D, iron and b12 deficiency can all negatively impact mood, these are easy things to assess and treat if needed
Consider further support in the form of counselling/therapy or building your support network. This transition is often experienced in isolation, and sometimes comes with a change in social context (kids moving out, aging parents, job changes…) which makes things even more difficult.
Consider further support in the form of supplements, medication and/or hormone replacement therapy.
There are many options to consider that can be very effective to support through this transition!