The Connection Between Menopause and Mental Health
Just as getting your period is expected for women, so is menopause. Despite this, many women still don't know enough about it. According to the State of Menopause Study in the United States, almost 30% of women have never sought information before experiencing menopause.
This lack of awareness may partly be due to a clear need for detailed research and the fact that menopause has been “villainized” through the years. For many people—women included—menopausal symptoms are almost seen as taboo. This is especially true with mental health-related symptoms such as depression, brain fog, and mood swings—which the aforementioned survey says affects up to 80% of women.
What Happens During Menopause?
Since surveys have shown that many women still aren’t sure about what happens during menopause, let’s break it down. Menopause, as the name implies, is when the body ceases to menstruate. While this can happen anytime between the ages of 41-58, in the United States, the median age for menopause is 52. Before menopause, women usually undergo four years of perimenopause, which is the body’s way of slowly transitioning. Once a full year passes without a period, a woman is officially in menopause. At this stage, fertility and the body's estrogen and progesterone levels become much lower.
Why Does It Affect My Mental Health?
Our moods are heavily dependent on balanced hormones. As mentioned above, during menopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels become very low. Because of this, many women are prone to mood changes that can manifest as stress, anxiety, depression, lethargy, and loneliness. A 2018 study on menopausal women has even suggested a link between its symptoms and thoughts of self-harm.
According to specialists from John Hopkins University, women who have a previous mental health diagnosis have a higher tendency to exhibit depression or anxiety during menopause. It must be noted, though, that this does not mean that these women have abnormal brains. Rather, their brains are wired in a way that makes them more sensitive to fluctuations in hormones. Because these mental health symptoms often make women irritable, confused, or sluggish, it can also affect their day-to-day activities. This feeling of “not being yourself”, can further compound any anxiety you already feel.
What Can I Do About It?
Thankfully, there are ways to manage these symptoms. Because the very nature of menopause is so personal, it may require you to try a few methods before finding one that works for your mental health.
See a Health Specialist
Consulting a healthcare expert can take away a lot of the uncertainty of menopause. Depending on your needs and preferences, you may opt to work with one or several specialists. Initially, though, you’ll want to consult with a gynecologist. These physicians are experts in the female reproductive system. Given this, they can tend to any menopausal problems you may be experiencing and suggest possible treatments.
Alternatively, you may opt to see an adult-gerontology nursing practitioner. These nurses have completed a doctor of nursing practice degree and are, therefore, fully capable of conducting health assessments autonomously. Moreover, their specialization in the adult-gerontology field ensures that they can tend to the unique needs of the aging population.
Opt for Supplementary Treatments
After consulting with either a gynecologist or a nursing practitioner, they may suggest you see a psychologist or menopause specialist to help craft a personalized wellness approach for you.
As a mental health expert, a psychologist or psychiatrist can teach tailored coping techniques that may include exercising, sleeping better, and possibly anti-depressant medications to help women with more manageable mental health concerns. Usually, these experts will try to help you naturally regulate your hormones by including mood-boosting practices in your daily life.
However, for some women whose range of menopause symptoms is more extreme and prolonged, a menopause specialist, like a nurse who specializes in this area, may suggest hormone replacement therapies (HRT). These are more aggressive treatments that can be done topically or orally to balance hormones with medical supervision. By doing so, you can safely reduce the risks of cardiovascular disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and debilitating mental health issues.
Although menopause seems scary and unrelenting, it doesn’t last forever. For many women, the years after menopause are some of their best yet. Remember, there’s no shame in menopause or mental health, and you deserve to get help. Join a community of women on Mighty Health to discuss menopause, its symptoms and general aging!