Mental health in menopause matters
It’s time for menopausal women to consider their mental health
The first signs of perimenopause can bring low moods, mood swings and anxiety. Too few women have a clear understanding of the different stages of menopause and so are unlikely to make the connection between changes in their mental health and menopause, so don’t realise that is very likely that changes will be short-term and have a clear cause.
Research has shown that 61% of women suffer anxiety during perimenopause, a phase that can last anywhere between a few months, to up to 12 years. A 2013 report by The Office for National Statistics found the highest level of women’s self-reporting of anxiety or depression, took place in the 50-54 age group. Gynaecologist, Dr Karen Morton, says of anxiety, “It’s one of the most underestimated symptoms of menopause.”
44% of respondents to a 2018 BBC Radio 4 Woman’s Hour survey, reported that menopause significantly affected their mood and mental health and ability to function day to day.
Listen to Ann talk to Yvette & Ellen on their Mentally Yours Menopause podcast.
Does menopause affect your mental health?
The answer for many of us is, yes! When hormones become out of balance in menopause, but all too often in perimenopause, it can bring a raft of new, unexpected, and invisible symptoms that lead to changes in mood, anxiety and energy levels.
As the hormones oestrogen and progesterone decline in menopause, the body goes through a process of adjustment. These hormones, usually released at puberty, have previously coursed round the body sustaining both the body and brain.
The average age for menopause is 51. This is a time when the multiple complexities of life may collide with hormonal imbalance, triggering mental health problems that can be exacerbated by the all-too-common sleep disruption experienced in menopause.
Psychological Signs And Symptoms Of Menopause
Low mood
Anxiety
Irrational mood swings and irritability
Brain fog, inability to concentrate and forgetfulness
Low self-esteem and confidence
Feelings of fatigue
Jumbled thoughts and difficulty coping
Causes of mental health issues in menopause
Social Factors
Natural menopause and approaching middle age often bring increased stress, anxiety and dread. Symptoms of menopause bring additional pressures alongside social factors and emotional stressors such as:
Ending or starting relationships
Grown children leaving or returning home
Financial or career worries
Ageing parents
Getting older
Health concerns for ourselves, or partner.
Surgery
Surgery plays a role for 1 in 100 women who will experience an early menopause, before the age of 40, as a result of chemotherapy, or surgery/hysterectomy. When the ovaries are removed, the natural hormone supply is cut, sending women into instant, intense menopause, for which women are unprepared.
Our guest blogger Sophie shares how she managed early surgical menopause.
Relapse
Menopause can be linked with a recurrence of depression, potential relapses or changes to pre-existing symptoms of mental illness.
Clinical trials are yet to find a clear link between depression and menopause. But many women experience mood swings during perimenopause.
Research suggests women who’ve had severe PMS, or postpartum depression, may have more severe mood swings during perimenopause.
Bipolar Disorder
Women living with bipolar disorder report more depressive episodes at menopause than those without.
Some of the symptoms of menopause can be similar to those of bipolar disorder: irritability, fatigue, memory issues and more, meaning that menopause as a cause can be missed. By recognising the link with the impact of hormonal imbalance, women can talk with their health practitioners about how to manage their mental health appropriately.
Managing Mental Health In Menopause
Self-Care Steps to Help
Recognise significant changes in mood early and seek professional help
Put yourself first - make time for exercise, spend time outside, prioritise sleep, eat healthily and avoid alcohol, which can trigger low moods.
Share how you’re feeling with a partner or friend
When to Get Help?
The NHS recommendation: ‘See your GP if you experience symptoms of depression for most of the day, every day, for more than 2 weeks.
What professional help is there for mental health in menopause?
NICE menopause guidelines recommend:
HRT as a treatment of hormonally related mood changes.
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT).
St John’s Wort, to treat mild depression.
Exercise leads to the production of endorphins, or ‘feel good’ hormones, that lift your mood. Being outside when you exercise enhances this effect.
Does mental health improve after perimenopause?
Although menopause changes can be discombobulating but as those hormones settle down so your emotional and mental health should settle down into a new equilibrium. Being aware of potential changes and recognising what is happening, improved self-care and awareness of what may help you to take back control of your mental health in menopause sooner.
Find out more about ‘Menopause Depression’ and Anxiety to find more information.
NB. We are not providing medical advice - it is essential to seek medical help if you have any concerns about your physical, emotional or mental health.