Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Close Banner
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

The Menopause Symptoms People Don’t Talk About Enough, From Experts

Hannah Frye
Author:
August 18, 2024
Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
By Hannah Frye
Beauty & Health Editor
Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more.
Portrait Of A Woman Laughing
Image by Jayme Burrows / Stocksy
August 18, 2024

Menopause is currently having a renaissance in social discourse, and it's for the best. Beyond the tired stereotypes of hot flashes and mood swings, there's a growing conversation around the full spectrum of physical symptoms, leading to a welcome destigmatization of the menopause experience. 

However, one aspect that we think deserves even more attention is the mental health changes that often accompany perimenopause and menopause.

To come, we dive deeper into causes and the best coping strategies, directly from the experts.

What causes anxiety & depression during menopause?

There’s a plethora of reasons that anxiety and depression spike during menopause, so we’ll group them into three categories: Hormonal fluctuations, bodily changes, and lifestyle shifts.

Hormones

Let’s start with the nitty-gritty: Hormones. During menopause, levels of estrogen and progesterone plummet. 

“These hormones play a crucial role not just in our reproductive health but also in modulating our bodies’ neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which influence mood and emotional well-being,” explains board-certified OB/GYN Stephanie Hack, M.D.

She continues, “The decline in these hormones can lead to increased vulnerability to depressive and anxious emotions1 for many women.” 

On top of that, “Estrogen has neuroprotective properties; its reduction can affect brain function and mood regulation, leading to feelings of depression and anxiety,” Hack says. 

The bottom line: Estrogen and progesterone taking a back seat directly impacts brain function and mood. This is pretty unavoidable, but not unmanageable—more on that in a bit. 

Full-body symptoms

So we know that hormones can directly influence mood, but these hormonal changes in menopause also spark a number of symptoms that have a trickle-down effect on mental health. 

For example, Hack explains that fluctuations in hormone levels can lead to symptoms like night sweats and insomnia. Whether you’re in menopause or at not, consistently getting poor sleep can set you up for anxiety and a lower mood than usual. 

Many women in menopause also experience brain fog. If this leads to difficulty focusing, you may notice a dip in your work performance, which can then impact your self-esteem and overall mood. Do you see the relationship here?

A note on body image

“The same changes in hormone levels can lead to weight gain and changes in body composition, which might affect a woman’s self-esteem and body image, contributing to depressive and anxious thoughts,” Hack adds. 

Lifestyle changes

Hormones and symptoms aside, menopause often aligns with other significant life transitions, which can be difficult to manage even without the dip in hormones and other compounding symptoms. 

“This could be happening to a woman's body and brain while at the same time, life has introduced other changes that may also contribute to her moods and feelings,” notes psychologist Nadia Teymoorian. Examples include retiring, moving, children leaving home, and so on. 

How to cope

Knowing why certain thoughts and emotions are more likely to pop up can offer some comfort, and we’ve checked that box above. But as both Hack and Teymoorian express, there’s a more than a few paths to emotional support during menopause. Below, some worthy starting points.

Lifestyle

Hack suggests keeping nutrition and exercise at the forefront of your routine. Rather than forcing yourself to follow a specific diet, limit foods that can negatively impact your mood

“For example, clinical studies have shown potential causal effects of refined carbohydrates on mood, noting an increase in depressive symptoms2 in healthy volunteers,” she says. Here, more nutrition tips to support menopause

You can also turn to exercise for mood support. “Physical activity increases endorphins and serotonin levels, which can boost mood,” Hack says—so keep up with the workouts you enjoy.

Community

“Connecting with friends, family, or support groups for women going through menopause can also provide emotional comfort and reduce feelings of isolation,” Hack says. 

Building community is great for your mental health, as you probably already know, but that’s not where the perks stop. Creating and maintaining meaningful relationships can have a positive ripple effect on other, often unexpected, areas of health. 

A review of 34 different clinical studies on social connectedness and long-term care outcomes found positive associations between a strong sense of connection and a long list of physical health outcomes, including sleep, nutrition, stress, frailty, fatigue, and even overall mortality. Pretty impressive, right?

Professional support

Finally, don’t gaslight yourself. If you're struggling mentally or physically, you should ask for help. While menopause symptoms, both mental and physical symptoms, are normal, they shouldn't be interrupting your life entirely.

“Often women are so busy with life in general, and they ignore symptoms or push them off as temporary,” Teymoorian says. “I suggest seeking medical help immediately, in fact, it is a good idea to begin discussing these issues with your doctor before they start,” she adds. 

This goes for both mental health support from a therapist and physical support from your physician. While menopause, and the many symptoms that come with it, is completely normal, that doesn’t mean you have to struggle in silence.

The takeaway

From a dip in hormones to a lack of quality sleep and beyond, there are more than a few reasons menopause can spark feelings of anxiety and depression for many women.

Experts recommend honing in on diet and exercise that makes you feel your best, and putting your mental health first by asking for help.

If you want to dive deeper into the science of menopause, tune into this mindbodygreen podcast episode below with board-certified OB/GYN Mary Claire Haver, M.D. on Apple Podcasts.

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

Watch Next

Enjoy some of our favorite clips from classes

What Is Meditation?

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Light Watkins

Box Breathing

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

What Breathwork Can Address

Mindfulness/Spirituality | Gwen Dittmar

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

Yoga | Caley Alyssa

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

Nutrition | Rich Roll

What to Eat Before a Workout

Nutrition | Rich Roll

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Nutrition | Sahara Rose

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Love Languages

Love & Relationships | Esther Perel

Related Videos (10)

What Is Meditation?

Box Breathing

What Breathwork Can Address

The 8 Limbs of Yoga - What is Asana?

Two Standing Postures to Open Up Tight Hips

How Plants Can Optimize Athletic Performance

What to Eat Before a Workout

How Ayurveda Helps Us Navigate Modern Life

Messages About Love & Relationships

Love Languages

Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.

More On This Topic

more Health
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.
Advertisement
This ad is displayed using third party content and we do not control its accessibility features.