Mood disorders and menopause
Mood disorders are diseases that affect mental health. They are characterised by the prolonged presence of uncomfortable emotions such as sadness, exaltation, or even both (WHO, 2019). These disorders can happen at any time in life, but during perimenopause and menopause, the risk increases.
Significant mood changes occur due to the decrease in the main female hormones, estrogen, and progesterone during menopause. The reduction of hormones adds to other factors that alter the production of serotonin, known as the hormone of happiness. All this predisposes women to changes in mood (Solorzano, 2018).
For this reason, every woman close to menopause must learn about the most common mood disorders in this stage of life and take care of their mental health.
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Last edited: 9th May 2022
How Common are Mood Disorders in menopause?
All affective disorders can be divided into two groups (Sekhon, 2021):- Bipolar disorders: characterised by extreme mood swings, ranging from sadness to excitement or moodiness.
- Depressive disorders: moods accompanied by emotions such as anguish, sadness, or loss of interest.
What are the Most Common Mood Disorders in Menopause?
When referring to mood disorders, whether they are depressive or bipolar, we are not talking about a single type of disorder. These categories can be divided into a long list of conditions, and knowing them all is a complex task that requires expert knowledge. We list here the most common mood disorders in menopause and perimenopause. In addition, we present their signs, symptoms, and other important characteristics (Bhatt, 2021). Nevertheless, if you think you are suffering from any of these disorders, we strongly advise you to consult a doctor.Depression
It is common for some symptoms of the depressive disorder to manifest when women are close to menopause. Specifically, some women may start suffering from major depression or seasonal affective disorder in this period of life. It is also more common for depressive symptoms to appear in women who have already experienced depressive symptoms before menopause (Bromberger, 2018). It is vital to take into account the presence of the following symptoms to know if you should consult a psychiatrist (Bromberger, 2018):- Intense feelings of sadness and hopelessness
- Changes in appetite with weight gain or weight loss
- Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or excessive sleep
- Constant fatigue
- Trouble concentrating
- Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
- Slower movements and thinking
- Agitation
- Self-destructive thoughts
Anxiety or Angst
During the transition to menopause, it is common for symptoms of an anxiety disorder to appear, even in women who previously did not present with these symptoms previously (Hantsoo, 2017). Anxiety often occurs in menopause due to the changes in hormone levels. In addition, exposure to symptoms such as hot flushes or insomnia can lead to increased stress. For these reasons, it is normal for you to feel some of the following symptoms (Chad, 2021):- Irritability
- Nervousness or a feeling of tension
- Fear for no reason, accompanied or not by a racing heart
- Panic attacks
- Social phobia (fear of interactions with people)
- General distress
- Constant worry
Bipolar Disorder
Bipolar disorder is a mental illness characterised by outbreaks of emotional disturbances, sadness or exaltation (Jain, 2021). It can start in menopause, but it is more common for women who are already experience this disorder to see their symptoms increase during this period of life (Bhatt, 2019). Bipolar disorder consists of two types of conditions: type 1 and type 2. A mental health expert will be able to diagnose and differentiate between the two through the observation of symptoms (Jain, 2021). We leave here a short list of symptoms of bipolar disorder that may occur in menopause (Marsh, 2015):- Spontaneous crying
- Irritability and emotional lability
- Lack of energy
- Little motivation
- Difficulty to focus
- Sleep that is constantly interrupted
Is it Possible to Prevent Mood Disorders?
Although mood disorders such as bipolar disorder have their origin in multiple causes that only a professional can identify and help with, you can prevent these diseases by taking care of your mental health. Here we include a series of day-to-day recommendations for taking care of your own mental health (NIH, 2021; WHO, 2021):- Exercise regularly. Thirty minutes of physical activity a day is enough to improve your mood.
- Talk to someone you trust. Remember that you will feel better expressing your concerns and motivations openly.
- Don’t neglect your sleep. Sleeping well is very important for your mind. Take care of your mind with good sleep hygiene.
- Avoid harmful substances, such as illicit substances or an excess of alcohol.
- Eat healthy food and stay hydrated. A balanced diet helps your mind and gives your body energy.
- Focus on the good. When faced with problems, try to see the positives.
- Look around you, observe the world, listen to its sounds, enjoy its shapes and colours.
- Create goals and priorities daily, and try to reflect on what you have achieved every day before going to sleep.
- Do the things you enjoy. Whether that is enjoying a film, taking a walk or spending time with friends.
- Be grateful for things. Practice gratitude with yourself and with those around you.
- In addition, there are nutrients such as magnesium, melatonin, or omega 3 that help sleep better and regulate brain functions (St-Onge, 2016).