Mood Swings In Menopause

Mood swings are one of the most common menopausal symptoms. For many women, going through menopause is a time that presents all kinds of different challenges and it can be confusing and nerve-wracking. You may find that you swing from feeling perfectly content and happy to feeling low, frustrated and angry without any real trigger or that you are more sensitive to potentially stressful or upsetting situations than usual.

If you suffer with mood swings, you may feel frustrated because you're acting out of character and also because nobody around you seems to understand. If you do have mood swings, try not to beat yourself up; this is a very common problem during menopause and you may find it hugely beneficial to talk to some others in the same boat.


Why am I experiencing mood swings?

Mood swings, like most other symptoms of menopause, are linked to changes hormone levels in your body. As your hormone levels fluctuate, often with a lack of regularity, this can also affect serotonin levels; serotonin is a chemical, which lifts your mood. If you're already feeling fragile or irritable, you may also find that other menopausal symptoms aggravate your mood swings, such as memory lapses, insomnia and night sweats.

Coping with mood swings

Often, making simple changes to your lifestyle can have major benefits for your mood. Exercising is really beneficial for your physical health, but is also has amazing benefits for your mind; it helps to reduce tension and stress, clears your mind and gives you a positive means of channelling frustration and anger. You don't have to be a gym enthusiast to enjoy the benefits of exercise; even getting out for a walk every day can work wonders. It's also really important to eat a healthy and balanced diet and to try and make sure you get plenty of rest and good quality sleep. Stress can trigger mood swings, so try to avoid triggers and give yourself time to relax and unwind.

In some cases, mood swings may be symptomatic of an underlying issue, such as depression; in this case, treatment, such as anti-depressant medication, and talking therapies, may be recommended. Hormone replacement therapy may also be recommended.

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