This article describes mental health symptoms of menopause that many doctors don’t talk about. As a result, people are not always aware that they are going through menopause.
“… new research shows that perimenopausal and menopausal people also experience brain fog, anxiety, and depression at staggering rates—despite the relative lack of discussion surrounding them. ”
Not Just Mood Swings
“It’s the decrease in estrogen that causes the cognitive and mental health symptoms of menopause, explains Dr. Hansen. ‘Specifically, two brain areas—the pre-frontal cortex and the hippocampus, known for high-level cognitive function, learning, and memory—are rich in estrogen receptors and seem to be affected by a decline in estrogen,’ she says.”
Cognitive Decline During Menopause
“‘Notable declines in the ability to remember, learn, or make quick decisions around the time of perimenopause and menopause can cause immense frustration leading to anxiety, increased stress, and sleep disturbances,’ says Dr. Williams. ‘It’s also worth mentioning that the menopausal transition often occurs at periods of peak stress, as women are often sandwiched with the responsibilities of children (teens/adults) and aging parents, and perhaps increased occupational stress and change. These familial and work-related challenges along with other stressors can exacerbate these symptoms.’”
“… heavier women tend to have worse menopause symptoms. Additionally, they discovered that women who have had hysterectomies experience worse menopausal symptoms than those who entered menopause more gradually.”
Hormone Therapy for Menopause
“The hormones used to treat menopausal symptoms are often at much lower doses than what’s in hormonal birth control, which is often the only hormonal treatment option perimenopausal people receive from their doctors.”
“Even without hormone therapy, some of the symptoms of menopause will improve on their own, meaning it’s possible to be weaned off of these hormones without experiencing a relapse in symptoms.”
https://www.wellandgood.com/mental-health-symptoms-menopause/
Elaine Korngold at AskCounseling.com offers a combination of Brainspotting therapy and Internal Family Systems therapy to help clients experiencing menopause process stress and difficult emotions that can all be cumulative. Contact Elaine to schedule your free 20-minute phone consultation to discuss your needs.