I get a lot of questions about how menopause effects mood. What do you think? Have your responses to situations changed as you journey through menopause? How have you coped? What advice do you have for others? Your comments are welcome.
On October 9th, the HFHS Neurology Department hosted the second lecture in a series of three focusing on neurological health for women. Dr. Doree Ann Espiritu, service chief of Psychiatry at West Bloomfield Hospital spoke about mood disorders and women. Below I share information about mood and menopause and my notes from the lecture. The final lecture in this series is October 30. The topic is Memory. I suspect it will be very popular and space is limited . Call 313-916-8088 if you are interested in attending. If you can’t make it, stay tuned here. I will report back.
It is a common belief that menopause makes you crazy. In truth, there is no scientific evidence for this. There is evidence, however, that mood is definitely tied to hormones. Duh! Women who have suffered from premenstrual dysphoric disorder or postpartum depression may indeed be at higher risk for mood problems during the hormonal roller coaster of perimenopause. The good news is that once menopause is acheived (remember this is confirmed 12 months after the last menstrual period) the risk for mood disorders actually decreases. Whew.
According to Dr. Espiritu’s statistics, a lifetime chance for a women to develop depression is 21%, social phobia,15.5%, drug and alcohol dependence 14%. Although rates of depression are lower in men, rates of drug and alcohol dependence are higher. Women are 6X more likely than men to have Seasonal Affective DIsorder (SAD). We are 3X more likely than men to develop anxiety disorders. Anxiety disorders include generalized anxiety, phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorders, panic disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Hormones are by no means the only culprit for mood problems in women. Women with mood disorders should be screened for other causes of their symptoms, according to Dr. Espiritu. Medical problems, medications and assessment of past and recent traumatic events should be considered. Some women having their first perimenopausal hot flashes with heat sensations and sweating that take their breath away may mistake them for panic attacks.
Medications and cognitive-behavioral therapies now provide very effective treatment and management of mood disorders. Like any illness, treatment for a mood disorder is easier when recognized early. Also, like most other diseases, life-style changes can help. There is strong evidence that exercise and a healthy diet improves mood. November topic is stress management and I will discuss life style and mood more in the next few weeks.
In Christine Northrup’s book, The Wisdom of Menopause, irritability and menopause is attrubuted to the “lifting of the hormonal veil”. By this she means that the stopping of the monthly cycle of reproductive hormones which keep us focused on caring for others allows us to consider our own needs more clearly. You may have a darn good reason to feel irritated! A surly boss, unhelpful kids or husband, a higher number on the bathroom scale? If you are in a bad mood, consider why. It may be just the motivation you need to change your life in a new and better direction.
Irritability is one thing, clinical depression or other mood disorders are another. If you are stuggling to get out of bed or having difficulty coping day to day then get help. Talk to your health care provider about your symptoms. If you thought you had an infection you wouldn’t hesitate to get treatment and a mental illness should be no different. If you would like more information about women’s hormones and relationship to mood a good book is Women’s Moods: What every Woman Must Know about Hormones, the Brain and Emotional Health by Deborah Sichel, MD, Jean Driscoll MS,RN,CS. The National Institute of Mental Health web site is another good source for information- www.nimh.nih.gov
November 7th, 2008 at 7:56 pm
No doubt menopause has affected my mood. I’ve always been told I’m uncommonly even-tempered, a master at smiling in the face of the every-day disaster. I’m finding it harder to keep things in perspective the way I always have. The hot flashes are much easier for me to deal with than the temper flashes I’ve been having. I often think my being cranky is harder on me than it is on anyone else (relatively speaking, I think I’m still better at keeping my moods to myself than some–but I feel miserable for hours when they bust out!). The bad days also seem to involve a lot of brain fog.
I know exercise helps, but I struggle to make myself move. Mostly, I want to sleep. And I am better off when I get a good 8 hours sleep. Hot flashes and the need to pee in the night don’t always make that possible, and by the end of the work week I’m generally exhausted. Mondays are usually my most productive days because I’ve caught up with sleep over the weekend. I’ve wondered sometimes if I’m depressed, but I really don’t think so. Mostly just tired and irritable, but I do enjoy life when I’m feeling rested.
I try to eat right–big on veggies and fiber, light on fats (though I’m stuck with a wicked sweet tooth!), am trying to commit to a regular exercise plan. And I just keep blaming everything on menopause, which actually seems to help me regain my perspective. As in, “no, I’m not turning into a raving b—-, it’s menopause and it will get easier.” And I try to get out of everyone’s way when I’m feeling temper flashes. I actually warn my immediate coworkers when I’m having one of those cranky days, and I’m learning to just walk away when somebody sets me off.