http://menopausesupportblog.com/2008/10/menopause-and-mood/ Presented by Henry Ford Health System Sat, 04 Sep 2010 15:29:08 -0700 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 http://menopausesupportblog.com/2008/10/menopause-and-mood/comment-page-1/#comment-95 Amanda Sat, 08 Nov 2008 00:56:35 +0000 http://menopausesupportblog.com/?p=133#comment-95 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. 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.

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