The Menopause Symptoms People Don’t Talk About Enough, From Experts

Beauty & Health Editor

By Hannah Frye

Beauty & Health Editor

Hannah Frye is the Beauty & Health Editor at mindbodygreen. She has a B.S. in journalism and a minor in women’s, gender, and queer studies from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. Hannah has written across lifestyle sections including beauty, women’s health, mental health, sustainability, social media trends, and more. She previously worked for Almost 30, a top-rated health and wellness podcast. In her current role, Hannah reports on the latest beauty trends and innovations, women’s health research, brain health news, and plenty more.

Image by Jayme Burrows / Stocksy

August 18, 2024

Menopause is currently having a renaissance in social discourse, and it’s for the best. Beyond the tired stereotypes of hot flashes and mood swings, there’s a growing conversation around the full spectrum of physical symptoms, leading to a welcome destigmatization of the menopause experience. 

However, one aspect that we think deserves even more attention is the mental health changes that often accompany perimenopause and menopause.

To come, we dive deeper into causes and the best coping strategies, directly from the experts.

What causes anxiety & depression during menopause?

There’s a plethora of reasons that anxiety and depression spike during menopause, so we’ll group them into three categories: Hormonal fluctuations, bodily changes, and lifestyle shifts.

Hormones

Let’s start with the nitty-gritty: Hormones. During menopause, levels of estrogen and progesterone plummet. 

“These hormones play a crucial role not just in our reproductive health but also in modulating our bodies’ neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, which influence mood and emotional well-being,” explains board-certified OB/GYN Stephanie Hack, M.D.

On top of that, “Estrogen has neuroprotective properties; its reduction can affect brain function and mood regulation, leading to feelings of depression and anxiety,” Hack says. 

The bottom line: Estrogen and progesterone taking a back seat directly impacts brain function and mood. This is pretty unavoidable, but not unmanageable—more on that in a bit. 

Full-body symptoms

So we know that hormones can directly influence mood, but these hormonal changes in menopause also spark a number of symptoms that have a trickle-down effect on mental health. 

For example, Hack explains that fluctuations in hormone levels can lead to symptoms like night sweats and insomnia. Whether you’re in menopause or at not, consistently getting poor sleep can set you up for anxiety and a lower mood than usual. 

Many women in menopause also experience brain fog. If this leads to difficulty focusing, you may notice a dip in your work performance, which can then impact your self-esteem and overall mood. Do you see the relationship here?

Lifestyle changes

Hormones and symptoms aside, menopause often aligns with other significant life transitions, which can be difficult to manage even without the dip in hormones and other compounding symptoms. 

“This could be happening to a woman’s body and brain while at the same time, life has introduced other changes that may also contribute to her moods and feelings,” notes psychologist Nadia Teymoorian. Examples include retiring, moving, children leaving home, and so on. 

How to cope

Knowing why certain thoughts and emotions are more likely to pop up can offer some comfort, and we’ve checked that box above. But as both Hack and Teymoorian express, there’s a more than a few paths to emotional support during menopause. Below, some worthy starting points.

Lifestyle

Hack suggests keeping nutrition and exercise at the forefront of your routine. Rather than forcing yourself to follow a specific diet, limit foods that can negatively impact your mood. 

You can also turn to exercise for mood support. “Physical activity increases endorphins and serotonin levels, which can boost mood,” Hack says—so keep up with the workouts you enjoy.

Community

“Connecting with friends, family, or support groups for women going through menopause can also provide emotional comfort and reduce feelings of isolation,” Hack says. 

Building community is great for your mental health, as you probably already know, but that’s not where the perks stop. Creating and maintaining meaningful relationships can have a positive ripple effect on other, often unexpected, areas of health. 

Professional support

Finally, don’t gaslight yourself. If you’re struggling mentally or physically, you should ask for help. While menopause symptoms, both mental and physical symptoms, are normal, they shouldn’t be interrupting your life entirely.

“Often women are so busy with life in general, and they ignore symptoms or push them off as temporary,” Teymoorian says. “I suggest seeking medical help immediately, in fact, it is a good idea to begin discussing these issues with your doctor before they start,” she adds. 

This goes for both mental health support from a therapist and physical support from your physician. While menopause, and the many symptoms that come with it, is completely normal, that doesn’t mean you have to struggle in silence.

The takeaway

From a dip in hormones to a lack of quality sleep and beyond, there are more than a few reasons menopause can spark feelings of anxiety and depression for many women.

Experts recommend honing in on diet and exercise that makes you feel your best, and putting your mental health first by asking for help.

If you want to dive deeper into the science of menopause, tune into this mindbodygreen podcast episode below with board-certified OB/GYN Mary Claire Haver, M.D. on Apple Podcasts.