Menopause Mood Changes

“You may notice that menopause causes your
mood to change. This is due to changing hormone levels.
You might experience…”.1

Umbrella
What may the Menopause Mood Changes Umbrella include?

Depending on the Source (DotS) this Umbrella may include:

  • Menopause Mood Changes
  • Menopause Moodiness
  • Menopause Moods

Mood Changes

Is there an association between menopause and mood changes?

In Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health the (Australian) Jean Hailes for Women’s Health (JH) note:

Menopause Mood Changes“You may notice that menopause causes your mood to change. This is due to changing hormone levels. You might experience:

  • Irritability
  • Increased anger
  • Low mood
  • Depression and anxiety”.2

In Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms: Q. My family tells me that I’ve become moody, and I admit that I sometimes feel blue or short-tempered. Menopause? the North American Menopause Society (NAMS) elaborate on:

“A. Most women make the transition into menopause without experiencing depression, but many women report symptoms of moodiness, depressed mood, anxiety, stress, and a decreased sense of well-being during perimenopause. Women with a history of clinical depression or a history of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) or postpartum depression seem to be particularly vulnerable to recurrent depression during perimenopause, as are women who report significant stress, sexual dysfunction, physical inactivity, or hot flashes”.3

Depression

Does menopause cause depression?

According to the Australasian Menopause Society:

“Depression is not more common at menopause than at other stages of life, but a past history of depression, particularly post-natal depression, and stress during the peri-menopause may make a woman more likely to succumb to mood problems”.4

In Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health the JH note:

“Research suggests that women are more likely to feel depressed during the menopause transition.

Women who have a history of depression or premenstrual syndrome (PMS) may be more likely to develop depression during this time”.5

History of Depression or PMS

What if I have a history of depression or PMS?

On page one in Menopause Depression: Recognizing Depressive Symptoms and Depression the North American Menopause Society elaborate on:

“When you are transitioning into menopause, you should notify your healthcare practitioner whether you have suffered from depression in the past or whether you were particularly sensitive to hormone changes and have experienced premenstrual syndrome or postpartum depression. Be alert and notice whether these mood changes are mild and do not greatly affect your quality of life or whether they are severe and debilitating and interfere with your daily activities”.6

Common or Not

How common are menopause mood changes?

The NAMS explain:

“In studies, mood changes have been observed in up to 23% of peri- and postmenopausal women. Additionally, symptoms of anxiety—tension, nervousness, panic, and worry—are reported more frequently during perimenopause than before it, regardless of whether symptoms of depression are present or not”.7

Self Care

How can we look after our selves?

In Caring for Your Mental Health: About Self-Care the (United States) National Institute of Mental Health elaborate on:

“Self-care means taking the time to do things that help you live well and improve both your physical health and mental health. When it comes to your mental health, self-care can help you manage stress, lower your risk of illness, and increase your energy. Even small acts of self-care in your daily life can have a big impact.

Here are some tips to help you get started with self-care:

  • Get regular exercise. Just 30 minutes of walking every day can help boost your mood and improve your health. Small amounts of exercise add up, so don’t be discouraged if you can’t do 30 minutes at one time.
  • Eat healthy, regular meals and stay hydrated…
  • Make sleep a priority…
  • Try a relaxing activity…
  • Set goals and priorities…
  • Practice gratitude…
  • Focus on positivity…
  • Stay connected…”.8

In Looking After Yourself: Emotional Wellbeing the JH explain:

“There are many practical things you can do to look after your emotional wellbeing.

For example:

  • Talk to someone you trust about your feelings (e.g. your friend, family member, doctor or psychologist
  • Keep a diary of your symptoms
  • Take time for yourself and do things you love doing
  • Get quality rest when you can
  • Do regular physical exercise, especially in a group or with friends
  • Practise relaxation techniques
  • Pay attention to your inner voice and practise using positive affirmations”.9

Online Resources, Programs, Apps and e-therapies

Are mental health online resources, programs, Apps and e-therapies available?

Depending on your Country, mental health online resources, programs,  Apps and e-therapies may be available.

Your health care provider or local community health center may know of your Country’s recommended mental health online resources, programs, Apps and e-therapies, similar to the (Australian) Department of Health’s Head To Health Search for Digital Mental Health Resources.

Health Care Provider

What if I need help with my menopause mood?

In Looking After Yourself: Emotional Wellbeing – Talk To Your Doctor the JH encourage us to seek health:

“If you are experiencing strong emotions, anxiety or depression, see your doctor”.10

Health Topics A-Z

Where may I find Health Topics related to Menopause Mood Changes?

In Health Topics A-Z you may find:

Health Topics A-Z

Links

Where may I find Links related to Menopause Mood Changes?

Your Country may have Links similar to:

Links

This Links List to third party websites is neither comprehensive nor exhaustive. Inclusion on this Links List does not imply endorsement or recommendation. Non-inclusion on this Links List does not imply non-endorsement or non-recommendation. Third party websites are not under the control of Meno Martha International Menopause Directory. Third party websites may contain explicit medical images and/or sexual references. Please read Meno Martha International Menopause Directory’s Links Policy before proceeding to a Link. Please contact Webmaster if you experience a problem with a Link.

New or Updated

  1. 5 Steps To Mental Wellbeing
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  4. Askearlymenopause.org [Ask EM] [+ Video: What Is Early Menopause?]
  5. Bioidentical Hormones Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  6. Bioidentical Hormones: Are They Safer?
  7. CBT Effective for Perimenopausal Vasomotor Symptoms, Sleep and Depression
  8. Can Menopause Cause Anxiety, Depression or Panic Attacks?
  9. Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for Menopausal Symptoms
  10. Deciding About Hormone Therapy Use
  11. Depression In Women: 5 Things You Should Know
  12. Depression and the Menopause
  13. Diet and Mental Health
  14. Dr Gail Busby – I Forgot To Ask the Doctor – Episode 9 The Menopause
  15. Dr. Louise Newson Breaks Down The Menopause & Lisa Snowdon Shares Her Experience | This Morning
  16. EMAS Menopause Essentials
  17. Early Menopause: Women’s Experiences
  18. Facebook Live Event: The Menopause Transition and Depression
  19. Find A Menopause Practitioner [United States and Other]
  20. Find An AMS Doctor [Australasian Menopause Society i.e. Australia and New Zealand]
  21. Find Your Nearest BMS Menopause Specialist [British Menopause Society]
  22. Help! I’m Too Tired To Exercise
  23. Hormone Therapy: Is It Right for You?
  24. How To Choose the Best Mental Health App for You
  25. Kratom: Unsafe and Ineffective
  26. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Menopause and Your Mental Wellbeing [+ Video: Menopause Only Affects You Physically!]
  27. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Signs and Symptoms [+ Video: Talking Menopause With Your GP]
  28. Later Years (Around 50 Years and Over): Menopause and Post Menopause Health – Supporting Someone Through the Menopause [+ Video: Men Don’t Need To Know About Menopause]
  29. Let’s Talk About Menopause | Aware Webinar
  30. Let’s Talk About Perimenopause
  31. Looking After Yourself
  32. Mastering Midlife Mood Changes With Marlene Freeman, MD
  33. Mayo Clinic Minute: How Lifestyle Changes May Help Manage Menopause Symptoms
  34. Menopause Mood ChangesMenopause
  35. Menopause
  36. Menopause
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  38. Menopause Explained – A British Menopause Society Video
  39. Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms: Q. My family tells me that I’ve become moody, and I admit that I sometimes feel blue or short-tempered. Menopause?
  40. Menopause Fact Sheet
  41. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Questions for Your Health Care Provider
  42. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Relaxation Techniques
  43. Menopause Map: Downloadable Resources – My Personal Path Print Tools: Symptom Tracker
    Menopause Mood Changes
  44. Menopause Mindfulness: A Personal Toolkit for Menopause Preparedness
  45. Menopause Mindfulness: Embracing the Change of My Midlife
  46. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 2. Talking To Your GP About Menopause
  47. Menopause Patient Information [Videos] 5. Lifestyle Advice In Menopause & Perimenopause
  48. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit Video Series: Lifestyle Tips for Menopause
  49. Menopause Preparedness Toolkit: A Woman’s Empowerment Guide Menopause Mood Changes
  50. Menopause Symptoms: Mayo Clinic Expert Outlines Hormone and Nonhormonal Therapies
  51. Menopause Treatments: What Works, What Doesn’t
  52. Menopause What Are the Symptoms?
  53. Menopause and Mental Health
  54. Menopause and Mental Health
  55. Menopause and Mind Health – Fact Sheet
  56. Menopause – Information for Partners – Fact Sheet
  57. Menopause: Diagnosis and Management – Information for the Public: Questions To Ask About Menopause [NICE Guideline]
  58. Mental & Emotional Wellbeing
  59. MentalHealth.gov [National Institute of Mental Health, United States]
  60. Mentalhealth.org.uk [Mental Health Foundation, United Kingdom]
  61. Mhanational.org [Mental Health America]
  62. Mood and the Menopause
  63. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 4 Things To Know About Menopausal Symptoms and Complementary Health Practices
  64. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: 7 Things To Know About Complementary Health Approaches for Anxiety
  65. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Anxiety At A Glance
  66. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Depression
  67. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: How Safe Is This Product or Practice?
  68. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Know the Science: How Medications and Supplements Can Interact
  69. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Kratom
  70. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: Menopausal Symptoms In Depth
  71. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: S-Adenosyl-L-Methionine (SAMe): In Depth
  72. National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health: St. John’s Wort
  73. Navigating Menopause: Expert Insights and Solutions | Dr Susan Davis | The Proof Podcast EP 245
  74. Non-Estrogen Treatments for Menopausal Symptoms
  75. Our Best Mental Health Tips – Backed By Research
  76. Perimenopause
  77. Perimenopause
  78. SAMe
  79. Supporting A Loved One Through Menopause
  80. Supporting Women Through Menopause – Fact Sheet
  81. Symptoms of Menopause: Mood and Emotional Health
  82. Taking Care of Your Mental Health
  83. The Impact of Cannabis Use on Vasomotor Symptoms, Mood, Insomnia and Sexuality In Perimenopausal and Postmenopausal Women: A Systematic Review
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  87. Types of Talking Therapies: Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)
  88. Types of Therapist: How To Find & Choose A Therapist – What Is the Difference Between A Psychologist, Psychiatrist & Counsellor?
  89. Using Natural Therapies In the Menopause Transition – Webinar
  90. Video Series-2019: Mood Changes During Perimenopause
  91. Video Series-2019: What You Need to Know About Mood During the Menopause Transition
  92. Video Series-2020: What You Need to Know About Cognition and Mood Changes
  93. Video Series-2021: How Menopause Symptoms Can Affect Your Quality of Life
  94. Video Series-2022: Discussing Sexual Health Concerns With Your Health Care Professional
  95. Video Series-2022: Hormone Therapy: Understanding the Risks and Benefits
  96. Video Series-2022: Perimenopause, Signs, Symptoms, and Solutions
  97. Video Series-2022: Wellness: What Is It?
  98. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: Is Menopause Brain Fog Real?
  99. Videos and Podcasts: Videos – Interviews: The Menopause Blues
  100. Webinar: Perimenopause
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  102. When Depression Sneaks Up on Menopause
  103. Why Didn’t Anyone Tell Me This? Episode 3: Dr Annice Mukherjee: Your Essential Menopause Toolkit

Sources

Where may I find the Sources quoted?

You may find the Sources quoted at:

Sources

  1. Symptoms of Menopause: Menopause & Mood. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 01 January 2023
  2. Symptoms of Menopause: Menopause & Mood. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 01 January 2023
  3. Menopause FAQs: Menopause Symptoms: Q. My family tells me that I’ve become moody, and I admit that I sometimes feel blue or short-tempered. Menopause? North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/menopause-faqs-menopause-symptoms Accessed: 01 January 2023
  4. What Is Menopause? Psychological Symptoms of Menopause. Content Created May 2022. Australasian Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org.au/hp/information-sheets/185-what-is-menopause Accessed: 01 January 2023
  5. Symptoms of Menopause: Menopause & Mood. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/menopause-symptoms Accessed: 01 January 2023
  6. Menopause Depression: Recognizing Depressive Symptoms and Depression. 2018:1 North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/menonote-menopause-and-depression.pdf Accessed: 01 January 2023
  7. Depression, Mood Swings, Anxiety: Menopause and Mood Disorders. North American Menopause Society https://www.menopause.org/for-women/sexual-health-menopause-online/causes-of-sexual-problems/depression-mood-swings-anxiety Accessed: 01 January 2023
  8. Caring for Your Mental Health: About Self-Care. Last Reviewed: December 2022. National Institute of Mental Health https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/caring-for-your-mental-health Accessed: 01 January 2023
  9. Looking After Yourself: Emotional Wellbeing. Last Updated: 03 October 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/looking-after-yourself Accessed: 01 January 2023
  10. Looking After Yourself: Emotional Wellbeing – Talk To Your Doctor. Last Updated: 12 September 2022 | Last Reviewed: 19 August 2022. Jean Hailes https://www.jeanhailes.org.au/health-a-z/menopause/looking-after-yourself Accessed: 01 January 2023
Topic Last Updated: 22 February 2023 – Topic Last Reviewed: 01 January 2023

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