The Change: Menopause and Mental Health

As women age, it’s only a matter of time before menopause sets in. Every person is different, so the timing of menopause will vary from one person to another. But, generally speaking, menopause affects women, transgender men, and some nonbinary individuals in their late 40s and early 50s. 

Although menopause can be considered a natural process, people may feel different effects. For example, some people going through menopause might feel nothing much out of the ordinary while others might feel anxiety and depression. In extreme cases, some women going through menopause can experience a condition called Psychosis in menopause 

But before we examine the different phases of menopause and how menopause and mental health tie together, let’s take a step back and take a deeper look at what menopause entails. 

What is Menopause? 

Menopause refers to the transition from a fertile individual who can conceive to an infertile one who cannot. When an individual passes menopause, they become post-menopausal, i.e., someone who hasn’t had a period in at least one year. 

As women endure this process, they may experience a number of medical symptoms as the ovaries stop producing as much estrogen and progesterone. Some of these symptoms may include: These are the symptoms include hot flashes, vaginal dryness, weight gain, insomnia, and mood swings.  

As a result, many women going through menopause also lose quite a bit of their Sex drive. 

Going through Menopause: The Phases 

Generally speaking, there are three distinct Menopause in phases: 

  1. Perimenopause This is when women become less fertile and stop producing as much estrogen or progesterone. This stage can lead to irregular periods for women.
  2. Menopause occurs when a woman hasn’t had a period in at least 12 months. This happens on average between the ages 45 and 55.
  3. Postmenopause The final phase of the process describes women, transgendered and nonbinary men who have gone through menopause. This stage is more vulnerable to developing osteoporosis or heart disease because of a lack in hormone production. 

Now that you have a better idea of the process menopausal woman go through, let’s turn our attention to some of the signs that might indicate someone is experiencing menopause. 

What are the Symptoms of Menopause 

The most common symptom of menopause is hot flashes, which affect as many as 70 percent of those going through the process. These intense feelings of heat can last up to 10 minutes. 

Here are some additional symptoms menopausal people may experience: 

  • Vaginal drynessThis causes discomfort during sex, and can lead to decreased sexual appetite. 
  • IncontinenceWomen may have to use the bathroom more often and could leak small amounts of urine when laughing, sneezing or laughing. 
  • Slower metabolismThis makes it easier to gain and harder to lose weight 
  • Reduced bone densityBroken bones and osteoporosis can result. 

Women may also experience mental health issues in addition to the physical symptoms. Some women may experience mood swings and insomnia, as well as memory problems and shortened attention spans. 

What’s more, some women may also become very anxious during menopause. After all, this is a major life transition; not everyone is willing to easily accept that they’ve arrived at this moment in their lives. Research suggests that this is a common problem. Women with anxiety can exacerbate the symptoms of menopause. 

Women who go through menopause are also more likely to experience depression. In fact, One recent study found that 60 percent of perimenopausal and menopausal women were experiencing anxiety, 60 percent were experiencing depression, and 80 percent had brain fog. According to HarvardWomen are twice as likely than men to feel depressed after menopause. 

What is Menopausal Psychology? 

60 percent of women experience mild symptoms of menopause, while 20 percent do not experience any symptoms. The remain 20 percent, however, experience menopause Moderately to severeThis could lead to other problems, and may require professional help. 

Menopause can lead to a condition called menopausal schizophrenia in some women. Women who’ve been Diagnosed as schizophrenic are perhaps most likely to see a Resurrection of that condition. Women who develop menopausal psychosis should seek the help of a therapist. 

Society has held for a long time that women who go through menopause are more likely to be Excessive emotions, the science increasingly points in the other direction: that there is a major correlation between menopause and mental health, and that this is a major transition that has a massive impact on the body and mind. Studies show that women also experience rapid changes. Hormonal shifts as they undergo during puberty.  

For these reasons, it’s important for menopausal women to recognize the severity of the process and learn what they can do to decrease the chances that menopause causes serious mental health problems for them. 

How Menopausal Women can Deal with the Changes 

While there’s nothing women can do to prevent the process of menopause from happening, there are Here are some strategies they can employ to reduce the severity of the symptoms they might experience during the journey: 

1. Pay attention to what you eat.

Research shows that hot flashes can be caused by alcohol, caffeine, and spicy foods. Hot flashes can be reduced by avoiding caffeine, alcohol and spicy foods. 

2. Get your exercise.

Exercise can be beneficial for menopausal women as well. For example, kegel exercises, i.e., pelvic-floor exercises, can help women develop stronger pelvic muscles, which gives them more control over their bladders. Further, research suggests that women who practice yoga can lessen their stress and improve their mood, which can decrease the chances they’re affected by depression and anxiety. 

3. Use lubrication to sex.

Vaginal dryness can make sex painful for women, which can lead to a decrease in libidos. A menopausal woman who is feeling the urge to sex should consider using an over-the counter lubricant to make it more enjoyable.  

In addition to these options, menopausal women — and particularly those who are having a very difficult time dealing with the condition — should strongly consider looking for a therapist to work through the issue.  

The right therapist can help you navigate this difficult period. They can help you overcome issues such as body image, stress, grief, and other emotional issues. They can also help you improve self-esteem and overcome sleeplessness and depression. 




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