Coping With Your Menopausal Emotions
Coping with your Menopausal Emotions
No one is sure what causes menopausal mood swings (often jokingly referred to as ‘a form of never-ending PMS’), but the general consensus is that they are caused by hormonal imbalances. Menopause is when the body no longer produces eggs for fertilization, and this creates severe fluctuations in the levels of hormones within the body; progesterone, estrogen and androgens, all of these hormones help to control the levels of serotonin that is in the brain. Serotonin, in turn, regulates the various moods that we feel; when the levels of this chemical are low, a person’s mood will be equally low or melancholic. Meanwhile, a high level of serotonin will promote a very high and upbeat mood.
Women who suffer mood swings run the gauntlet of emotions; melancholia, fatigue, irritability, nervousness, aggressiveness, tension, or anxieties. One important thing to remember, however, is that clinical depression is NOT a symptom of menopause. While it’s not uncommon for a woman who is going through menopause to feel sadness or to cry, clinical depression can be very serious and professional help should be sought out, if you even suspect this. While people suffering menopause may often experience a case of the doldrums or appear melancholic, it is a far cry from those who are clinically depressed and have thoughts of hurting themselves or others.
There are a wide variety of suggestions, as to how to lessen the risk of mood swings and to make them more bearable. Most important is to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle; not only will exercise help to lessen the strain of menopausal emotions, but will also make you feel better as a whole. Exercise is an excellent way of working through mood swings; having a workout 3 times a week, for 20 minutes a day, will not only help you stay fit, but it also gives you something to focus on. There’s nothing better for releasing tension and anger than a good, vigorous workout session. Additionally, women who are going through menopause will often experience trouble sleeping; a good workout will help you relax and sleep better at night.
Alternative therapies, such as yoga, acupuncture and meditation may also prove helpful. Yoga, for instance, helps you to keep the body fit while it promotes relaxation and a redirection of frustrations into positive energy. Also be sure to get out into the sunlight and enjoy life – a half an hour in the sunshine will help recharge your natural lithium batteries and improve your mood! Another popular suggestion is to create a retreat; a special place where you can go when you’re feeling stressed out. Here, you can escape responsibility for a time and relax