Menopause Mood Swings - Riding the Rollercoaster

Menopause and mood swings are no fun for any woman! In both cases, they are mostly based on hormonal imbalance but the more educated a woman becomes about her body and knows what to expect, the more able she will be in handling these experiences. Menopause is a process that every woman will deal with at some time in her life. Not only is there a hormonal imbalance during the menopausal years, but another underlying cause for mood swings may be fatigue. If a woman were experiencing other menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes or insomnia, it would be obvious that she would be very fatigued!

Even while a woman is in her perimenopause years, her hormones may fluctuate drastically. Therefore, the body does not have enough support to maintain its natural balance during that time. A woman’s mood swings may seem more up and down during menopause than she has ever experienced before in her life. It is important to understand that as a woman’s body changes, symptoms of menopause and mood swings go hand-in-hand. This is not a lifetime state of affairs but a phase of life that will actually pass (believe it or not). When going through this, remind yourself that menopause and mood swings will soon be a thing of the past.

A woman should remain focused on the goal of attaining a post-menopausal state where her mood swings will not become so severe and the fact that she will no longer have menstrual periods. There are some possible ways for learning to cope with menopause and mood swings. So many times, a woman may feel like everyone is against her and that no one understands. It is important to remember that family and friends do care and want the best because they usually can see that she is suffering. If a woman feels alone and needs reassurance, she should find someone to talk. It is also important to ask for help or to ask for support and understanding during these crucial times. In fact, it is a good idea to have at least one good friend with whom to share details, secrets, failures, and happiness in life.

Support groups, whether formal and informal, can also be helpful. These groups consist of women experiencing the same things and for that reason a woman’s quality of life can certainly be improved. Another suggestion about menopause and mood swings is to learn to recognize when a bad mood is coming on. That way, the woman can have an exit strategy or method of coping. It is not healthy to give into the opportunity for failure or to feel like a victim of one’s own hormones. Additionally, it is just as important that when a woman fails to deal with a bad mood, she learn to forgive herself and move forward.

Women that experience menopause and mood swings should take the time to develop a strategy involving attitude, support, loved ones, workers, daily planning, and diet, all tools that will help her manage the mood swings being experienced. This is not the time for her to be so hard on herself! She needs to allow failure in life, which does not make her a bad person. Symptoms of menopause and mood swings can be significantly reduced by following a course of action such as a weekly exercise regimen, perhaps meditation, and deep breathing and yoga, which have been proven to relieve the effects of mood swings. Perhaps this provides women with a better understanding of how menopause symptoms can be avoided and mood swings eliminated. It feels much better to feel in control of the sudden onset of crying and to feel refreshed mentally and emotionally, allowing for a better day.