Menopause and Depression

A woman goes through many changes in her life, but none may be as unique and turbulent as menopause. With the transition typically spanning several years, it brings change, major hormonal and emotional shifts, and an overall switch in a woman’s life as her reproductive years come to a close.

With so much change, it can be natural for menopause to affect a woman’s mental health, with some studies noting an increased risk of depression during the menopausal years, impacting many women across the world. While easily dismissed as menopause-related “crazy” behavior by many, it’s important to take how you’re feeling on the inside seriously.

Let us now unpack menopause in more detail and explore why this might be.

Menopause and Depression

To begin, let’s break down the three main stages of menopause: 

• Perimenopause: You may be experiencing menopausal symptoms, but you still have your periods.

• Menopause: You have reached menopause when you’ve gone 12 months without a period.

• Postmenopause: The years following menopause, during which symptoms begin to subside.

Women are considered to be more vulnerable to depression during menopause in comparison with men. This is primarily due to the significant hormonal shifts at play, which men do not experience to the same extent, nor as quickly.

At Mira, we recently conducted a survey with our community members who use the Menopause Transition Mode in the Mira App to help track their symptoms, with menopause and emotional health tracking in mind. We wanted to explore how menopause affects mental health, and of those surveyed, 75% reported that menopause had significantly impacted their mental health. 

Of those 75%, 87.5% identified depression as one of the challenges they faced.

So, Can Menopause Cause Depression?

The relationship between depression and menopause is a delicate one, and not every woman will experience depression in menopause. However, it is not uncommon.

With that in mind, let’s touch on some potential factors that could be at play here.

Hormonal Fluctuations

Our hormones play a huge role in how we’re feeling on the inside. When a woman transitions through menopause, her estrogen and progesterone production will decrease, in turn affecting her serotonin levels and other neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and GABA. 

Serotonin is the brain chemical tied to our mood and well-being, so when these hormones drop, it can naturally lead to feelings of irritability, anxiety, and sadness.

These feelings caused by hormonal fluctuations may also be a reflection of your fertility health, especially if you’re not quite at the perimenopausal age. For further insights and support with your health, consult our hormone experts, which can offer personalized coaching and guidance for women navigating these hormonal shifts.

Sleep Disturbances

Insomnia and hot flashes are common symptoms during perimenopause, and can make life quite challenging, especially at night when you’re trying to rest. Poor sleep quality has a huge impact on our overall mood and mental health, and it can significantly raise the risk of menopause depression, particularly when persistent.

External Stressors

Sometimes, external circumstances that happen to occur during your menopausal years, such as career demands, aging parents, or children leaving home, can all add emotional strain. This added stress can potentially worsen any menopause-related depressive symptoms that may have already been beneath the surface. 

Risk Factors

If you’ve experienced depression in the past, have certain ongoing health issues, or even chronic stress, you may be more vulnerable to developing menopausal depression symptoms. If you feel you may be at greater risk, try to check in with yourself regularly and stay attuned to how you’re feeling, so you can know when to reach out if you feel you may need support.

Menopause Depression Symptoms

Like any mental health condition, menopause and perimenopause depression are complex, and can affect us in many different ways, sometimes bringing more than just emotional symptoms. Here are some other ways in which depression may present itself:

• Emotional: Persistent sadness, irritability, mood swings, loss of interest

• Cognitive: Poor concentration, forgetfulness, indecision

• Physical: Fatigue, changes in appetite, insomnia, or oversleeping

• Severe symptoms: Suicidal thoughts

Having thoughts about suicide or hurting yourself can be scary, and you might find it difficult to share these feelings with others. But you are not alone, and support and treatment are always available to you. We encourage you to talk about how you’re feeling and to reach out to those around you if you are struggling.

If you feel that you cannot keep yourself safe, seek emergency advice.

Menopause Mood Swings

Mood swings are common symptoms of our shifting hormone levels, and can be particularly prevalent during menopause. Our sleep, stress, and body image, which can all be affected by menopause too, can further intensify these feelings.

It’s important to learn to identify normal emotional ups and downs, compared to clinical depression. Let’s break down some of the key differences between the two:

Tracking hormone fluctuations with a specialized tool, such as our Hormone Monitor, can help women connect and understand the relationship between their emotional changes and biological patterns. Used alongside our Wands, our monitor syncs automatically with the Mira App, making it even easier to track and seek targeted support.

Menopausal Depression Test

If you find yourself feeling persistently low during your menopause and have concerns about how you’re feeling, you can always speak to a medical professional, who will be able to offer you the support and care you may need.

During your appointment, your doctor may use certain screening tools, as well as go through a symptoms checklist and your medical history with you, to help them evaluate your menopause emotional symptoms.

Learning to be self-aware of your emotions and getting into the habit of tracking your symptoms can help the doctor make a thorough and accurate diagnosis. At-home screening tools, such as our Panorama Lab Test, are an advanced, lab-quality option that can be a helpful first step before your medical evaluation. They allow women to gain a deeper understanding of their hormone profile when mood changes are severe.

How to Overcome Menopause Depression

If you find yourself living with menopausal depression, always remember that there is support available to help you through. Let’s go through some options together.

Medical Options

Hormone replacement therapy (HRT) uses estrogen to replace your body’s own decreasing levels during menopause, helping to alleviate some of the symptoms that depleted estrogen can typically bring about.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a kind of talking therapy that can help with both emotional and physical symptoms of menopausal depression. For more targeted medical treatment, antidepressants are a common form of medication that your doctor may offer to you.

Lifestyle Changes

Sometimes, certain lifestyle changes can do the world of good for how you’re feeling, particularly during menopause when your body may need extra support and care.

Try incorporating movement and exercise into your daily routine, alongside a balanced diet with limited caffeine and alcohol. Many women find mindful practices, such as yoga, meditation, or rhythmic breathing, helpful in promoting mental balance and calm. Sometimes, finding creative outlets and leaning on the support of your community can also bring significant benefits to how we feel on the inside.

If you’re seeking a way to track your hormones and offer some support through menopause, you could consider the Mira Transitions Kit, which provides science-backed insight into your symptoms, helping to guide you through this stage of life.

Sleep Management

Insomnia can be an ordinary symptom women experience during menopause, which can in turn affect their mental wellbeing and potentially contribute to feelings of depression. Prioritizing proper sleep management is key for your mind and body to get the rest they need.

If you’re struggling with your sleep, try introducing a relaxing evening routine, including a consistent bedtime. Keeping yourself cool and comfortable can also promote better sleep, particularly if your menopause triggers night sweats or hot flashes.

Body Image and Self-Confidence

It’s normal for our bodies to change and fluctuate throughout our lives, and menopause can bring about another shift in how we may look and feel. 

Many women notice that menopause impacts their self-confidence and body image, but it’s important that we try to reframe how we view aging and this particular time of life as a whole. Try to focus on what you love about your body, and embrace the change it is going through, to help boost your self-confidence.

When to Seek Professional Help

It can be tricky to know the difference between emotional symptoms of menopause at 50 or even earlier and persistent emotions that may be potential signs of depression.

While it’s normal to experience some mood swings during menopause, if you find yourself experiencing severe depressive symptoms and struggling to function in everyday life, or if you’re having any suicidal thoughts, reach out to a professional. This can be your OB-GYN, a mental health professional, or even a certain support group. 

It may feel like a daunting first step, but early intervention can help you move more quickly toward support and recovery.

Conclusion

Menopause is a natural life stage that all women will go through at some point, and it can bring about new and uncomfortable symptoms, affecting women not only physically, but psychologically and mentally too.

Many women will notice some mood swings and moments of feeling low at this time, but menopause and depression should not be dismissed as “normal.” Always remember that your emotional health is treatable and manageable if you’re struggling, and nobody needs to go through it alone.

As you go through this transitional stage of life, try to be proactive to support your mind and body through the process, whether that be through a healthy lifestyle, or seeking support systems or medical consultation. 

We hope you found this article helpful. Menopause can be a complicated journey, and it can be different for everyone, but support is always available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does menopause make you tired and depressed?

Menopause can cause fatigue and depression. Changes in your hormone levels during menopause can trigger feelings of anxiety, low mood, and sleep disturbances.

Does menopause make you emotional?

Yes, it’s common to feel more emotional during menopause. This is largely due to declining estrogen, which can trigger mood swings, anxiety, and irritability.

Can low estrogen cause depression?

Lower estrogen levels can contribute to depression due to their effect on serotonin and dopamine, which can, in turn, increase your vulnerability to depression.

Is it possible for menopausal depression to become permanent if left untreated?

While depression is rarely permanent, it may persist or worsen if you do not receive the support you need, leading to a more long-term impact on your mental health.

How can you get through depression during menopause naturally?

You can manage menopausal depression naturally through incorporating certain lifestyle changes, such as a balanced diet, regular exercise, and mindfulness habits.