There’s no clear link between lower levels of estrogen and progesterone in menopausal women and serious mood swings and depression.
However, if you have experienced depression in the past, hormone fluctuations may make you more susceptible to a depressive episode. In addition, certain symptoms associated with menopause may make your life harder. Hair loss and poor skin elasticity may impact your self-esteem, while hot flashes may decrease your ability to sleep and increase the likelihood of being a little bit more anxious the next day.
Our experts at Bethel Family Medicine are aware of the changes women experience during menopause. We want to share with you how you can improve your mental well-being while you experience hormone fluctuations.
Hot flashes, one of the most common symptoms of menopause, can disturb sleep, which in turn can increase the risk for anxiety and depression.
A study that looked at how 18 healthy adults react to being sleep-deprived, suggests that the adults after a night of sleep deprivation were more anxious, and when shown distressing images and clips, had stronger emotional responses and took longer to regulate their negative emotions.The good news is that a good night’s sleep reverses the negative effects of sleep deprivation.
Many women find relief from hot flashes during menopause by taking bioidentical hormones.
Many women may feel disenchanted to see that wrinkles are becoming more visible and skin starts to sag around the cheeks and jawline. These changes can indirectly impact self-esteem and cause certain women to think less of themselves. If these physical changes cause you distress, our experts may be able to help by recommending injectables that relax wrinkles and add volume to your face.
Women who smoke, are overweight, or are stressed are more likely to experience more severe menopause symptoms. Quitting cigarettes, exercising, and practicing stress management techniques may be able to reduce your symptoms. A healthy diet rich in vegetables, lean proteins, and healthy fats may also be of help.
Another course of action you can take to manage your symptoms is hormone replacement therapy. HRT is successfully used for the management of most menopausal symptoms, including low libido, weight gain, hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep disturbances.
Contact us to schedule an appointment to find out if you are a good candidate for HRT.
