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Perimenopause 🇺🇸

Peri/menopause moods... 🩷

Probably one of the most distressing aspects of going through the menopause stages is the impact it has on mental wellness. Anything from a general ‘low mood’ or feeling a bit down in the dumps to a full-on black dog depression. Even those who have never struggled with their mental health can begin to feel this way, and that can be really scary. For some who have previously had depression (or indeed still have), peri/menopause can make your symptoms worse. Thanks again, hormones!

Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) can help lift your mood and take the edge off depression (as it replaces the hormones you’re losing that cause menopausal depression). But sometimes, we need a little extra help alongside hormone replenishment.

Oestrogen is a mood-enhancer, so it stands to reason that falling levels are going to affect your mood and mental health. Progesterone can also help to lift moods with some people, and yet, for others, it can have the opposite effect. We're all individual, and what works for some people to improve mental wellness isn't going to work for everyone.

That's why it's important to have a tailored approach to your menopause - so that you can be the best YOU!

There are other things that you can do to improve mental wellness, such as therapies, exercise and even your nutrition - but if you’re struggling with depression or any aspect of your mental wellness, please check in with your doctor or mental health professional to get support. Over the counter herbal stuff is very unlikely to cut it. Also, you should always be aware that even ‘natural’ remedies can have serious side effects (especially if mixed with some types of medication. I’m looking at you St. John’s Wort and SSRIs like Prozac…).

Don’t forget to take good care of yourself – take time out for you and rest when you need to.

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