Emotional Symptoms of Menopause

Menopause marks the end of a woman's child-bearing years. While some women are able to navigate menopause with few symptoms, other women can experience problems with their emotions as they and their families live through mood swings, forgetfulness, and sadness or depression.

Menopause Explained

• Menopause is the end of a woman's periods, ending her ability to get pregnant. It is a part of the natural progression of life. It is not a disease or illness. For some women, however, the decrease in hormones causes physical and emotional symptoms that can make the transition difficult. Physical changes can include hot flashes, night sweats, vaginal dryness and headaches. Some women will also experience emotional symptoms, which might be significant enough that she needs to consult her gynecologist.

Sadness

• Some women experience intense sadness during menopause. Those women should talk to their doctor about the possibility of taking antidepressant medication to help alleviate the symptoms.

Mood Swings

• Mood swings can be a symptom of menopause. Again, the mood swings could be relatively mild or could become so severe that it interferes with her personal relationships. If this is the case, she needs to talk to her doctor about medical intervention. She could take antidepressants or she could try herbs such as soy or black cohosh.

Anxiety

• The menopausal woman can begin to experience anxiety not related to external causes or situations. If her anxiety is interfering with her ability to handle everyday situations, she needs to discuss this with her doctor and consider taking a medication that will alleviate the worst of her symptoms. A low-dose antidepressant might help.

Forgetfulness

• When a woman enters menopause, she might experience problems with her ability to concentrate, focus and remember. Although there are no medications, she can begin a regular program of exercise, which may help boost her memory and concentration.