Is It A Mental Health Disorder or Menopause?
Many women see menopause as a dreaded time in life that they must endure. Menopause is often blamed for unwanted weight gain, unpredictable mood swings, and disruptive hot flashes. With these unpleasant side effects, it is not surprising that this time during a woman’s life can also bring unwanted emotional and mental health changes.
Menopause is a natural part of life that women who are in their 40s-60s experience. There is no set time for menopause, and the entire cycle of menopause can linger for years at a time. Menopause refers to the end of a woman’s menstrual cycle and her ability to conceive. The ovaries stop producing estrogen and progesterone, and this stop in hormone production causes many women to feel disruptive changes to their entire bodies.
While dealing with troublesome weight gain and hot flashes are enough to cause anxiety, other emotional distresses can occur. These include:
- Aggression
- Anxiety
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
- Irritability
- Lack of motivation
- Mood swings
- Tension
What can make these symptoms even more difficult to deal with is that the middle-aged phase of life is often loaded down with its own challenges. Many people in middle-age have children graduating high school and moving into college and adult life. There are also millions of Americans who are taking care of their elderly parents while also juggling careers. Menopause can add to the emotional stress and undoubtedly take its toll on a woman’s mental health.
If you are suffering from the overwhelming effects of menopause, contact Marietta OB/GYN Affiliates, P.A. Our physicians are uniquely suited to help women through this time of life, and we offer a variety of options to help. You don’t have to struggle alone, and your mental health does not have to suffer. Contact our office today.
