While menopause is a natural phase of a woman’s life, it’s about more than just night sweats, weight gain, and hot flashes. In fact, for many women, the emotional symptoms often take center stage – and not in a good way.

What often gets overlooked are the mental health symptoms of menopause. We’re talking mood swings that feel like they belong on one of those reality shows, and moments where your memory suddenly isn’t there. Or even anxiety that seems to just come out of nowhere.

In this blog post, we dive deeper into things like why it feels like everything’s off, and what’s happening in your brain. Continue reading for clinical insights from Katherine Crusey, LMFT.

Understanding the Mental Health Impact

During menopause, hormone levels, especially estrogen and progesterone, fluctuate dramatically. These hormonal changes can influence brain chemistry and significantly affect emotional well-being. For many women, this transition triggers a range of mental health symptoms that can impact daily life and relationships.

Common Mental Health Symptoms of Menopause

Knowing the mental health symptoms you should watch for can be both empowering and even a little scary. With this in mind, here are some of the most common symptoms.

1. Panic Attacks and Sudden Anxiety

Feeling like something bad is about to happen, chest tight, heart racing, or anxious for no reason? I get it. Menopause panic attacks is one of the most under-talked-about symptoms. And they seem to come out of nowhere. But it’s not in your head, it’s in your hormones.

Increased anxiety is a common symptom, often accompanied by restlessness, racing thoughts, and a sense of dread. This can occur even in women who have never experienced anxiety before.

“While perimenopause typically begins in the late 40’s, many women are caught off guard by how early in life these panic attacks can come on. So that compounds the difficulty, because knowing the root of these panic attacks is the first step. When you do have the insight to know that they’re perimenopause or menopause related, you can remind yourself of that context and then respond similarly to other panic attacks,” says Katherine Crusey, LMFT.

2. Mood Swings That Come Out of Nowhere

Some women feel like their emotional dial is stuck on “extreme” – snapping one minute and laughing the next. Menopause mood swings is real, and one unexpected comment can trigger a wave of irritation that feels way bigger than the situation. You’re not being too dramatic or sensitive, it means your brain’s chemistry is in flux.

In short, sudden emotional changes, irritability or tearfulness may occur more frequently. And these mood swings can feel overwhelming and may mimic symptoms of anxiety or depression.

3. Brain Fog and Forgetfulness

Misplacing the remote control is one thing. Losing your train of thought mid-sentence, zoning out, or forgetting words during meetings is totally different and can feel scary. This type of brain fog is actually very common during menopause.

You might struggle to focus, forget things you just heard, or feel like your thinking is slower. But the good news is that it’s usually temporary. Your brain is not broken, it’s adjusting. In fact, it’s not uncommon to experience cognitive difficulties, have trouble concentrating, or feeling mentally “foggy.”

4. Depression That Feels Different

If you’re asking yourself, does menopause cause depression, the short answer is yes, it definitely can. Unfortunately, it’s not just being in a funk. It can show up as exhaustion that won’t go away, sleeping too much or too little, or feeling disconnected. It can even cause you not to enjoy things you usually love.

Plus, if you’ve had depression before, menopause can stir it back up. And if you haven’t, it can come on for the first time, and it’s no less real. Moreover, menopause depression can resemble clinical depression and should be take seriously.

“If you already had PMDD (Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder), you may be more aware of hormonally induced mood issues. If not, giving yourself context for your depression can be very helpful. Also processing your life changes with a therapist who specializes in treating depression can be empowering,” states Katherine Crusey, LMFT.

Why Do Hormones Play With Your Mood?

Estrogen isn’t just about your monthly cycle — it actually helps your brain stay balanced. One of its big jobs is to boost serotonin; the chemical that helps you feel steady, content, and emotionally grounded.

But during perimenopause (the stage before menopause officially kicks in) and into menopause, estrogen and progesterone start acting up. As a result, some days they drop, some days they’re high, and your brain is trying to keep up during this fluctuation.

In a word, this hormonal chaos affects:

• How easily you get stressed
• Whether you feel agitated or calm
• How well you sleep
• Your ability to focus

Even if you’ve never had issues with mood before, the mental health symptoms of menopause can hit fast and hard. In addition, a woman’s mental health history can also influence how severe these symptoms become.

Coping Strategies and Treatment Options

Fortunately, there are several ways to manage the mental health symptoms of menopause:

• Therapy and Counseling: Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can help address anxiety, depression, and self-esteem issues.
• Lifestyle Changes: Regular exercise, a balanced diet, and mindfulness practices like yoga or meditation can improve mental well-being.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT): For some women, HRT may help stabilize mood by balancing hormone levels.
• Support Networks: Talking with others going through the same experience can be incredibly validating and helpful.

Katherine Crusey, LMFT says that, “many doctors brush off the emotional symptoms of menopause. So, I am happy to advocate for my clients so that they can get the care they need from physicians.”

Every woman’s body responds differently, so this part might take some experimenting. Nonetheless, it’s worth exploring with a doctor who gets it.

Final Thoughts

The mental health symptoms of menopause can be just as challenging as the physical ones. Understanding what’s happening in your body and mind is the first step toward reclaiming your emotional health. Contact Katherine Crusey, LMFT today, and start navigating this life stage with confidence and clarity.

You may also enjoy reading: How To Support a Loved One During a Manic Episode