How Hormonal Shifts During Menopause Can Impact Your Mood: It's Not Just in Your Head
By Dr. Beth Meneley, DAOM, L.Ac., Founder of Evolved Menopause
For many of us, the mood swings, anxiety, and depression that came with PMS were part of life for years. We learned to manage those monthly fluctuations in our emotions, knowing they were tied to our hormonal cycles. But as we transition into perimenopause and menopause, those emotional changes can feel all too familiar—and sometimes even more intense.
The reason? When estrogen levels drop, so do serotonin levels. Serotonin, often called the "feel-good" chemical, is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood. This decline in estrogen mirrors what many women experience during PMS, but the effects can be more persistent and pronounced during menopause. As a result, many women experience increased depression, anxiety, and mood swings during this stage of life.
Unfortunately, many women are prescribed antidepressants during menopause, believing their symptoms are purely psychological. However, much of what you may be feeling can actually be attributed to the hormonal changes your body is going through. The good news is that there’s a way to address the root cause of these emotional shifts: Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT).
For many of us, this is a powerful time of change and self-reflection. Having your hormones balanced during this phase will create even more clarity to help you navigate this chapter in your life with much of the fog lifted.
How Hormonal Imbalances Affect Your Mood
As estrogen declines during perimenopause and menopause, it impacts your brain chemistry in several ways:
Estrogen and Serotonin: Estrogen is directly linked to the production of serotonin, a key neurotransmitter that regulates mood and emotional well-being. When estrogen levels drop, so does serotonin, leading to feelings of depression, irritability, and anxiety.
Progesterone and GABA: Progesterone is known for its calming effects on the brain. It interacts with GABAreceptors, the brain’s natural relaxant, to promote feelings of calm and relaxation. A drop in progesterone can lead to restlessness, anxiety, and difficulty sleeping.
Testosterone and Energy: Testosterone, while often thought of as a male hormone, plays an essential role in women’s energy levels, motivation, and mental clarity. Low levels of testosterone can contribute to feelings of fatigue and low mood.
Why Antidepressants Alone May Not Be Enough
Many women are prescribed antidepressants during perimenopause or menopause to address these mood changes. While antidepressants can offer some relief, they don't address the underlying hormonal imbalance that’s contributing to your emotional symptoms. By simply treating the symptoms without addressing the root cause, many women continue to struggle with mood instability, low energy, and anxiety.
How Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) Can Help
Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT) offers a natural and effective way to restore balance to your hormones, targeting the root cause of mood fluctuations. BHRT uses hormones that are chemically identical to those your body naturally produces, making them more compatible with your system than synthetic hormones.
Here’s how BHRT can help:
Restores Hormonal Balance: By replacing the estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone that your body has lost, BHRT helps restore balance, alleviating the mood swings, anxiety, and depression caused by hormonal fluctuations.
Supports Brain Chemistry: By replenishing estrogen and progesterone levels, BHRT supports your brain’s natural production of serotonin and GABA, which are key to regulating mood and promoting relaxation.
Improves Overall Well-Being: Many women report feeling more like themselves after starting BHRT. With balanced hormones, you may feel more energized, mentally clear, and emotionally stable, without the need for antidepressants.
A Personalized Approach to Hormonal Health
At Evolved Menopause, we take a personalized approach to your hormonal health. We begin with comprehensive hormone testing to evaluate your unique levels and identify areas of imbalance. From there, we create a customized BHRT plan tailored to your needs, helping you regain control of your emotional health, energy, and overall well-being.
In addition to BHRT, we may recommend lifestyle changes, nutritional support, and stress management techniques to complement your treatment plan. Addressing your hormone balance holistically is the key to long-term success.
Take Control of Your Emotional Health
If you’re experiencing mood swings, depression, or anxiety during perimenopause or menopause, you’re not alone—and it’s not all in your head. The hormonal shifts happening in your body are real, and they’re affecting your brain chemistry in significant ways.
You don’t have to accept these emotional changes as the new normal. With Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy, you can restore balance to your body and mind, helping you feel like yourself again.
Ready to take the next step? Schedule a consultation with us at Evolved Menopause today, and let’s work together to create a personalized treatment plan that helps you reclaim your emotional health.
