Understanding Menopause Mood Swings

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By Dr. David Woo - August 12, 2024

Menopause is a significant transition in a woman’s life, often accompanied by a range of emotional and physical changes. One of the most challenging aspects can be “menopause mood swings” which can impact daily functioning and overall well-being. Understanding the causes and management strategies for mood swings related to menopause and perimenopause is crucial for maintaining mental health during these periods in a woman’s life. At Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry, we specialize in treating patients with depression and mood swings, including those due to menopause. In this article, we explore the causes behind menopause mood swings and effective treatments, including medications and transcranial magnetic stimulation therapy (TMS).

Causes And Symptoms Of Menopause And Perimenopause Mood Swings

Menopause is a natural biological process marking the end of a woman’s reproductive years. It is officially diagnosed after a woman has gone 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period. This typically happens between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age being 51.

During menopause, the body’s estrogen levels tend to decline, which can influence the production of serotonin, a neurotransmitter that regulates mood. Thus, lower estrogen levels can lead to decreased serotonin production, resulting in mood swings and depressive symptoms. The body’s production of cortisol (the “stress hormone”) can also increase, triggering anxiety.

Perimenopause mood swings occur in the transitional phase leading up to menopause, characterized by fluctuating hormone levels. These hormonal changes can cause mood instability, unexplained tearfulness, irritability, anxiety, and depression.

While hormone imbalances are behind mood swings during both the perimenopause and menopause periods, the perimenopause hormone fluctuations can be more intense and unstable, with correspondingly higher levels of intensity and unpredictability when it comes to mood changes (1, 2). Both periods are also associated with an increased risk of depression in women (3).

Perimenopause Mood Swings Vs Menopause Mood Swings: A Comparison

Comparison	Perimenopause Mood Swings	Menopause Mood Swings
Timing	Transition period leading up to menopause, can start in 30s or 40s	Begins after 12 consecutive months without a menstrual period
Hormonal Changes	Significant and unpredictable fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone	Stabilized lower levels of estrogen and progesterone
Symptoms Intensity	More intense due to erratic hormone levels	Generally milder but more consistent due to stable low hormone levels
Frequency	Can change rapidly and frequently	More consistent pattern of mood changes
Additional Symptoms	Irregular periods, hot flashes, night sweats, sleep disturbances	Continued hot flashes, night sweats, but no menstrual periods
Psychological Factors	Anxiety about the transition, unpredictable symptoms	Adjustment to the end of fertility and stable low hormone levels
Treatment Approaches	Hormonal treatments to stabilize fluctuations, medications, lifestyle changes	Hormone replacement therapy (HRT), antidepressants, TMS, lifestyle changes
Impact of Hormonal Fluctuations	High, due to erratic levels	Moderate, due to stable but low levels
Examples of Mood Symptoms	Irritability, anxiety, rapid mood changes, depression	Mild depression, anxiety, ongoing low mood
Management Focus	Stabilizing hormone levels and managing stress	Maintaining mood with stable hormones, therapeutic interventions

Treatments At Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry For Menopause And Perimenopause Mood Swings

Navigating the physical and mental symptoms of menopause and perimenopause can be challenging, but effective treatments are available such as talk therapy, medication, and innovative therapies like TMS. Various drugs, as well as hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can be prescribed for these conditions, which is why it’s essential to take care that any treatment for depression or anxiety does not pose a risk of adverse drug interactions.

At Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry, we offer a range of therapies for depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders, working with patients to create a personalized treatment that can be safely taken with any existing medicines for menopause.

Medication Management For Menopause Mood Swings

Effective management of mood swings often involves a combination of lifestyle changes, therapy, and medication. Antidepressants, HRT, and other medications can help stabilize mood and alleviate symptoms of depression and anxiety.

Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry provides personalized medication management services to ensure each patient receives tailored treatment. Our experienced professionals monitor progress and adjust medications as needed to optimize effectiveness and minimize side effects.

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) For Mood Regulation

Besides medication and lifestyle changes, transcranial magnetic stimulation can help treat menopause depression and mood swings. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an innovative, non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic fields to stimulate brain cells, helping to improve mood regulation. It is administered in a clinical setting using a helmet-like device and only takes around thirty minutes per session. TMS is well tolerated, and patients can immediately go about their normal lives post-session, with a minority experiencing mild side effects such as an itchy scalp or slight headache.

TMS is FDA-approved and highly effective in treating depression and mood swings. It is also completely drug-free, making it a valuable option for those who do not respond well to traditional medications or are worried about potential interactions with HRT or other pharmaceuticals. Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry specializes in providing TMS therapy, offering patients a safe, effective alternative to manage their symptoms and enhance their quality of life.

Telehealth Consultations

Finding time for mental health appointments can be challenging in New York City’s fast-paced environment. Thankfully, modern technology can help us make time to take care of our mental health despite our busy lives.

Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry offers comprehensive telehealth services, ensuring that patients receive consistent, high-quality care from the comfort of their homes or offices. This flexibility is particularly beneficial for managing medications for ongoing conditions like menopausal mood swings.

Contact Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry

If you or a loved one is struggling with mood swings related to menopause and perimenopause, there’s no need to suffer in silence. Contact Madison Avenue TMS & Psychiatry at (212) 731-2033 or via our website to book a consultation and discuss how our compassionate services can help you on your journey toward better mental health today.

Additional Reading: Women’s Mental Health

Sources:

Haritha, Y. D. and Bilquis, B. Depression among Women during Menopause and Its Effect. Journal of Advances in Biology & Biotechnology. 2024;27 (5). pp. 782-789. ISSN 2394-1081. Link. Accessed July 16, 2024.
Willi, J., & Ehlert, U. Symptoms assessed in studies on perimenopausal depression: A narrative review. Sexual & Reproductive Healthcare. 2020;26, 100559. Link. Accessed July 16, 2024.
Padda, J., Khalid, K., Hitawala, G., Batra, N., Pokhriyal, S., Mohan, A., Zubair, U., Cooper, A. C., & Jean-Charles, G. (2021). Depression and Its Effect on the Menstrual Cycle. Cureus, 13(7). Link. Accessed July 16, 2024.

Dr. David Woo

Dr. David Woo is the owner and head clinical psychiatrist at Madison Avenue TMS and Therapy in New York City. Dr. Woo has been seeing patients in private practice since 2002, always with the goals of combining evidence-based medicine with psychodynamic psychotherapy and collaborating with other mental health professionals to ensure the best possible outcomes for his patients. He has been certified to administer TMS at his practice since 2017. His greatest clinical interests include helping patients suffering from depression, anxiety, and obsessive compulsive disorder.

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