WORKING THROUGH MENOPAUSE, EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH
WORKING THROUGH MENOPAUSE, EFFECTS ON MENTAL HEALTH
Having seen mymother go through early menopause was one of the most difficult things I haveexperienced in my life. Today, we are living in an era where a whole generationof women leaders surround us as they continue to live and inspire. Today, we atStartup City are acknowledging one of the most essential stages of a woman'slife and how one can deal with the symptoms of menopause when they are at thepeak of their careers.
The yearsleading up to menopause and this transition can bring significant changes inthe female body. But, it also affects the mind and mental health as well.
While they havebeen perfecting the time management and tackling with the stress from work andhome, depression is a threat that can hit them in case of extreme burnout, thewomen leaders have a high chance of falling prey to the depression and if theyhave struggled with anxiety and depression in the past, the symptoms are likelyto reappear
The severeshifts in the levels of hormones can cause the mood swings at every stage oflife and it surely does in the case of menopause as well. The transition cancause Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder, a severe form of premenstrual syndrome,affecting mood and postpartum depression are other examples of conditions thatare driven by hormonal changes inside the body, in these cases, beforemenstruation or after childbirth.
SYMPTOMS OF MENOPAUSE
While a woman isgoing through the perimenopause and menopause, the mood shifts are most often mildand the milder depressive symptoms have been linked with hormone changes.
According toresearch stated in the Journal of Clinical Endocrinology & Metabolism thatlinked an increase in depression symptoms after menopause with fluctuations oftwo hormones, progesterone and estradiol, the most potent form ofestrogen.
The vastmajority of women who develop significant mood issues during perimenopause havehad them in the past, while it is something which rare to happen in case ofsomeone who has not experienced depression or anxiety to suddenly develop asevere case of it at menopause.
From a workingwomen's perspective, well, various factors can lead to stress when menopauseoccurs. It can be a time when women sometimes face multiple sources of stress,including the stress of managing things at work, is in the leadership rolescaring for children, dealing with ageing parents, and navigating life changes,all of which may contribute to the incidence of depression and anxiety at thisage.
BEING ANXIOUS
While researchhas linked menopause and depression, the connection is less clear when it comesto anxiety. There is some evidence that women are more likely to experiencepanic attacks during and after the menopausal transition.
A panic attackin such a situation would have certain symptoms including a sudden sense ofextreme anxiety, sweating, trembling, shortness of breath or harmless heartrhythm disturbances called palpitations.
Hot flashes areanother significant symptom of the menopause, but there is a difference betweena panic attack and a hot flash. During a panic attack, the human heart may raceand one may feel sweaty and hot. The same is true in case of hot flashes.
Before a hotflash, some women experience an aura. The aura is a term doctors use todescribe a sensation preceding a brain condition (such as migraine). For thesewomen, the hot flash is preceded by a panicky feeling or a sense of doom.
TIPS TO GET ONESELF THROUGH MENOPAUSE
The changes inphysical health during the menopause can trigger anxiety and various otherfactors like lack of sleep, nighttime hot flashes, etc which can cause moodchanges. In such a situation, being a working woman, you should focus on thesetips:
- Eating Healthy: Well, the connection of mental health and what we eat is quite clear, in such a scenario, while going through the menopause, it should be ensured that one is consuming the nutrients that the body requires and taking time to make sure that one does not indulge into unhealthy food just because they are not feeling well.
- Being Aware: While struggling mentally, in situations of anxiety, the emotions are ruling over the mental power to take decisions, one must take the required time and sit back to be aware of their emotions. What they are feeling and what is triggering these emotions.Once acknowledged you have control over how you can react.
- Manage Your Lifestyle: Women's health is usually comprised as it is not a priority between hob and family. It is time that if you are going through the menopause, you are getting time for yourself and making the required lifestyle changes such as increasing exercise, getting adequate sleep, and controlling stress to reduce potential symptoms.
- Reach Out: Depression and anxiety are the things one should not ignore no matter what struggling alone is not an option which is positive for the health of the person suffering. Thus, one should talk to the people around them and take the needed support.
CONCLUSION:
Menopause is unavoidable and it is a stage that comes to every woman's life. It is difficult but also essential that if you are working woman or not, your health is a priority to keep the cycle of life going forward.
