Perimenopause RAGE and What You Can Do About It
Are you feeling more RAGE recently? Quick to snap? Small irritations are now becoming HUGE to deal with?
DO you find yourself asking yourself: "Am I a horrible person?"
Mood symptoms like anxiety, rage and depression are really common perimenopausal symptoms.
So yes you are normal.
No, you are most certainly not a b**ch.
Why Am I Experiencing RAGE?
Mood changes in perimenopause are because of low progesterone and wildly fluctuating estrogen.
It’s important to remember that you won't feel like this forever. Once your hormones calm the heck down (usually around menopause: 12 months of no period) so will your symptoms.
Hang in there, Lady!
Menopause Depression
Are you feeling like you're actually not likeable? Do you feel like a really dull and flat version of yourself and lost the ability to enjoy life?
It could be that you're experiencing Menopause Depression which can take place during perimenopause.
The perimenopause transition period can be long, so whatever you do please just hope it will go away. You could well do with some professional help.
Speak to your GP and get a referral to a menopause trained health professional. Sometimes menopause depression it not well understood so finding a health professional with specialist training is important.
Menopause happens in the brain (on average around 45 to 48 years old) before physical symptoms present.
Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, suggests trying hormone therapy first (remembering that the symptoms are caused by hormonal shifts) as it’s easier withdrawal-wise than antidepressants.
Anxiety
Another mood symptom in perimenopause can be anxiety brought on by the same hormonal changes causing rage.
Perimenopause emotions are as erratic as our perimenopausal hormones; they change quickly and easily, from happy to sad to rage to happy to anxiety (sometimes all in a day - or less!).
It certainly feels crazy-making! And whilst you may feel it, please know it's not you, it's your hormones and it'll pass.
Perimenopause RAGE is Normal
Perimenopause anxiety and mood swings can also resemble PMS; sadness, sluggishness, anxiety, moody and/or irritable.
Anxiety symptoms can get worse thanks to perimenopause symptoms such as night sweats affecting our sleep. No one can function on bad sleep so it's no wonder we feel anxious!
Sleep deprivation is the number one form of torture in the world with good reason and can break the hardest and toughest of people.... yikes what chance do we have?!
There's a helpful article here with our recommendations to improve sleep in perimenopause.
Magnesium To The Rescue!
Magnesium is an essential mineral, needed for optimal metabolic function. It is involved in more than 300 essential metabolic reactions within our bodies.
In perimenopause the type of magnesium you need to use is Magnesium Glycinate as it is more effective in treating anxiety, insomnia, stress and reducing inflammatory conditions. It is a key nutrient to take in perimenopause and so helpful in balancing mood. It's also the reason we included Magnesium Glycinate as a superhero ingredient in our therapeutic blend of Peri Chai Latte created specifically for perimenopausal women.
Read more on the Magic of Magnesium here.
Conclusion
Peri happens at a time of your life where you might have ageing parents, teens, going through a divorce, financial issues, health problems.
Think about your mood symptoms: are they situational or hormonal? Or it could even be both. When you step away from the situation and look at it from the outside looking in, it could be no wonder you're feeling rage, moody as heck and anxious.
Not to mention these unruly hormones wreaking havoc in our bodies.
Some questions to think about:
- Do I need to see a counsellor or a psychologist to help me work through my stuff?
- Or do I need to speak to a GP or menopause health professional about hormone therapy
- Or will a magnesium supplement be enough.
Maybe it'll be all three but whatever you decide, you can take charge of your mental health and your hormone changes.
If you don’t have a GP who you feel understands women’s health and has a firm grasp on perimenopause and menopause, we recommend checking out this registry with the Australasian Menopause Society, of doctors who have a special interest in perimenopause and menopause.
Resources
Hormone Repair Manual, Lara Briden ND
Mood Swings and Rage with Professor Jayashri Kulkarni, The Very Peri Summit, presented by Mamamia