Irritability:

Things suddenly bother you, possibly enrage you, you’re a short fuse and you feel out of control as if you could “lose it” at anytime.

Generalized or specific anxiety:

Suddenly, you feel overwhelmed and you’re fighting a flight or fight response all too often. You feel uneasy about your abilities in a way you haven’t before and question whether you’re able to upkeep the “act” of having it together that much longer. 

Depression:

This can range from being in a “blah” mood constantly to not being able to get out of bed or off the couch. You feel deeply unmotivated and wonder “what the point is, anyway”.

RISK:

• Sleep disturbance: 

Hormonal changes can disrupt sleep or cause night sweats, which in turn disrupt sleep patterns. Chronic lack of sleep causes stress, which can foster depression. 

• Fatigue:

Decreased energy, increased appetite symptoms of depression may overlap with and compound subjective complaints of fatigue as well as weight increases are commonly reported during and after the menopause transition.

• Cognition: 

Subjective complaints of cognitive changes are common during the menopause transition. Some researchers have shown that post menopause, women’s cognitive function can return to normal. 

• Depression:

Concurrent depressive and anxiety symptoms were associated with slower processing speed and anxiety was also associated with worse memory.

Midlife women with depression may also present with co-occurring cognitive slowing, perhaps amplifying existing cognitive changes during the menopause transition.

• Sexual function:

Decreased libido also may be a symptom of depression. The dual effect of depression and the menopause transition on sexual desire and performance may be additive,menopause may represent a uniquely challenging time for women. 

• Mid-life Challenges: 

Women face a series of stressors including but not exclusive to caring for aging parents, death of parents, medical illness in self and family, children, and changes in marital status. These multiple demands are often faced without support in place to identify or address the ensuing distress placed on a woman during this stage.