How Menopause Impacts Anxiety, Depression, and Panic Attacks –
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Learn more about Menopause, and Dr. Haver’s book and other treatments at https://thepauselife.com/
Menopause can really impact mental health, but there are effective treatments, you don’t just have to grit your way through it, so let’s talk about it, and I’m excited to have menopause expert Dr. Mary-Claire Haver here to share the medical aspect of it.
Menopause is not just hot flashes, it’s not just the end of your period. It is a process that leads to changes throughout your entire body. Perimenopause begins 7-10 years before your period stops so you can start to see changes in your entire body, your sleep and your mental health as early as your mid-30’s. We start having a decline in estrogen and progesterone. Estrogen has been shown to have a modulating effect on mood-regulating neurotransmitters such as serotonin and dopamine. And that’s going to make us more vulnerable to stress.
So it’s common to see, especially in perimenopause, symptoms like:
Depression
Anxiety- a lot of women experience more worry, restlessness, and physical symptoms like heart palpitations. Which can also lead to more symptoms of
Panic Disorder and
Irritability: Hormonal changes can make women more prone to mood swings and frustration, affecting their interactions with others.
It’s also very common for women to experience difficulty sleeping, insomnia, night sweats or early morning wakening- which can contribute to more irritability and
that takes us to …Brain fog. Some women experience memory lapses and difficulty concentrating during menopause, which can be really frustrating.
And this is all in addition to the common things people think about when it comes to menopause, hot flashes, night sweats, and metabolism changes which can make your body change quickly, in energy levels or weight gain.
And all of this, from lack of sleep to physical symptoms can impact your self-esteem and relationships, and clearly your mental health.
00:00 Intro
01:40 How Menopause Impacts Mental Health
03:27 Symptoms of Menopause
05:10 Gaslighting
06:32 Treatment
12:57 Mental Health
Click the link below to access the transcript:
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Therapy in a Nutshell and the information provided by Emma McAdam are solely intended for informational and entertainment purposes and are not a substitute for advice, diagnosis, or treatment regarding medical or mental health conditions. Although Emma McAdam is a licensed marriage and family therapist, the views expressed on this site or any related content should not be taken for medical or psychiatric advice. Always consult your physician before making any decisions related to your physical or mental health.
In therapy I use a combination of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Systems Theory, positive psychology, and a bio-psycho-social approach to treating mental illness and other challenges we all face in life. The ideas from my videos are frequently adapted from multiple sources. Many of them come from Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, especially the work of Steven Hayes, Jason Luoma, and Russ Harris. The sections on stress and the mind-body connection derive from the work of Stephen Porges (the Polyvagal theory), Peter Levine (Somatic Experiencing) Francine Shapiro (EMDR), and Bessel Van Der Kolk. I also rely heavily on the work of the Arbinger institute for my overall understanding of our ability to choose our life’s direction.
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26 Comments
Improve your mental health with the free course, https://courses.therapyinanutshell.com/grounding-skills-for-anxiety-stress-and-ptsd
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
Ty! Ty! Ty! 😭😭😭
My poor mother suffered with this change….her Dr was a “macho man” and told her she can get through this without any help!! I have 3 daughters 32-25 y/o and THIS will be shared with them and anyone else who will listen to me! I was told I was peri at 42 and given an antidepressant and THAT was it! I think we are going to be a part of the MENOverse!
Things that have helped me…..HRT, weight lifting, swimming, good diet, giving up alcohol, and therapy!
Nutrition, exercise and supplements doesn't work for me, when it comes to sleeplessness (several hotflushes), brainfog and depression.
I don't want to take hrt, because my mother had breast cancer after years of hrt.
I wonder if can get better again, without hrt?
My two cents on Depression and Anxiety: first, I am a loving husband of over 35 yrs dealing with a spouse whom has suffered from Depression/Anxiety/Bi-polar for at least 33 years. it turns out her first symptoms started in the 3rd grade! I have been supportive and understanding listening and acting on the advice of dozens of medical professionals and Many psychiatrist through the decades. It was not until last year I realized any past treatments were just not producing positive results. Hundreds of medications later, glaucoma and hair loss, we decided to take a different path. I am NOT a medical professional so please do not take this as medical advice. We believe wholeheartedly that Depression/anxiety/bi-polar is NOT a disease but a "symptom" of something else. The drugs only treat the symptoms with massive side effects. 1. We are now under the care of a Doctor of Neuropathic Medicine NDM. 2. Detailed Blood work and detailed blood Allergy testing revealed stomach leakage as a result of a severe Wheat/Soy/Cabbage/basal allergy. 3 Her body was riddled with Yeast/Epstein Barr resulting in massive hormone imbalances and some brain swelling. Also her vitamins and mineral levels were totally off the charts "screwed up" 4. We are currently on a strict diet and supplements to restore her stomach microbiome and repair her leaky gut. 5. After just one month her taste buds began working, she can taste lemon for the first time in years, her mood is rock solid and stable, she is sleeping through the night, Constipation is completely gone. We will continue the treatment with hopes and prayers that her Glaucoma and hair loss will improve. Her DMD said he has successfully treated her type of glaucoma with diet. Patients have recovered much of their lost sight. Summary: Don't listen to MOST doctors (the ones that are not experienced in diet/stomach health) and especially psychiatrist (the ones that just push toxic pills that never order blood work). Demand they do they homework and perform MRI's/CT's on organs such as thyroid, pancreas, pituitary, Blood work, Allergy testing etc. It could be a tiny tumor or an allergy. Brain health begins and ends with diet and a healthy gut. If you are prediabetic or even worse diabetic threat that Immediately. Closing: we still have several years towards recovery but the bottom line is that she is recovering and on the correct path. In time we plan to reduce the number and quantity of medication but it will require constant effort. She has already been weened off of a highly addictive sleep narcotic after just a month. Prayers are greatly appreciated. Find the ROOT cause
Makes me feel bad for my girlfriend who's 48, lately the last couple years seem like her mental health has declined. She has lupus and other issues but I feel better watching this. Sometimes she gets her period two weeks after her last menstrual cycle. It has us worried at times, but I really appreciate that I found this video, thank you ❤
Thank you internet, thank YouTube, thank you all the great sharing and whoever makes an effort to help and share knowledge. Sending love from Asia- Hong Kong.
I’ve had anxiety my whole life but after I diagnosed with fibromyalgia and had a hysterectomy it got worse and although I’m on estrogen it’s not enough. I also have adhd and ptsd and a couple of other health issues so I guess I’m a mess and I have trouble taking meds because I have a sensitive stomach. So I can only take certain medications 💊 oh and I’m soon to be 56 and have been going through this since I was 45 years old 😢😢😢
That is what I notice. So much more authentic. Careless about what others think, much more direct and 0 tolerance for bs ☺️
Love it.
Pls reduce coffee, tea. It mess up nerves. Creates restlessness. Drink alternative perk up natural drinks. When you start peri menapause, it will have impact. Heart palpitation, nerve wreak will be further agrivated with caffine. I am 53 and moved house to warmer place to reduce dependance on coffee and tea. Start now before peri to avoid the impact of loosing estrogen. Menapause takes about 10 years for the body to settle. I did it quick, i am veg for 20+years, stopped coffee, tea, never drank alcahol, took vits to reduce stress on the body for lacking estrogen. Doing Hatha yoga everyday, Surya Kriya, Meditation guided with ISHA. Take tumeric and himalaya neem capsules everyday. I totally changed almost everything. Food too, everyday fruits, millets, fibre. One good meal a day, if i am hungry after yoga, a slice wholemeal bread with pure butter and sugerless jam or with peanutbutter and banana. Oh yea, when i miss cola, i drink isotonic revive. Try ISHA miracle of meditation yea. Generally i avoid sugary stuff, it turns me off and i dont like feeling tired with sugar. No one generally prepared for feeling tired, skin dry, brain fog, sweat during cold night, sweat in aircond, sweat in snow. You will feel alien in your own body. So dear, transform yourself and sail smoothly. I never had cholesterol in my adult life until 50 years old and it just because if menapause. So i changed my diet as mention.
Thank you so much for this video!! I cannot express how helpful this is!!
Psychedelics are just an exceptional mental health breakthrough. It's quite fascinating how effective they are against Suicidal, depression and anxiety. Saved my life.
God says " that the soul is a beautiful energy wearing the costume of a physical body" God says, " just like your Supreme Father gives gives and gives like the Sun of Purity , never takes, become like me , a selfless giver and all your problems will be sorted. God says know me and connect your mind and intellect with me and emerge all your spiritual powers 🙂
Thanks! I’m 51 😊
When my anxiety started, a year ago, I started listening to therapy in a nutshell. A few weeks ago, I started listening to Dr Haver. Now,my 2 faves together!
mommy?
wow this explains so much, literally feel like I'm losing my mind!
Emma is the best. I wish I knew her in person. Her videos have been very helpful.
Ive gained 30 lbs and I eat less and walk 5-8 miles daily only to keep gaining. The insomnia is awful and I nearly had a stroke bc of high blood pressure…which I have NEVER had before. Im absolutely miserable. Im 52 and my family pretty much hates me and says Ive "lost my mind" and they dont want me around. A lifetime of caring for everyone else and now I can just go die somewhere apparently. 😢 it really sucks. At least my dog loves me 😅
It cost me my 22-year marriage. He didn't understand, he never wanted to understand. He said I was pretending to be sick. Here, education should be more focused on our partners.
What if we can’t take estrogen? What help is there for us?
But thyroid disfunction and diabetes are not natural events…they are malfunctions….menopause is natural. So I am not in agreement with your comparison
Why isn’t everyone talking about the gut-hormone connection? This book should be required reading for every woman over 40. I almost forgot! The menopause gut fix is the book which helped me!
I'm back to say how much this video has positively impacted my life. I'm starting HRT tomorrow after finding out my levels are waaay off! I have suffered a horrible spike in OCD and your video with Nate introduced me to ERP. Now I have answers for the underlying cause and I couldn't be more grateful! Thank you. You're saving lives and enriching families.