Therapy for Menopause
Menopause.
Historically, some people don’t even talk about it. It’s been taboo, something that women experience, but aren’t always “allowed” to experience. Often, women are encouraged to continue about their lives as if their bodies and minds aren’t going through major biological changes. People chalk it up to hormones, yet don’t take time to really understand the layers of menopause and how it can affect both physical health and mental health.
It happens in stages- perimenopause, menopause, and postmenopause. It can begin when a woman is in her 30’s, and most often, peaking in the early 50’s. At each stage, the physical body goes through multiple changes, and in turn, so does the psychological make-up of each woman. Common during the menopause process are the following:
Anxiety
Worry about what to expect during menopause and throughout aging. Maybe you are experiencing heightened stress as a result of trying to continue with “normal” everyday life while your body is changing so much.
Depression
Natural hormonal fluctuations can increase the likelihood of depression. How others around you view menopause can also impact your chance of experiencing depression. If you feel isolated and misunderstood, you might experience more depressive symptoms. Some signs of depression include appetite changes, thoughts of harming oneself, aches or pains, upset stomach, and hopelessness.
Low mood
General sadness and lack of energy might be a result of going through menopause. Lethargy and feeling like you don’t want to do anything are common, and you might benefit from connections with others who can understand where you’re coming from.
Mood swings
During menopause, lower estrogen levels may lead to irritability, fatigue, anxiety, sleep problems, and other factors that can increase mood fluctuations.
Panic attacks
Panic attacks hit unexpectedly and at any time—when you’re at the mall, watching television, in the middle of a work meeting, while driving, and even when you’re sleeping. Menopause ushers in life changes that can make you more prone to developing panic attacks—like sleep problems, worries about body image, changing relationships, loss of fertility and an overall decreased sense of well-being. If you were prone to anxiety in the past or experienced PMS or postpartum depression, then you might be more likely to develop panic attacks during the menopause years.
Low self-esteem
Menopause can significantly impact self-esteem and confidence due to the fall of hormones estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone. These changes can lead to physical and psychological symptoms, such as weight gain, skin changes, hair thinning, and a shift in emotional states that can all impact self-esteem and perceptions of self-worth.
Irritability
The stressors of modern life combined with hormonal imbalances can sometimes make “keeping your cool” feel like an impossible challenge. You might get crankier, have less patience, and be less tolerant.
Lack of motivation
Lack of motivation during menopause can leave you feeling that you can’t be bothered to do the things you used to. You might feel like staying in bed or watching TV instead of getting out and about. Work – or any activity – can feel like a huge effort. In short, you feel you’ve lost your mojo and it’s hard to understand why. Well, menopause could be why, and now is the time to reach out to MySpectrum to get back on track.
Aggressiveness
Hormonal changes during menopause can wreak havoc on moods, leading to increased anger, rage, and at times, aggressiveness. It is important to recognize this and to work on minimizing aggressiveness so that it does not turn into violence or harmful acts.
Difficulty concentrating
Difficulty with concentration during menopause can be caused by decreased estrogen levels, which affect blood flow to the brain. Symptoms of menopause-related concentration loss include unclear thought processes, losing the train of thought, forgetfulness, and difficulty focusing on tasks.
Questions about identity and aging as physical body changes
Marking the end of one’s childbearing years can be bittersweet for many and painful for others. Noting changes in the body can prompt concerns about body image, while contemplating midlife, in general, can lead to bigger questions about one’s place and purpose in life.
Grief and loss
Grief can be linked to changes in our lives, and menopause can present a big change for women. You might feel like your body has betrayed you, that you are getting too old too fast, and you might miss the life you had pre-menopause in the child-bearing years. By contacting MySpectrum, we can help you to embrace the new you and work through the life changes you are experiencing.
Relationship struggles
Due to all of the various physical and mental health symptoms and experiences that menopause can create, relationships might be put to the test during this time of life. If a significant other, friend, colleague, boss, or other person does not take the time to understand the menopausal period of life, they might interpret your emotions, symptoms, and pain as something completely different. It is a good time to educate them, while also educating yourself, so that you have the freedom to move through menopause with support and encouragement.
As you look through this list of what someone might experience with menopause, it is important to note that each woman is different. What one person experiences might be completely different for another. There are several factors that contribute to how someone experiences menopause, to include genetics, overall physical health and chronic conditions, and mental health prior to menopause. The important take-away is that at MySpectrum, we recognize the impact of menopause on women, their spouses, and other loved ones, and encourage anyone experiencing struggles as a result to reach out, without the fear of shame, guilt, or embarrassment.
With the ease and convenience of counseling online with MySpectrum, we offer you and your loved ones an opportunity to get connected to a trained Therapist without adding more to your plate – no driving to an office, no sitting in an uncomfortable waiting room, and no need to get dressed up to leave the house! Be comfy, casual, and most importantly – be you – during a time that might be making you feel so unlike yourself.
Get in Touch With MySpectrum Today
MySpectrum Counseling & Coaching is a trusted mental-health provider in North Chesterfield, VA with 15+ years of clinical experience helping children, teens, and adults thrive. Our licensed team — LPC, LCSW, LMFT — holds advanced certifications in CBT, DBT, Trauma-Focused Therapy, Play Therapy, and Substance Use Treatment. We are HIPAA-compliant, insured, and credentialed with major health plans across Virginia.
MySpectrum Counselling & Coaching is a 2023 Inc. 5000 “fast-growing business” honoree (Rank #244 nationally / #1 in Richmond), a recognition featured in the September 2023 issue of Inc.
As a member of ChamberRVA, we follow high standards of accountability, community engagement, and ethics.
If you’re ready to take the next step in your journey, we’re ready to hear from you. We offer in-person and online therapy sessions, as well as family therapy. Get in touch with us today to schedule an appointment with a Therapist and start the healing process.