I Have A Hard Time Concentrating And I’m Forgetful Is This A Normal Part Of Menopause
Unfortunately, difficulty with concentration and minor memory problems can often be a normal part of perimenopause, the time leading up to menopause . The good news is that it is likely to be temporary.
Current medical knowledge is limited as to why memory changes occur with perimenopause, and there are currently no treatments available to relieve these symptoms. If you are having memory problems, discuss this with your doctor. They can help manage memory problems or refer you to a provider who can.
What Are The Causes Of Mood Swings
There is no definite cause of mood swings as there are plenty of reasons that differ from one person to another. It is said that chemical reactions occurring in the brain often cause a persons mood to change. Here are several psychological and physical conditions and also some food habits that are likely to cause mood swings-
Mood Swings During Pregnancy
Causes and TreatmentIf you are pregnant or are supporting someone through pregnancy, you probably have some experience with mood swings. You are not alone; mood swings during pregnancy are common. You may be excited about being pregnant, but you can also be stressed or overwhelmed. You may have constant worries that contribute to your mood swings.
Questions such as:
- Will I be a good parent?
- How am I going to manage financially?
- Will my baby be healthy?
- Am I doing the right things to prepare for;my baby?
Pregnancy is a life-changing event full of physical and emotional changes. Understanding these changes will help you have a positive experience. It may prove helpful to talk through these changes and worries with a professional.
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Manage Mood Disorders With Help From Family Psychiatry And Therapy
Whether your mood swings are a result of life stressors or a mood disorder, Family Psychiatry and Therapy can help provide you with the tools and techniques to gain control of your symptoms. And you dont need to already be diagnosed with a disorder to seek a psychiatric consultationeven perfectly happy people can benefit from therapy! Our experienced professionals will evaluate your needs and put together a customized treatment plan to help you take control of your life and learn to manage the underlying conditions that could be causing your mood swings. Contact us today to learn more about our services, or to schedule an appointment.
Dont Take It Personally
Ultimately, we are all responsible for our behavior, so remember that if your partner is moody and takes their anger or irritability out on you, it is not your fault.;
If your partner has a mental health condition like depression, it can be helpful to remind yourself that the mood swings are because of this condition and not because of any flaws on your part.;
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Schedule Some Daily Down Time
Even if you are the busiest person in the world with an endless to-do list, if youre going to make it through recovery in once piece then you absolutely need to begin scheduling time for rest and relaxation into your daily routine.
Stress hormones and tiredness are two of the biggest culprits when it comes to erratic mood swings, so try to block off at least 30 minutes of you time each day.
Read a book, go for a walk, meditate, take a long hot bubble bath do whatever you can to wind down and relax.
Be Her Exercise Partner
Many women find that one of the most effective means of managing the menopause is to stabilize the root cause: hormone imbalance. A simple way of going about this is to lead a healthy lifestyle. Exercise will provide not only short term stress relief but also reduce the risk of contracting some of the more serious conditions that can accompany menopause. However, it can sometimes be hard to stay motivated, help your mom along by becoming her running partner or joining an exercise class together.
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How To Manage Mood Swings Naturally
If your family,;friends and co-workers;have been driving you nuts lately,;and you feel as if you’re losing your mind, you may;suffer from mood swings.;Mood swings have the uncanny ability to make you feel totally out of control and hypersensitive to every feeling, touch, look and word.;As frustrating as this may be, the good news is that you’re not alone. According to the American Medical Association, more than 75% of women experience some emotional distress between the onset of menstruation and the culmination of menopause.Symptoms of mood swings include irritability, depression, fatigue and insomnia. Mood swings are caused by;a hormonal imbalance and the effect the reproductive hormones estrogen and progesterone have on serotonin levels in the brain. They disrupt the ability to think clearly, process information and;react well;to stress.;Treatment has traditionally been focused on reducing the roller coaster-type symptoms with;narcotic drugs such as lithium and valium. But;new understanding about the cause of mood swings has led to more natural therapies centered on botanical enhancements, diet and exercise.The New HerbsSerotonin is the brain chemical responsible for modulating mood. If serotonin levels are high, so are our moods. If levels are low, mood drops.
, , .;Vitamins and MineralsThe Right FoodsGetting Physical
How Hormones Influence Mood
Hormones are complex chemicals that are involved to some extent in just about every function and process within our bodies. Our overall health is influenced in a myriad of ways by our hormonal health, and mood regulation is a classic example.
Sometimes, it is a chronic problem or imbalance that leads to mood disturbances. Other times, the issue is more to do with too much fluctuation. If your hormones are a rollercoaster, your moods probably will be too!
One of the hormones with the most power over our moods is estrogen. Estrogen actually influences mood in a few different ways, but one of the most important ways is through its relationship with serotonin.
Serotonin is a neurotransmitter whose main responsibility is influencing mood. Heavily fluctuating levels of serotonin will inevitably show up as mood swings, and estrogen actually influences how much serotonin we produce.
Low levels of estrogen often lead to low or inconsistent levels of serotonin, which can be a major cause of mood swings. Low estrogen can also lead to symptoms like brain fog, difficulty sleeping, hot flashes, headaches, bone loss, and memory issues.
Estrogen also helps to protect the brain and nerves from damage, to control levels of other important mood-related neurotransmitters, including dopamine and norepinephrine, and to increase feel-good endorphins. For all of these reasons and beyond, its important to pay attention to estrogen levels!
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Mood Swings In Children Versus Mood Swings In Adults
The underlying conditions that can cause mood swings, such as mood disorders or hormonal changes, affect children and adults differently. Because its usually more difficult for children to articulate their mental state, the cause of their mood swings could be misdiagnosed if and when they are evaluated. Children with ADHD, for example, could be misdiagnosed with bipolar disorder. In reality, they might be dealing with increased irritability as a result of their ADHD: a sudden change in mood when met with a challenging situation might lead to an angry outburst, and the wrong condition could be blamed. This leads to treatment that wont actually help them manage their symptoms.;;
Adults, on the other hand, might refuse to seek treatment or not even realize that theyre struggling with a condition. They can also react to hormonal changes differently than children do. For example, women go through menopause, a natural bodily process, later in life. They may experience intense mood swings caused by hormones released during that time. Young girls beginning their menstrual cycles for the first time might also experience mood swings as a result of hormones affecting the chemical balance in their brains.
Meditation To Master Your Moods
Kirtan Kriya is a meditation chant that comes from Kundalini yoga. The practice uses repetitive finger movements to help break habits and assist you in going through any life changes. It can also help heal negative sexual memories and traumas. Kirtan Kriya is believed to stimulate your pituitary and pineal glands, which allows you to become more active and balanced. Its very helpful in connecting and balancing your menstrual cycle and the moon energy centers.
Heres how you can try Kirtan Kriya for yourself.
The mantra includes primal sounds that reflect the wheel of life. The mantra is Saa Taa Naa Maa .
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Why Does It Happen
Experts arent sure about the exact cause of PMS, but its likely linked to hormonal fluctuations that happen during the second half of the menstrual cycle.
Ovulation happens about halfway through your cycle. During this time, your body releases an egg, causing estrogen and progesterone levels to drop. A shift in these hormones can lead to both physical and emotional symptoms.
Changes in estrogen and progesterone levels also influence serotonin levels. This is a neurotransmitter that helps regulate your mood, sleep cycle, and appetite. Low levels of serotonin are linked to feelings of sadness and irritability, in addition to trouble sleeping and unusual food cravings all common PMS symptoms.
Mood swings are one of the most
Avoid Caffeine Alcohol And Sugar:
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Why Can Birth Control Cause Mood Swings
The way birth control tanks your mood is multifactorial. And truly, we haven’t done enough studies to understand why one woman has issues, while another is just fine. At this current time, we can’t say that birth control causes mood swings, depression or anxiety based on the current research. However, we do know there is a correlation between starting birth control and then experiencing mood symptoms.;
In my naturopathic medical practice, I consider the many factors at play on an individualized basis.
Here are just a few of the issues doctors should consider.:
When To Visit A Doctor
- being so aroused that you find yourself unable to control the urges to spend money, confront people, or engage in other uncontrollable or risky behavior
- feeling like you want to hurt yourself or end your life
- being unable to visit friends, get enough sleep, go to work, or even get out of bed
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Tips For Balancing Hormones And Stabilizing Mood
When were talking about balancing hormones, especially when it comes to mood swings that show up during our premenstrual phase or during perimenopause, one of the most important things to do is limit our intake of anything that is likely to contribute to fluctuations.
This includes limiting intake of alcohol , caffeine , sugar , and white flour. Limiting excess salt, artificial sweeteners, and additives is also very helpful.
Focus instead on whole, balancing, anti-inflammatory foods. Intake of healthy, omega-3 fats is helpful, as well as foods that contain B6 , magnesium , or zinc .
Try to eat regular meals in order to keep your blood sugar stable. Make sure to also drink lots of water.
Supplementing certain nutrients including vitamins B6 and B12, magnesium, zinc, and calcium might help. Its always best to talk with your practitioner before introducing any new supplements.
Regular exercise is one of the most helpful things you can do for mood swings find a form of exercise that you love, and schedule it into your routine for a regular, stabilizing boost of feel-good chemicals.
Make sure to get good quality sleep, and find ways to unwind, manage stress, and take care of yourself, whether its yoga, meditation, a bubble bath, or my favorite just saying no when youre overburdened.
Reviewed by;Dr. Mark Menolascino, MD
How Can I Cope With My Mom’s Mood Swings
Caused by hormonal imbalance during the menopause transition, a women’s hormone levels fluctuate rapidly and significantly affect her mind and body in a number of different ways. Whilst it can be hard to remain understanding and sympathetic when it feels like you’re the target of her mood swings, remember that she’s struggling with uncomfortable symptoms beyond her control. To make the transition easier for both of you try to be understanding, patient and supportive.
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Could Pms Really Be A Magnification Of An Existing Health Or Mental Health Condition
Brands that capitalize off of premenstrual syndrome spend a lot of money on sophisticated advertising that might lead people to believe certain symptoms can be attributed to PMS. Itâs important to know that some existing conditions can be amplified in the premenstrual phase . Blaming any uncomfortable symptoms that occur during the premenstrual phase on PMS could mask an underlying health issue. Anxiety and depression often get misdiagnosed as PMS . Other health conditions could also be misdiagnosed as PMS.
Talk To Your Partner And Kids
You might lose your temper, or start to cry unexpectedly. Let your partnerand your kidsknow its not them. Apologize in advance for those momentary periods of irritability. When talking to your kids, however, be careful not to blame the baby for your moods.
They are likely already nervous that theyll need to share you with another child. Keeping that in mind, you dont want to give them additional reasons to be unhappy about the upcoming family change. Instead, just explain that mommy isn’t feeling well lately, but everything is OK and will get better.
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Mood Swings In Pregnancy
Hormonal changes in pregnancy can cause sudden shifts in mood, as well as feelings of anxiety and vulnerability. Physical changes may also influence a womans emotions.
These mood changes may be more apparent during the first trimester and level off once the body has adapted to fluctuating hormone levels. However, some women will experience mood swings throughout their pregnancy.
Remain Empathetic And Understanding
It can be helpful to approach the topic of relationship mood swings by coming from a place of care and concern. Express to your partner that you are worried for them because of their sadness and irritability.;
Ask what might be going on and whether there is something you can do to help. Truly listen to their response and try to be understanding of their situation.;
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Borderline Personality Disorder And Mood Swings
Borderline personality disorder is a common mental health condition and can cause mood swings. People who live with BPD are subject to intense and sudden mood swings that may last from a few hours to less than a week. BPD mood swings are characterized by changes in how the person affected feels about themselves and others.;
Symptoms of BPD that influence and exacerbate mood swings include:
- Unprotected sex, substance abuse, reckless behavior
- Angry outbursts or panic toward real or perceived abandonment
- Self-harm, suicidality
- Feeling of emptiness
Adrenal And Thyroid Health
The pill, the ring, IUDs, implants and the patch all mess with your thyroid and your adrenal glands. We know that these also affect mood.
Hypothyroid women are more prone to having depression and anxiety.
The adrenal glands help regulate inflammation. When function is compromised, this can also lead to mood symptoms.
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Depression Mood Swings Weight Gain Maddy’s Story
Weight gain, mood swings and severe depression were the main side effects Maddy experienced with going on the pill. As I explain in Beyond the Pill, there are several reasons why we can experience weight gain on hormonal birth control. And there are several studies that have shown a correlation between hormonal birth and depression.
For Maddy, she struggled for years with severe depression after beginning hormonal birth control. It was finally after she met with a therapist who encouraged her to track her cycles that she came off of birth control. Maddy wasn’t totally ready for what came next.
Maddy experienced post-birth control syndrome symptoms and lost her period for a year after discontinuing the pill. Her periods were regular prior to starting hormonal birth control, so this was a new experience for her. But her mood improved in a short period of time. Her mom actually said to her after she came off the pill, wow, we finally got Maddy back!
In the below video, Maddy discusses how dietary shifts helped her get her period back and improve her health overall. I hope you enjoy this discussion and the other Beyond the Pill discussions on my channel.