Coping with menopausal mood swings
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Anonymous
| I read about mood swings during menopause, but nothing even remotely prepared me for the reality. When they hit, I know in my head that I am feeling irrational, but it overcomes me. I yell and say things that i dont mean and can hardly believe come out of my mouth. Unfortunately or maybe fortunately, i almost always keep it together outside my home. But honestly, I'm not sure my marriage is going to survive menopause. How crazy is that? We survived college. We survived in law issues. We survived the death of parents and crazy moves for jobs. We survived teenage hood with kids and a severely ADHD kid who, while beautiful and lovable would drive you nuts sometimes. But, menopause is likely to do us in. And it's only been like six months. I exercise, eat right, and maintain my weight (though the belly fat thing and the bloating have not been strangers). So it's not something I can control with lifestyle. I'm trying to learn to walk away and be by myself when I feel the craziness. Is there anything else I can do? I am managing the night sweats, increased allergies, insomnia, bloating and everything else pretty well. |
Anonymous
| OP, I'm sorry about this and I wish I had something positive to offer. All I can say is that I'm 49.5 and you're scaring me. |
Anonymous
| This bloating and hot flash thing is crazy enough -- I'm not past any of this yet and can't help either. I am surprised though, hot flashes aren't really much of a flash. They seem to last about a half an hour.... |
Anonymous
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You just described my behavior exactly. It's difficult to control. I also just try to eat right and exercise. I also take low-dose birth control pills which help with the horrible headaches I used to get - but not so much with the mood swings.
I feel your pain!!!! |
Anonymous
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After two years of serious mood swings, I finally just the other day decided to start taking SSRIs. We will see what happens.
It was really starting to affect my young children and my job. My husband has been OK about it, but I think he is at the end of his rope too. I didn't think I would ever take SSRIs -- but I have to give it a try. |
Anonymous
OP here. Also took the plunge with antidepressants and am a million times better. Wishing I had done something earlier. Also, today I learned that I have a serious Vit. D deficiency. My doctor says that treatment should give me back energy. |
Anonymous
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20:37 poster here--
SSRIs have been a life saver. I really hate to admit it. And I hope I can get off them soon. But the severe -- deep into my bones -- depression is gone. I still have fleeting thoughts that we would put me in a funk before, but they go away and don't give me that physical depressive feeling anymore. I have also lost some weight, though I hear that this can happen but then you gain weight. Hope not. |
Anonymous
| Maybe I should try antidepressants. Did you get them from obgyn? What type do you take? |
Anonymous
| I take 5-htp, which is a "natural" anti-depressant, whatever that means. I also take cod liver oil, I exercise, and I went to an integrative med doc who told me I'm intolerant to all sorts of foods, most of which I avoid now. These have made a difference in my mood and have nearly eliminated the hot flashes. I'm still wacky, though, and still have huge mood swings. I won't take antidepressants, though. I tried them a while back, and they made me even crazier! I think I need to wait it out. People tell me they go back to normal after this period is over. God, I hope so. I miss my old self! Oh, and I have bloating and belly fat -- God I hate that!! Can't get rid of this tire, short of starving myself. Running does not do a thing for it! Great legs, but a whole lotta blubber around my waist!! |
Anonymous
| PP again -- and I take Vit D daily, and magnesium, both of which help with depression. I do feel better than I did before taking these things, but menopause is still nasty. |
Anonymous
| mood swings check your hormones |
Anonymous
What does this mean? What do you check for, and then what? I had my hormones checked, and they are fine for someone my age. But I still feel like crap and have intolerable mood swings. Just the other day I was walking around my neighborhood on a bright, sunny day, and all of a sudden I could feel myself falling into a deep depression, right there on the sidewalk. It was as though a huge storm cloud had flown up and settled right on top of my head. I know it's hormonal changes do to menopause, but how does one cope with this? Taking pills doesn't appeal to me; I'd never do HRT. Do we just have to live with it until our bodies adjust to this new hormonal balance? The hot flashes are manageable, as is extra fat, bloating, even the crappy sleep, but these irrational, uncontrollable mood swings are making me feel like a tree is going to fall on me any minute, and I have no idea when or where. Can't wait until this is over!! |