Menopause isn't just a physical change but a profound emotional journey. As your body adjusts to fluctuating hormone levels, your mood and mental health can take a rollercoaster ride. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve deep into the psychological effects of menopause and share practical tips to help you navigate this transformative time with resilience and grace.

The Emotional Impact of Menopause

The years leading up to menopause, known as perimenopause, and the transition itself can bring about significant changes in both the body and mind. One of the most notable effects is the doubling of depression incidence during this period. Women who have struggled with depression or anxiety in the past might also see a resurgence in symptoms.

The hormonal fluctuations that characterise menopause can have a profound impact on mood regulation. Estrogen and progesterone, two key female hormones, play crucial roles in neurotransmitter activity and neuroplasticity in the brain. As these hormone levels fluctuate, it can disrupt the delicate balance of neurotransmitters like serotonin and dopamine, closely linked to mood regulation.

Research has shown that milder depressive symptoms have been linked with hormone changes. For example, a study published in 2019 linked an increase in depression symptoms at perimenopause with fluctuations of progesterone and estradiol. However, the link between major depression, the more severe form of clinical depression, and hormonal changes is not as clear.

It's important to note that while hormonal changes play a significant role, they are not the sole cause of mood changes during menopause. Midlife, when menopause typically occurs, is a time when women may face multiple sources of stress, including caring for children, dealing with ageing parents, and navigating other life changes. These stressors can contribute to the incidence of depression and anxiety at this age, alongside hormonal changes.

Navigating the Emotional Changes of Menopause

Menopause is a period of significant hormonal fluctuation, which can have a profound impact on your emotions. Understanding and managing these emotional changes is key to maintaining mental well-being during this transition. Here are some common emotional changes you may experience during menopause and how to navigate them:

1. Mood Swings: Hormonal fluctuations can lead to sudden and intense mood swings, ranging from irritability and anxiety to sadness and frustration. Recognising these mood swings as a normal part of menopause can help you cope better with them.
   
   
2. Anxiety and Depression: Menopause can also trigger or exacerbate feelings of anxiety and depression. If you're experiencing persistent worry, fear, or sadness, seeking professional help is important. Therapy, medication, or a combination can effectively manage these symptoms.
   
   
3. Loss of Libido: Hormone level changes can affect your libido, leading to a decrease in sexual desire. Open and honest communication with your partner about these changes is essential. Exploring new ways to connect and intimacy can help maintain a healthy sexual relationship during menopause.
   
   
4. Coping with Grief: Menopause marks the end of your reproductive years, which can bring about feelings of loss or grief. It's important to acknowledge and process these feelings through journaling, talking to a therapist, or engaging in activities that bring comfort.
   
   
5. Self-Reflection and Growth: Menopause can also be a time of self-reflection and personal growth. Embracing this transition as a natural part of life and an opportunity for new experiences can help you navigate it with empowerment and acceptance.
   
   
6. Seeking Support: Don't hesitate to contact loved ones, friends, or a mental health professional for support. Joining a support group for menopausal women can also provide you with a sense of community and understanding.
   
   

Coping Strategies

1. Be Aware: Mood changes may accompany other menopausal symptoms. Understanding that these changes are normal parts of menopause can help you cope better.
   
   
2. Keep Track: Monitoring your mood, sleep patterns, and stress levels can help you identify any concerning patterns. Keeping a journal or using a mood-tracking app can help identify triggers and patterns.
   
   
3. Lifestyle Changes: Regular exercise has been shown to improve mood and reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety. Physical activity can also help with sleep and overall well-being. Prioritising sleep is also crucial, as hormone shifts can cause nighttime hot flashes or other sleep disruptions. Managing stress through yoga, meditation, or mindfulness can also help reduce symptoms.
   
   
4. Seek Support: Don't hesitate to contact loved ones or healthcare professionals for support and guidance. Talking to a therapist or counsellor can provide coping strategies and emotional support. Support groups for menopausal women can also be beneficial, providing a sense of community and understanding.
   
   
5. Temporary Nature: Remember that these mood changes are often temporary and tend to ease with time after menopause. Data show that hormone-related risks ease with increasing time after menopause. While antidepressants or other treatments may be necessary for some women, they are not typically needed long-term.
   
   

Menopause is a natural phase of life that every woman goes through, but it can be challenging, both physically and emotionally. By understanding how it affects your mood and using these coping strategies, you can ride out the storm with a smile. You're not alone, and there's plenty of help available to make this transition smoother.

By acknowledging and addressing these emotional changes, you can navigate the ups and downs of menopause with greater resilience and self-awareness.

FAQ

Can menopause cause personality changes?

Yes, menopause can potentially cause changes in mood and behaviour due to hormonal fluctuations. However, personality changes are often temporary and tend to improve with time.

Are there specific foods that can help manage mood swings during menopause?

While no specific diet is proven to eliminate mood swings, eating a balanced diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins can support overall health and potentially help manage mood swings.

How long do mood changes typically last during menopause?

Mood changes during menopause can vary from person to person. For most women, mood swings and other emotional symptoms improve within a few years after menopause. However, individual experiences may differ.

© The Natural Doctor

Acupuncture works to restore positive energy flow throughout the human body, but it also claims to remove any negative energy causing pain and illness. From the point of view of modern medicine, acupuncture tends to stimulate various areas of the body and may trigger a healing response.

Acupuncture is a part of traditional Chinese medicine, using fine needles inserted into pressure points around the body. The research and opinions on the practice are mixed in the medical community. Some studies believe the practice is a sham, while others believe there is some evidence of the positive influence of acupuncture on the human body. In most cases, the medical community agrees that acupuncture may be used to treat chronic and acute pain in combination with other treatments. It has been endorsed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) since 1979. 

Acupuncture divides the body into pressure points and zones used during treatment. The needles are inserted into different points, depending on the symptoms you’re experiencing. They’re usually near nerves in your body, as the treatment stimulates these areas to release endorphins. That triggers a healing response from your body, with the immune and circulatory systems being used to relieve you of tension headaches and migraines.

Acupuncture Risks for Headaches

Acupuncture carries little risk when a licensed practitioner does it. You may sometimes experience fatigue, bruising and soreness after an acupuncture appointment, especially if that was your first time getting one. Acupuncture performed with dirty or substandard equipment may become a severe health risk, so the needles must be sterilised at all costs.

You need to make sure you have done your homework before you start booking your first appointment, so you can leave it feeling well. Watch the practitioner, and make sure the needles are sterile and new. Ask questions of your acupuncturist and explanations about what they’re doing. A good one will walk you through the steps in the procedure, explaining and making it a safer experience overall.

Acupuncture alone may not be sufficient to stop chronic headaches, but it does help a great deal. Migraines, cluster headaches and tension headaches may be unpleasant experiences in your daily life, so during flare-ups, you may still need to use pain medication.

General Guidelines for Acupuncture

There is no special preparation to be had before you go to an acupuncture treatment, but if this is your first time, you may want to ask a few questions. Your practitioner will give you some advice on the number of treatments you can expect and how often you need to get them if you want to experience relief from your problem.

Clinical studies showed that cluster headaches could be relieved with a recommended treatment twice weekly for two weeks, followed by a single treatment once a week for eight weeks, and then maintenance treatments once every other week.

Some people will not feel the tiny needle pricks when they are poked with the acupuncture needles, while others tend to feel them and may feel uncomfortable. Talk to your practitioner when you visit and discuss any discomfort you may have.

When to See a Doctor

Acupuncture can’t replace traditional medicine but works well as a supplementary practice. Some headaches may need immediate medical help and should be treated with nothing but acupuncture. Speak to your doctor immediately if you’re feeling nauseous, dizzy, or experiencing loss of vision. 

Headaches resulting from a blow to the head that keeps getting worse, unusually severe headaches and so forth needs immediate emergency attention.

©The Acupuncturists Ltd

When it comes to choosing the best window treatments NYC, there are a few things you need to take into account. 

Firstly, consult professionals to get an idea of what will look best in your home and the climate where you live. Secondly, think about the season - some types of treatments will be more appropriate in winter than summer. 

Don't make an arbitrary decision based on personal preferences - choose something that will look good and function well for years to come. 

To dig deeper into how these mistakes can affect your home, read further.

Not consulting professionals

Window treatments are a big decision - one that should be made by a professional. Not only are they a focal point of the interior design of your home, but they can also have a big impact on your energy bill. 

When choosing the best window treatments NYC, be sure to consult with professionals to get the right look for your property and lifestyle. There are many different types, shapes, and sizes of window coverings to choose from, so make sure you pick something that will perfectly match your home! 

In addition to window coverings, be sure to take into consideration other features of your home, like colour and lighting, when choosing furniture and accessories. 

Finally, be sure to keep your window treatments clean and in good condition - this will help keep your home looking its best!

Not considering the season.

Window treatments are an important part of any room and should be chosen with care. Not only do they add style and personality, but they can also affect the comfort and energy levels of a room. To get the most out of your window treatments, its it's important to consider the season. 

For example, in the summer, avoid brightly coloured materials that will reflect sunlight into your room. Instead, go for materials that are more muted or in dark colours. Similarly, in the winter, heavy drapes or linens can help keep out cold drafts and snowflakes. 

Make sure to choose a decorative treatment for autumn or winter holidays like Thanksgiving or Christmas rather than selecting a theme throughout the year. Doing so will help you get the most out of your window treatments and achieve your desired look.

Making the wrong choice based on personal preferences

The best window treatments in NYC are a big investment, and its it's important to choose the right type for your home and climate. When making a purchase, always ask for samples first. This will help you find the perfect treatment for your home and avoid making the wrong choice based on personal preferences. 

Remember to take into account the type of treatment, its cleaning requirements, and how often it will need to be cleaned. For exterior treatments like curtains or drapes, keep in mind that they'll need to be cleaned often in warm climates. 

For interior treatments like blinds or shutters, the weather doesn't really matter that much. All you need to keep in mind is that they'll need to be cleaned occasionally in cold climates. 

And finally, think about the climate where you'll be living before making your purchase. Knowing the right type of treatment for your home is half the battle!

Conclusion

When choosing window treatments, it's important to consult professionals who will be able to help you make the best decision for your home. Not only will this ensure that your windows are treated in the most effective way, but it will also take into account the season. 

By following these simple tips, you'll be able to choose window treatments that will look great and function better too! Thank you for reading, and we hope that this blog has helped you make an informed decision about your window treatments.

Source: Common Mistakes When Choosing Window Treatments

If you and your partner happen to be one of the 12% of couples who face infertility issues, you know that facing this and trying to solve it is a difficult task. Even though there are fertility treatments available, ones that go a long way toward making it possible to get pregnant, there is still a good chance you will experience a lot of stress during that time. Let’s take a look at the available options for couples, and a quick rundown of the most common fertility treatments.

Artificial Insemination and Intrauterine Insemination

Artificial Insemination involves the placement of sperm from your partner or a donor inside your reproductive tract. This is done during ovulation to maximise your chance of getting pregnant. If you happen to be ovulating normally, this procedure can be done without any added fertility drugs. If you have issues with ovulation, it will require said drugs to improve your chances. Intrauterine insemination is a similar procedure, but slightly more complicated. Instead of injecting sperm into the reproductive tract, a thin catheter is used to place the sperm as close as possible to your fallopian tubes, increasing the chance the sperm will reach the egg.

In Vitro Fertilisation

A famous procedure in which your eggs are fertilised using sperm in a fertility clinic or laboratory. When that happens, one or more of the embryos are transferred into your uterus with the hope it will result in a successful pregnancy.

Natural Cycle In Vitro Fertilisation

Natural cycle IVF is a type of fertilisation that bypasses the hormone injection, monitoring your natural cycle and retrieving an egg when you’re about to ovulate. Your egg can then be fertilised in a fertility clinic or laboratory, just like it’s done with traditional IVF and transferred back to your uterus.

Donor Eggs

This process involves the fertilisation of a donor egg with sperm and implantation into your uterus, a very similar procedure to IVF. The donor may be someone you know or someone you are matched with anonymously through an agency working with the clinic. Using a donor egg means you won’t have any biological relation to your baby, but you are still listed as a birth mother on record. To avoid any legal issues, you should hire a lawyer early on in the process, so you can be sure you have a legal contract between you and the donor or the donor agency. They should waive any parental rights and outline that the children born of this procedure using donated eggs are legally yours.

Surrogacy

Surrogates carry a child for another woman or a same-sex couple. In almost all cases, the parents will undergo an IVF procedure and the embryo is implanted in the surrogate uterus. Both parents have a genetic relation to the baby, but the surrogate mother doesn’t.

Egg Freezing

This procedure involves the retrieval of 10 to 20 of a woman’s eggs in a similar way to IVF, but then flash-freezing and storing the eggs for later use. When you are ready to have a baby, you can thaw one or more of the eggs, fertilise them and implant them into your uterus.

Fertility Drugs

These are usually taken when you start IVF, but they can also be taken by themselves during ovulation issues. There are oral medications like Femara and Clomid, used to stimulate the ovaries and correct any irregularities in ovulation. Both of those drugs suppress oestrogen production and boost the production of ovulation-stimulating hormones. If those meds don’t work, you can use hormone shots called gonadotropins that stimulate ovulation directly.

If you have irregular ovulation caused by polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), then the drug Metformin may also be a possible option. It is used to treat diabetes, but it also works to sensitise insulin levels, which may help women with PCOS have more regular ovulation as a result.

©The Natural Doctor

Back to school anxiety

Going back to school in September can be a stressful time under normal circumstances. This year, since the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic, we can only expect an increase in anxiety not only in students but teachers, parents, and even grandparents.
With constant changes and constant updates to the rules and regulations, things seem a little unstable and far from usual for sure. So what can we do to support each other and get through these turbulent times to reduce back-to-school anxiety?

1. Get your fears out in the open. Packing things makes them worse. Talk about how you feel and any concerns you may have. You are not alone with these thoughts, most of your friends will likely experience the same feelings.
2. Discuss and focus on the benefits of returning to school such as meeting old friends, and how routine can be beneficial for your mental health and learning new things.
3. Establish a new routine. A routine is comfort for young and old. Things may not be the same as they were in pre-shutdown, but overall, it only takes a few days to get into the swing of things and put a new pattern in place. It should get easier after the first few days.
4. be ready. Make sure you have everything you need ready in advance and reduce the anxiety of the first day by meeting a friend and going together.
5. The day before you come back, take a run. Wake up on time, eat a balanced breakfast, take a shower, and get dressed. Just running through the routine will again break you into swinging things gently. It will also remind you of the time it takes to get ready without rushing and causing more stress.

Remember, anxiety is a normal response and can be beneficial for us when we need to respond to danger. So, instead of reading the signs as being under threat, think of them as helping you and preparing your body and mind for action.

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