Natural Menopause Remedies
and Solutions

When a woman reaches the age where the symptoms of menopause start to take over, she may experience waves of pure emotion - sometimes even depression. This is due of course to the instability of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, which are now gradually decreasing in the body. The kind of mood swings that most women have are eerily reminiscent of the kind that plagued them in adolescence, which is not uncommon since the same type of hormone fluctuations are occurring again. This of course can change from day to day, which is probably worse since there is no telling what to expect.

 

Do you sometimes feel as if you're on a roller-coaster? This is what many women say when they describe their symptoms, and it isn't a fun experience. Not only is there the physical symptoms of menopause, but the worry about the mental aspects can be dizzying. If you are at work and suddenly get hot flashes, will everybody see my face turn beet red? What can I do when my period is so unpredictable, why am I gaining weight, my skin is getting dry again, how does a woman cope with all of these things at once? It is not just these questions, but a real form of depression that can also take hold. This is where the care of a doctor may even be neccessary.

 

When Estradiol levels start to drop (Estradiol is the active form of estrogen) this can really cause havoc on a woman’s mental state, due to the interaction of this chemical with serotonin. Serotonin is a natural chemical that is produced in both men and women, and is the “happy” neurotransmitter in the brain which helps to elevate our moods. However, in menopausal women this chemical can get sidetracked. When that happens a woman can not only have some pretty bizarre mood swings, but also begin to lose sleep. With these two things combined, it’s no wonder many women feel like they are going cuckoo.

 

 

Some women who had severe PMS symptoms in their early years may have more severe mood swings during perimenopause. Not on that, women with a history of depression seem to be particularly vulnerable to recurrent clinical depression during perimenopause. Whether suffering from a slight case of the blues to something even more severe, women should not suffer in silence. If you feel that you are "losing control" at times, it may be time to get help from your doctor.

 

For perimenopausal mood swings, some experts recommend a low-dose oral contraceptive -- even if contraception is not desired. These estrogen-progestin pills provide continuously stable hormone levels and can help control mood swings. Plus, they provide other health benefits such as regulation of uterine bleeding and decreased risk for uterine and ovarian cancer. The side effects are normally very small, too.