Causes of Mood Swings

Mood swings during menopause are caused largely by the hormonal transitions women go through during this time. Hormones, such as estrogen, influence the production of serotonin, which is a mood regulating neurotransmitter.

Many additional factors can trigger mood swings during menopause, including other menopausal symptoms, such as hot flashes, night sweats, physical changes, and fatigue. Continue reading to learn more about the causes of mood swings and gain the understanding necessary to stop the emotional pendulum from swinging out of control and regain a sense of self.

Hormonal Causes of Mood Swings

Hormones, including estrogen and progesterone, play a major role in the brain's regulation of mood and emotion. When the hormones are naturally balanced, a healthy person is more likely to have appropriate emotional responses to her environment.

However, mood swings can affect a healthy woman during periods of hormonal change, such as puberty, the onset of menses, the time around her period, and menopause.

During menopause, the body begins to decrease its production of reproductive hormones. This change in hormone levels disturbs the body's natural equilibrium, which can affect a woman's emotions and her moods.

Estrogen and the Brain

Medical researchers have found that estrogen seems to play a large role in the brain's production of serotonin, also known as the mood regulating neurotransmitter.

Because perimenopausal hormone imbalances temporarily disturb  serotonin  production in the

brain, there is an increased chance of mood swings, depression, and other psychological disturbances during menopause.

While hormonal imbalance is thought to be a major underlying cause of mood swings during menopause, experts also point out that mood disturbances may be caused by other menopausal symptoms.

Estrogen´s Effects on Serotonin:

• Increases serotonin receptor sensitivity
• Increases serotonin receptor levels
• Increases serotonin production

Keep reading to find out how other menopausal symptoms can affect mood and emotion.

Doctors believe that mood swings are often the result of other menopausal symptoms. Women in their 40s and 50s, often stretched already by work and home stresses, suffer fatigue, sleep problems, hot flashes, and other symptoms that can directly contribute to problems with mood and emotion.

Night sweats can disturb sleep, leading to irritability, fatigue, trouble concentrating and mood swings during the day.

During the day, hot flashes can make a woman more temperamental, because of the additional stresses caused by these intense and disruptive episodes.

Physical menopausal changes such as vaginal dryness, weight gain, migraines, and other ailments can increase irritation and discomfort, making mood swings more likely.

LIST OF THE 34 MENOPAUSE SYMPTOMS

Common Symptoms
1. Hot Flashes
2. Night Sweats
3. Irregular Periods
4. Loss of Libido
5. Vaginal Dryness

6. Mood Swings

Changes
7. Fatigue
8. Hair Loss
9. Sleep Disorders
10. Difficulty Concentrating
11. Memory Lapses
12. Dizziness
13. Weight Gain
14. Incontinence
15. Bloating
16. Allergies
17. Brittle Nails
18. Changes in Odor
19. Irregular Heartbeat
20. Depression
21. Anxiety
22. Irritability
23. Panic Disorder

Pains
24. Breast Pain
25. Headaches
26. Joint Pain
27. Burning Tongue
28. Electric Shocks
29. Digestive Problems
30. Gum Problems
31. Muscle Tension
32. Itchy Skin
33. Tingling Extremities

Others
34. Osteoporosis