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Extreme Cases of Mood Swings
While mood swings are normal during menopause, emotional and mood related symptoms might indicate a more serious condition. Mood swings that are extreme, last for an extended duration, or put a woman or others at risk of harm might warrant professional help. To learn more about when to seek help for mood swings, please read on about the symptoms of bipolar disorder, clinical depression, and anxiety.
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Bipolar Disorder and Mood
Swings
Bipolar disorder, also called manic-depressive disorder, is a group of mood disorders, characterized by the presence of one or more episodes of mania, or abnormally elevated mood, and alternating episodes of depression, or prolonged low moods.
While women with normal mood swings during menopause might identify with this definition, bipolar disorder is more extreme. It is a psychological condition that requires medical treatment. Mood swings generally related to menopause can often be treated before they get serious enough to require professional help from a trusted healthcare provider.
Symptoms that a woman is most likely to experience if she has bipolar disorder vary, but some of the most common symptoms on the depressive scale include low energy, sadness, low self-esteem, extreme hopelessness, and extreme fatigue. On the manic scale, some of the most common symptoms include racing thoughts, irritability, excess talk, and unusually high energy. |
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Symptoms of bipolar disorder:
Manic:
• Irritability
• Euphoria
• Excess talk
• Racing thoughts
• Inflated self-esteem
• Unusually high energy
• Little need for sleep
• Impulsiveness/ recklessness
• Hallucinations
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Depressive:
• Low self-esteem
• Low energy
• Sadness
• Hopelessness
• Slow speech
• Unusual sleep patterns
• Extreme fatigue
• Suicidal thoughts
• Poor concentration
• Disinterest in activities |
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When these symptoms interfere with a woman's normal functioning, her mood swings may actually indicate bipolar disorder. If she only experiences the depressive characteristics, she may have clinical depression.
Keep reading to learn more about depression, which in addition to causing mood swings, can be triggered or enhanced by menopause. |
When these symptoms interfere with a woman's normal functioning, her mood swings may actually indicate bipolar disorder. If she only experiences the depressive characteristics, she may have clinical depression.
Keep reading to learn more about depression, which in addition to causing mood swings, can be triggered or enhanced by menopause.
Depression and Mood Swings
Depression, termed major-depressive disorder, is another condition more serious than mood swings for which professional help is often necessary. While many people experience the symptoms of depression at different times in their lives, clinical depression is more than a temporary state or a symptom of menopause. |
Roughly 17.5 million Americans are affected by some form of depression. |
Clinical depression is characterized by at least two or more weeks of experiencing five or more of the following symptoms every day or almost daily:
• Depressed or irritated mood
• Diminished or lost interest in most daily
activities
• Significant and unexplained weight loss/gain
• Daily insomnia or excess sleep
• Extreme cognitive agitation or depression
• Extreme fatigue
• Inappropriate guilt and worthlessness
• Inability to concentrate
• Frequent thoughts of death or suicide |
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If a woman believes her mood swings might be symptomatic of depression, it would be wise to speak with a qualified health care professional. Read on to learn about the symptoms of anxiety disorder.
Anxiety and Mood Swings
Anxiety is another condition more serious than menopause-induced mood swings. Anxiety disorders affect up to 18% of US adults, making this the most common type of mental illness. Clinical anxiety is a group of disorders that include the ones in the box at the right. |
Disorders of clinical anxiety:
• Generalized Anxiety Disorder
• Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
• Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Social Phobia • Panic Disorder |
Generalized anxiety is characterized by chronic, exaggerated, and inappropriate worry, fear, tension, and concern. These feelings are often accompanied by physical symptoms including:
Physical symptoms of anxiety:
• Fatigue
• Muscle Aches
• Tension
• Trouble swallowing
• Irritability
• Headaches
• Sweating |
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While many of these symptoms are similar to those experienced during the mood swings of menopause, anxiety disorders often cause a combination of extreme and debilitating psychological and physical symptoms.
Fortunately, excellent help is available for women who experience psychological conditions more serious than mood swings. Most women who go through menopause will not develop such symptoms. If concerned about mood swings or other symptoms during menopause, it is wise to speak with a qualified health professional.
Often, lifestyle changes and natural remedies can significantly help to treat common mood swings during menopause. Please continue on to learn more about treatments for mood swings.
Return to home page and learn more about the 34 Menopause Symptoms.
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