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Risk Factors for Mood Swings
Why are some women more prone to mood swings during menopause? The answer, though complicated, has much to do with a woman's chemistry, her environment, and other factors. In addition to the hormonal causes of mood swings, several psychological, behavioral, and health related factors can increase the likelihood that a woman will develop mood swings during menopause. Continue reading to learn more about the risk factors for mood swings.
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Psychological Risk Factors
A woman's past and current psychological health can have a great influence on her experience of mood swings during menopause. Women with a history of emotional problems, especially during other times of hormonal change, are more likely to suffer from mood swings during the years of perimenopause.
Past emotional trauma or other issues can resurface during menopause. While this can be surprising and often distressing, some women find that this allows them to reevaluate their past and learn from it in a new light.
Stress is also a major factor that can increase the risk of mood swings during menopause. Women who have acute or chronic stress may find that mood swings are intense with the additional tensions of menopause.
Relationship issues, whether at home, with friends, or at work, can also increase the risk of mood swings during menopause. Women of menopausal age often face challenging relationship issues including the care of aging parents, changes in spousal relationship, struggles with adolescents, and even changing views about the self. All of these can increase the risk of mood swings during menopause. |
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Loneliness and isolation can also contribute to mood swings, as can personality traits such as introversion, low self-esteem, and pessimism.
Continue reading to learn more about behavioral, environmental, and medical risk factors for mood swings. |
Psychological risk factors:
• Past trauma or abuse
• History of psychological illness
• Stress
• Relationship issues
• Loneliness and isolation
• Personality traits |
Behavioral/ Environmental Risk Factors
In addition to psychological factors, mood swings can also be provoked by certain behavioral and environmental phenomenon, such as a major life change, lack of sleep, under-activity, and over-indulgence.
Behavioral Risk Factors:
• Smoking
• Not enough exercise
• Imbalanced diet
• Irregular/ lack of sleep
• Overconsumption of sugar, alcohol, and/or caffeine
• Substance abuse
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Environmental Risk Factors:
• Major life changes, such as:
› children move out
› death of a loved one
› illness
› new job
• Problems at home or work
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In addition to behavioral and environmental risk factors, mood swings are also affected by physical health issues. Read on to learn more about health related risk factors for mood swings.
Health Related Risk Factors
Generally speaking, women in poor overall health are more likely to suffer from mood swings during menopause than physically healthy women. Additionally, use of certain medications can increase the risk for mood swings and other emotional challenges during menopause.
Disease risk factors:
• Diabetes
• Surgical or medical menopause
• Psychological disease
• Heart disease
• Sleep disorders
• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Cancer
• Lupus
• Thyroid disease
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Medication side effects:
• Amphetamines
• Hormone Replacement Therapy
• SSRIs
› Paroxetine
› Fluoxetine
› Sertaline
• Sleeping Pills
• Diet Pills
• Cancer treatment
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Psychological Health and the Thyroid
The thyroid is an endocrine gland located in the throat area that is responsible for regulating the metabolism, growth, development, reproduction, and more. Its hormones have pervasive effects on the body. Research shows that thyroid problems can be a major contributing factor to psychological illness. Doctors can perform a simple blood test to diagnose or rule out thyroid issues that may increase a woman's risk for mood swings, depression, and anxiety during menopause. |
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Click the following link to learn specific treatments for mood swings, which begin with lifestyle changes, move onto alternative medicines, and finally, if those options don´t seem to help, drugs and surgery. The most affective treatments for mood swings typically combine lifestyle changes and alternative medicines.
Return to home page and learn more about the 34 Menopause Symptoms.
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