5 tips for curing mood swings in menopause

Mood swings can be distressing both for the person having them and for the people on the receiving end of them. Unfortunately, when women go through menopause, mood swings are a common side effect, and therefore many people have to cope. But fortunately, this doesn’t have to be the case because they are fixable. During menopause, it is the hormone imbalance that causes you to suddenly switch from ecstatically happy to miserably sad, so treating this root problem can mean mood swings are banished. Read on to learn more.

Tips for curing your mood swings

When the production of estrogen is disrupted during menopause, so too is the production of serotonin, the neurotransmitter that regulates our mood. Estrogen influences the level of serotonin, often called the “happy hormone” despite not being a hormone, by increasing its production, increasing its receptor levels and increasing its sensitivity. When estrogen levels fluctuate, so too does serotonin, which causes a woman’s mood to change so suddenly. Follow these five tips to cure your mood swings:

Change your diet

You need to make sure you are eating a healthy and well-balanced diet. However, also make sure you consume more foods which can influence your mood. Foods high in complex carbohydrates like potato and wheat boost serotonin levels, and foods high in amino acids like fish and dairy products also help to reduce the likelihood of a mood change.

Exercise

Exercising regularly will help to rebalance hormone levels and will generally improve health. This means that stress levels will be lowered too. Try to get at least half an hour of aerobic exercise each day.

De-stress

If you are stressed, your level of the “happy hormone”, serotonin, decreases because the stress hormone cortisol influences its production. Make sure you have time to yourself, so you can become stress free. Join a weekly yoga or mediation class, practice breathing exercises daily, or just enjoy time away from the children every so often.

Don’t overdo the caffeine

Caffeine has a deadly effect on mood. It acts directly on the nervous system, which means that you are more prone to suddenly changing your mood. Instead, drink herbal tea, which is a much better alternative because it contains antioxidants. Additionally, remember to drink lots of water so that you remain hydrated because this will result in less hormone imbalance.

See more friends and family

Spending time with people you love and people who love you back boosts levels of oxytocin, which is a feel-good hormone that counteracts mood imbalance. Go out with the girls and moan about your menopause symptoms, and you will soon realize that you aren’t the only one flying off the rocker.

Recommendation

If you know that your mood is up and down like a yo-yo then take action so it remains at a much steadier level. Warn people who are closest to you that it is the hormones that are making you so unpredictable, and explain that you are trying to stop it because you like it as little as they do. Follow the advice above, or speak to your doctor about alternative treatment options, and be happier and healthier in menopause. Follow this link to find out more about mood swings.