Summary
- Understand how perimenopause affects your mood.
- Don’t be hard on yourself.
- Talk about it with your partner.
If you’ve been on an emotional roller coaster lately and can’t get off, it may be perimenopause. Hormone levels change during perimenopause as your body gets ready for its final menstrual period. This can cause mood swings and other symptoms.
Perimenopause usually begins in the 40s and lasts an average of four years. But it can start as early as the mid-30s. It can last as long as 10 years or as short as a few months.
How you may feel
Some common symptoms that can affect your sense of well-being during perimenopause are:
- Sudden mood swings. You can be fine one moment, crying the next.
- Difficulty focusing
- Anger that can seem extreme
- Trouble sleeping
- Little or no interest in being out with people
- Low energy
- Forgetfulness
What you can do
If your lifestyle isn’t healthy, this is the time to make changes. Too much weight, stress, and smoking can make you feel worse.
- Avoid caffeine, sugar, and alcohol.
- Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes per day, at least five days a week.
- Reduce stress. Try meditating, doing yoga, or practicing deep-breathing exercises. Spending time with friends is also a good stress reducer.
- Don’t be hard on yourself. Forgive yourself if you forget things, have trouble focusing, or don’t feel like your normal self. These are all normal parts of perimenopause.
- Remind yourself that it is temporary. You won’t always feel this way.
How to help a partner who is in perimenopause
You may be baffled by your partner’s mood swings. If she seems short on patience, remind yourself that it’s because of hormone changes.
- Try not to take her moods personally. What your partner needs is understanding.
- Learn about perimenopause so you’ll have a better idea of what your partner is going through.
- Keep the conversation going. Talking openly can prevent misunderstandings and conflict.
If you are not able to manage your emotions and it is causing you distress, talk with your health care provider. Help is available. And keep reminding yourself that perimenopause is a natural phase of life that will pass.
Summary
- Understand how perimenopause affects your mood.
- Don’t be hard on yourself.
- Talk about it with your partner.
If you’ve been on an emotional roller coaster lately and can’t get off, it may be perimenopause. Hormone levels change during perimenopause as your body gets ready for its final menstrual period. This can cause mood swings and other symptoms.
Perimenopause usually begins in the 40s and lasts an average of four years. But it can start as early as the mid-30s. It can last as long as 10 years or as short as a few months.
How you may feel
Some common symptoms that can affect your sense of well-being during perimenopause are:
- Sudden mood swings. You can be fine one moment, crying the next.
- Difficulty focusing
- Anger that can seem extreme
- Trouble sleeping
- Little or no interest in being out with people
- Low energy
- Forgetfulness
What you can do
If your lifestyle isn’t healthy, this is the time to make changes. Too much weight, stress, and smoking can make you feel worse.
- Avoid caffeine, sugar, and alcohol.
- Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes per day, at least five days a week.
- Reduce stress. Try meditating, doing yoga, or practicing deep-breathing exercises. Spending time with friends is also a good stress reducer.
- Don’t be hard on yourself. Forgive yourself if you forget things, have trouble focusing, or don’t feel like your normal self. These are all normal parts of perimenopause.
- Remind yourself that it is temporary. You won’t always feel this way.
How to help a partner who is in perimenopause
You may be baffled by your partner’s mood swings. If she seems short on patience, remind yourself that it’s because of hormone changes.
- Try not to take her moods personally. What your partner needs is understanding.
- Learn about perimenopause so you’ll have a better idea of what your partner is going through.
- Keep the conversation going. Talking openly can prevent misunderstandings and conflict.
If you are not able to manage your emotions and it is causing you distress, talk with your health care provider. Help is available. And keep reminding yourself that perimenopause is a natural phase of life that will pass.
Summary
- Understand how perimenopause affects your mood.
- Don’t be hard on yourself.
- Talk about it with your partner.
If you’ve been on an emotional roller coaster lately and can’t get off, it may be perimenopause. Hormone levels change during perimenopause as your body gets ready for its final menstrual period. This can cause mood swings and other symptoms.
Perimenopause usually begins in the 40s and lasts an average of four years. But it can start as early as the mid-30s. It can last as long as 10 years or as short as a few months.
How you may feel
Some common symptoms that can affect your sense of well-being during perimenopause are:
- Sudden mood swings. You can be fine one moment, crying the next.
- Difficulty focusing
- Anger that can seem extreme
- Trouble sleeping
- Little or no interest in being out with people
- Low energy
- Forgetfulness
What you can do
If your lifestyle isn’t healthy, this is the time to make changes. Too much weight, stress, and smoking can make you feel worse.
- Avoid caffeine, sugar, and alcohol.
- Exercise regularly. Aim for 30 minutes per day, at least five days a week.
- Reduce stress. Try meditating, doing yoga, or practicing deep-breathing exercises. Spending time with friends is also a good stress reducer.
- Don’t be hard on yourself. Forgive yourself if you forget things, have trouble focusing, or don’t feel like your normal self. These are all normal parts of perimenopause.
- Remind yourself that it is temporary. You won’t always feel this way.
How to help a partner who is in perimenopause
You may be baffled by your partner’s mood swings. If she seems short on patience, remind yourself that it’s because of hormone changes.
- Try not to take her moods personally. What your partner needs is understanding.
- Learn about perimenopause so you’ll have a better idea of what your partner is going through.
- Keep the conversation going. Talking openly can prevent misunderstandings and conflict.
If you are not able to manage your emotions and it is causing you distress, talk with your health care provider. Help is available. And keep reminding yourself that perimenopause is a natural phase of life that will pass.