Perimenopause and menopause is something that most women deal with at some point in their lives, but it can be pretty lonely as the fluctuation in hormones can not only consist of symptoms such as weight gain, insomnia, hot flashes, and night sweats, but it can also significantly impact moods. At Champion Naturopathic Health, we help our patients with perimenopause and menopause symptoms by working to develop a truly unique treatment plan. We’ve seen significant success in these treatment methods for reducing the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause.
How Fluctuations in Hormones Can Impact Moods
Many times, when people are discussing menopause, they’re actually referring to perimenopause. During this phase, a woman’s menstrual cycle becomes irregular. Hormones control a woman’s menstrual cycle and can also influence serotonin, the chemical in the brain that helps us to increase happiness and promote overall well-being. When hormones drop, serotonin also drops, which can result in anxiety, mood swings, sadness, or even depression.
Coping With The Emotional Changes of Menopause
If you’re currently experiencing any of these common symptoms of reduced hormones due to perimenopause, there are a number of things you can do to help, a few of which include:
• Focus on Diet & Exercise – A naturopathic doctor can help you improve your diet and increase exercise to help combat mood swings and other effects of perimenopause.
• Meditation or Yoga – Meditation and yoga have both been found to reduce stress and improve overall mood for those dealing with perimenopause.
• Monitor Your Sleep Patterns – It’s common to experience insomnia during perimenopause. Poor sleep can also cause you to become depressed, which in turn can exacerbate your mood swings. Talk to a naturopathic doctor about ways to improve your sleep naturally.
• Consider Herbal Supplements – Our naturopathic doctors can help you find the right herbal supplements to help with some of the symptoms commonly seen by those dealing with perimenopause. Feel free to contact our office to schedule a consultation with one of our doctors to discuss your individual needs.
• Emotional Support or Medications When Necessary – While our team focuses on holistic medicine whenever possible, we understand that some circumstances require additional emotional support and/or medication. We will work with you to determine if this is the best route for you based on our consultative approach to your overall health.
Hormone Testing to Improve Your Mood During Perimenopause and Menopause
To help treat the symptoms of perimenopause and menopause, your doctor may recommend tests to check various hormone levels. Some common hormones we check related to perimenopause include FSH, LH, Estradiol, Progesterone and others. We also often look at other factors impacting mood, such as thyroid, adrenal, and vitamin D deficiency.
If you’re interested in learning more about how a naturopathic doctor can help improve your mood during perimenopause and menopause, don’t hesitate to reach out to our team today by phone at (952) 417-1912 or contact us by email at info@ChampionNH.com.
Read a recent testimonial from Champion Naturopathic Health Patient Shannon Cathers who has seen her mood greatly improve thanks to her treatment from Dr. Nita Champion.
“Dr. Nita is great! She has been helping me with menopause symptoms for the past year. I’m feeling so much better, sleeping through the night again and no more hot flashes. Recently she just helped me with a plugged ear issue. She’s the best!”
