Are your menopausal moods out of control?

Changing hormone levels and the symptoms they produce can impact your whole life, but you’re not alone

- DR PHILIPPA KAYE

Every week, I see women in their 40s and 50s at my clinic who make an appointment to say they are ‘losing it’. They think they have the onset of dementia; they are sad, low, angry, irritable, anxious, fed-up, out of control… the list goes on. Many are aware of common physical menopause symptoms, such as hot flushes or sweats, but not that the perimenopause and menopause can also have a huge psychological impact. So if you’re currently suffering, it’s important to know you’re not alone.

The menopause is the last period. You haven’t gone though it until you’ve not had a period for a year. The perimenopause is the time leading up to the menopause itself. You can have symptoms of the menopause, even though you may still be having periods, be they regular or irregular.