Menopause can feel like an emotional rollercoaster for many women. Much like the mood swings and irritability of PMS (pre-menstrual syndrome), mood changes during menopause are caused by fluctuating production of the hormone estrogen.
Menopausal mood changes and irritability, aggression, depression, fatigue, and other feelings are not uncommon. Again, this can happen with PMS, but if you find you’re really changing a lot, and especially if your periods are getting irregular, it’s less obvious that it’s linked to your cycles and more likely to the unpredictability of perimenopause.
Women have been known to react to the slightest disagreement. Mood swings can leave one laughing one minute and crying the next. A full spectrum of emotions may abound, from feeling overwhelmed and anxious to angry and out of control rage.
