partially be attributed to physical changes, such as decreasing levels of estrogen
and progesterone. Hot flashes, sweating, and other symptoms of menopause may
cause disruptions.
Improve your sleep and your health
By making a few lifestyle changes, you may be able to improve your sleep
quality so your body and brain fully rest and recharge. Your body also produces
hormones while you sleep. To improve sleep, try:
Quitting smoking and alcohol
Avoiding heavy meals three hours before bedtime
Establishing a set bedtime and rise time
Sleeping in a cool (65-degree Fahrenheit), totally dark room
Blocking blue light by wearing amber glasses after dark
Using blue-blocking apps on tablets, phones, and laptops
Winding down at least two hours before bedtime
Meditating or doing gentle yoga before bed
Also make sure you’re eating a diet filled with fresh vegetables and fruits,
healthy proteins and fats, and low-glycemic carbohydrates. Adding more
exercise into your day can also help you sleep at night. Just be sure not to
exercise within a few hours of bedtime, as it can raise your heart rate and make it
difficult to calm down.
The changes are real
In addition to the drops in your estrogen levels and other hormonal shifts, you
may be going through life changes at the same time you’re dealing with the
changes of menopause. Your children may be leaving home. You may be losing
loved ones and friends.
Aging and menopause also create changes in your appearance that affect your
mood. Even if you feel young and vibrant inside, watching your hair gray and
thin, and noticing sagging skin and wrinkles reminds you that you’re getting
older.
Get help with your mood
If lifestyle adjustments don’t give you relief from feelings of anxiety and
depression, you may want to look into various therapies that can help you
manage your mood, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and talk
therapy. Adjusting your hormones with hormone replacement therapy (HRT) can
also help you feel like your old (younger!) self again.
The providers at New Beginnings Ob-Gyn only recommend HRT that’s been
proven safe and effective. Other benefits of HRT include keeping your bones
healthy and resolving the physical symptoms of menopause, including low
libido and hot flashes.
Blame your hormones
As you go through perimenopause and then enter menopause, your levels of the
hormone estrogen and the steroid progesterone plummet. Low levels of estrogen
can lead to physical symptoms, such as:
Decreased libido
Dry vagina
Uncomfortable or painful sex
Fewer pleasurable sensations
Inability to climax
You may wonder why you’re not interested in sex anymore and wish that you
could get back to a healthy sex life. When you don’t feel like having sex, your
relationship can suffer, too.
In addition, estrogen affects your mood by modulating the production of “feel
good” endorphins. During the perimenopausal period, as estrogen and
progesterone levels fluctuate, you may feel depressed or anxious. Some of the
symptoms of depression include:
Feeling irritated or frustrated
Getting angry easily
Having trouble concentrating
Losing interest in activities you once loved
Feeling low in energy or fatigued
Having trouble making decisions
Sleeping too much or too little
Having pain you can’t explain
You’re more likely to experience depression during menopause if you were
already prone to depression or anxiety before menopause.
To find out if you’re a candidate for HRT, call us today. You can also book a
hormone imbalance consultation with our online form.
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