Accepting help from others

The Menopause Charity

Perimenopause and menopause can bring a host of changes to how you feel.  Anxiety, low mood, mood swings, and a lack of interest or drive in doing things you usually enjoy is common.

Perhaps you didn’t struggle with feelings of anxiety before but now find you’re worrying over things? As well as accessing treatment and self-help, it is important to lean on others from time to time for support.

Some ways in which you could do this:

• Meet up – seeing friends or family may be the last thing you feel like doing on some days, but moments of social connections are really important for your mental health and overall wellbeing.
• Buddy up – talking to others also experiencing perimenopause or menopause helps reassure you that you are not alone. Speak to your friends, or seek out a local menopause group where you’ll hear from others who have navigated similar experiences.
• Open up – if you have a caring and supportive partner, share with them how you are feeling and try to find the words to describe what it is like for you.  Share the link to our website so they can learn more about the symptoms.
• Contact – having regular moments of physical affection, such as a simple hug, encourages the production of mood-boosting hormones.

If you do not feel like you can be open with your partner, or have friends or family to turn to, it is even more important to speak to a healthcare professional who can help you make sense of how you’re feeling and show you ways to manage your emotions if they are overwhelming for you.  Ensure they are fully aware of any perimenopause or menopausal symptoms you have, (including any changes to your periods) not just your mood changes, so they can diagnose the accurate reason and underlying cause for the low mood or anxiety that you’re experiencing.