This is actually a pretty serious topic. Many people have had to cope with depression, anxiety, PTSD, and other mental health conditions long before perimenopause.
The menopausal journey can be isolating, fatiguing and unnerving, which can easily make things worse. Now is the time to connect with your physician, get support from family and friends, see a therapist, and don’t say no to medications if needed. Create your support network and know that you are not alone.
Notable Quotes
I am far more prone to nervousness and worry than I was before…I was nothing like that prior to menopause.
Beth
One of the most challenging aspects of going into menopause has been disorienting moods…like, I’m so angry so often. And such an increase in depression. It’s really hard.
Laura
I find that my emotions are all over the place.
Sandra
Brain fog!!!
Liz
More Information
Blog posts tagged as mental health:- Voices With Vigor: The Female Voice
- Voices With Vigor: Trauma Redefined
- Voices With Vigor: Men Who Matter
- Voices With Vigor: Caregiver Collaborators
- Don’t Wait to Design Your Life
- Menopause and Perimenopause: Healthcare Advocacy for Women in 2026
- Matrescence, Motherhood, and the Power of Support
- Mindset Matters in Young-Onset Parkinson’s
- Beyond The Pills Podcast
- Laughter is the Best Medicine
Additional Video Links
Video Link: How to Meditate in a Moment by Martin Boroson is a wonderful 5 minute demonstration video…that works!
Resources:
- The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are is one of several books by Brené Brown that can be transformative and grounding.
- 7 Cups is a free online text chat platform with a trained listener for emotional support and counseling, and also offers fee-for-service online therapy with a licensed mental health professional.
- Some helpful tips on dealing with brain fog: Want to Reduce Brain Fog And Improve Clear Thinking? Give up These Things Immediately.
- Just have a minute? Then try this: 1 Minute-Long Resilience Practices.
- A few great Apps for you to consider: Insight Timer (free App for sleep, anxiety and stress), Calm (inexpensive App for sleep), and Headspace (inexpensive App for meditation).
- Another great website is Choose Help with a great post Using Coping Cards and Coping Statements to Improve Mental Health, by John Lee.
- Dr. Jud Brewer’s new book Unwinding Anxiety takes a helpful perspective on using Curiosity and Kindness to help moderate anxiety – you can read a quick interview on his book in a Wall Street Journal’s article by writer Elizabeth Bernstein.
- Here is an excellent post on grief: Crying Over Spilled Milk: How to Grieve Well and Rise Strong from Failures and Losses, by Yvonne Ator, MD, MPH.
- Try “cyclic sighing” – A Five-Minute Breathing Exercise for Anxiety and Mood from the Greater Good Science Center, University of California, Berkeley.
Wild Card
“Being around birds is linked to lasting mental health benefits” – try this UrbanMind app (read the story here and the data here). And, another article on bird songs and mental health (with a few sound clips): Why Birds and their Songs are Good for our Mental Health (from the Washington Post).