Feeling Angry During Menopause Is Completely Normal - Here's How To Handle It
For women, rage can often be a tough emotion to accept. From a young age, we've been ingrained to believe that anger is never a good thing, no matter how valid the cause is. Over the years, we've seen countless portrayals of female rage as over-the-top. Instead of displaying anger as a normal part of a breakup, we'd see women cutting up photos of their exes and setting them on fire. Instead of calmly processing their rage as many of us normally do, women have been shown to throw tantrums where they stomp their feet and cry.
There have been so many scenes where men have sat around a table talking about their nagging wives and discussing their so-called unrealistic demands and their invalid angry reactions. It's no wonder that we run from rage instead of embracing it. One of the main areas where our rage is considered unacceptable is during our period. We've all heard countless "jokes" that revolve around men asking women if they're on their period when they're angry. Snide comments like these have led us to feel guilt for our menstrual rage and mood swings, even though they're caused by natural hormonal fluctuations that can't be helped.
When we've absorbed all this negativity surrounding menstrual rage from a young age, it's only natural for it to carry over into menopause. As we approach menopause, we find ourselves easily irritable and constantly snapping, and we're here to tell you that it's completely normal.
Hormones play a big part in menopausal rage
As you approach menopause, your body begins to change to adapt to the future, which causes a myriad of symptoms, and it's important to know that you're not alone. According to a study, 70% of women experience irritability during perimenopause. It also found it's not uncommon for women to face added psychological problems like anxiety and depression during this time. When certified menopause practitioner Dr. Sharon D. Malone spoke to InStyle, she explained the reason behind the menopausal rage, "Perimenopause is characterized by the erratic production of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone."
She added that you're more likely to feel the anger before your menopause begins because the hormone levels fluctuate the most at that point. It's no surprise that serotonin also plays a crucial part in your menopausal rage. According to Healthline, when your estrogen levels begin to decline, your serotonin production is affected. Serotonin is often deemed a happy hormone. It's a neurotransmitter that's responsible for regulating your moods, and fluctuating levels can naturally lead to mood swings, irritability, anger, and sadness.
If you're unsure whether your rage is a menopausal symptom, you should know it'll most likely be accompanied by several tell-tale signs of menopause. The biggest and most obvious one is changes in the menstrual cycle, which can range from heavy bleeding to spotting to complete loss of your period. Other notable symptoms include changes in sleep patterns, hot flashes, changes in vaginal health such as dryness, and reduced interest in sexual activities.
Here's how you can manage menopausal anger
Before you begin to work through managing your menopausal anger, you should learn to accept it as a normal part of life. Do not beat yourself up for feeling all the menopausal emotions. Once you've made peace with your body's natural course, you can move on to trying out a few things that can make the anger easier to manage so you can lead a happier life.
It might be hard, but you should try to get in some exercise because it can help keep you in shape as your metabolism levels decline, help you sleep better, and even trigger the release of endorphins to help you feel happier. Remember that exercise doesn't have to feel like a burden, you can make it so much more fun by choosing to go to a dance class or even just taking a walk to clear your head. You might as well try eating healthy while you're at it. Incorporate nutrient-rich whole foods into your diet and regularly drink water to make up for what's lost in sweating during hot flashes.
To understand your emotions better, you can try digging deeper through meditating and journaling. Since you're physiologically stressed out, try to identify and reduce the life triggers of stress to prevent the problem from worsening. Spend time doing things you love and with the people you love. Share how you feel with others who've been through menopause. If you feel overwhelmed, don't be afraid to seek out professional help.