If you have found your mood harder to manage lately, you are not imagining things. You are not losing control. Your brain chemistry really is changing, and there is a real biological reason for it.
Here is what is going on.
Your Brain’s Mood System Depends on Estrogen
Your brain makes a natural chemical called serotonin that helps regulate your mood. Many people know it as the “feel-good” chemical, which is a good way to describe it. What many do not realize is that estrogen quietly helps keep your serotonin system working well.
You can think of estrogen as the support team for your brain’s serotonin factory. When estrogen levels are steady, your brain makes serotonin at a regular pace. Your mood stays more balanced, and you feel more like yourself.
During perimenopause, estrogen does not just slowly decrease. Instead, it goes up and down, sometimes even within the same week. These unpredictable changes can throw off your brain’s serotonin production. When estrogen drops, your brain makes less serotonin, and you notice the difference.
You might notice:
- Low mood or depression that seems to appear suddenly
- Brain fog and difficulty concentrating
- Sleep that is disrupted or just not restful
- Anxiety that feels different from what you have experienced before
This Is Biology, Not a Personal Failing
Research shows that the risk of depression goes up two to three times during menopause. This is a well-known and important finding. It is a real medical issue with biological causes, not a sign that something is wrong with you.
Your brain is reacting to real hormonal changes. Just because it feels emotional does not mean it is not also physical. It is both.
This is why some of the same medications used for depression, such as SSRIs, can help during perimenopause. They target the same serotonin system that estrogen supports. For some women, hormone therapy may also be an option to discuss with your doctor. For many, mood symptoms get better once this transition settles down.
You have choices. You do not have to simply tough it out.
A Moment for You
Take a few minutes to think about these questions. You do not need to answer every one. Just see what comes to mind.
- Have you been harder on yourself lately about your mood or energy? What would it feel like to treat those changes as information rather than failure?
- What would you tell a close friend who was experiencing what you are going through right now?
About the Author
Dr. Tye Johnson is a board-certified Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioner with JMS Behavioral Health. She provides psychiatric care services for patients in S. Jersey. She is currently completing an Integrative Women’s Health Fellowship specializing in menopause, mental health, and neuroinflammation.
