Debunking myths: menopause and mental health
Menopause awareness month, taking place in October each year, provides us with the opportunity to address common misconceptions around menopause and mental health. Lots of people experiencing symptoms such as hot flushes, changes in mood and problems with sleep will say to themselves ‘It’s part of the menopause… I just need to get on with it’. In today’s blog, our TALKWORKS Psychological Wellbeing Practitioner Lead, Hayley Ellis, breaks down some of the myths surrounding menopause and shares why it’s important to reach out for support if you are struggling.
“Menopause only affects your physical health”
Menopause can affect much more than physical health, and it’s understandable that these changes can feel difficult to manage. Symptoms such as hot flushes, sleep difficulties and hormonal changes can affect your mood, concentration, thought processes, emotional wellbeing, relationships and day-to-day life. These different areas can interact and influence each other, so looking at the whole picture can help you to better understand your symptoms and identify the support that may be most helpful for you through menopause.
“Poor sleep is part of menopause and something I need to just accept”
Problems with sleep are common during menopause, and it’s understandable that this can feel exhausting. Although it can be part of menopause, it’s not something you simply have to accept or put up with. Ongoing sleep difficulties can affect your mood, energy, concentration and overall quality of life. Symptoms such as hot flushes and night sweats can make sleep difficult. In our TALKWORKS for menopause group course, we look at the cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) sleep cycle to understand how thoughts, feelings and behaviours may contribute to ongoing sleep problems. There are different ways the TALKWORKS team can support better sleep so that you can feel more rested which you can learn more about on the sleep difficulties section of our website.
“Menopause doesn't happen until your 50s”
While menopause is often associated with starting in your 50s, it doesn’t happen at the same age for everyone. Perimenopause can begin several years earlier, sometimes in your late 30’s or early 40’s, when hormone levels begin to fluctuate and symptoms can develop. These may include changes in periods, hot flushes, sleep problems, mood changes, anxiety, brain fog and changes in sexual wellbeing. As well as age, similar symptoms can have other causes, including medical conditions, medications or treatments. It’s therefore important to consider the wider picture and make sure any other possible causes are also considered.
“You may be going through menopause but you need to just get on with it”
Menopause is a natural stage of life, but that doesn’t mean you simply have to ‘get on with it.’ Symptoms can affect your physical health, sleep, mood, relationships, work and overall quality of life, and it’s important that these are recognised and supported. There are effective ways to manage symptoms, including CBT, which can help with sleep, anxiety, mood and how we respond to and cope with the changes menopause can bring.
How to access support from TALKWORKS
If you are finding that your day-to-day life is impacted by the physical and emotional side effects of menopause, our TALKWORKS team can help. Our service is free and open to adults, age 18+, living in Devon (excluding Plymouth which is covered by Plymouth Options). Treatment and support includes one-to-one sessions with an NHS therapist and a range of wellbeing workshops and interactive group courses (including our six week menopause group). We also offer access to an online self-help platform which is available at any time of the day or night. You can self-refer to TALKWORKS without needing to go through your GP, by completing the online form on our website or by calling the team on 0300 555 3344.