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MOOD SWINGS With all the other symptoms women experience during premenopause, it's not surprising women complain about emotional problems including crying jags, irritability and depression. These symptoms are remarkably similar to those of PMS and both are related to changing hormones. Anti-depressants are often prescribed for women experiencing mood swings. These prescription drugs are often inappropriate and ineffective. Women suffering from depression sometimes have negative attitudes towards menopause. Poor social support and poor marital relationships can contribute to feelings of depression, too. Women often see menopause as an end of their youth. This is especially true in our society which prizes youth, and women may feel less attractive. This transition from youth to maturity often triggers a self-examination and review of life's ups and downs. However, the downs have a way of overshadowing the accomplishments, especially when all of those other menopausal changes are occurring simultaneously. Our culture is slowly beginning to value maturity and wisdom, but sadly it is usually men who are valued for these attributes. One school of thought suggests that the reason we in the West experience premenopausal symptoms to such an intense and pervasive degree is due to neglect of ourselves throughout the first half of life. Emotions are particularly susceptible to neglect here since overall, they are not seen as acceptable. Perhaps the Change brings out the protective layers hiding our anger, fears and grief. Each hot flash may expose our hidden or blocked feelings, exposing our secret desires. They may be surfacing with such intensity due to neglect. If we can receive these emotions without judgment, nourish them and learn to experience them without 'puking' them on our family and friends, these unpleasant feelings can then be released rather than bottled up inside. Premenopause is the classic time in our culture for women to 'go crazy'. Oversensitivity, irritability, anxiety, fear, extreme nervousness or anxiety, rage, grief, depression and crying jags are not uncommon during premenopause. Rather than using remedies to eliminate these emotions, we are better served by calling on the right plant(s) to moderate the emotions until they are manageable. Having some of these feelings is a great reminder of where we are in life, and how we might want to change some things we previously overlooked. QUICK TIPS
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