The menopause mental health connection and how Long Island women can get help

Key Points:

• Ingrid Dodd experienced her first anxiety attack at 45, later discovering it was linked to perimenopause, highlighting how hormonal changes during this transition can trigger mental health issues like anxiety and depression.
• Experts note a sharp rise in new onset and worsening of depression and anxiety during perimenopause, a phase marked by fluctuating estrogen levels that can cause mood swings, brain fog, and sleep disturbances.
• Mental health challenges during menopause can be managed through lifestyle changes, counseling, and hormone replacement therapy, but open conversations and peer support are crucial first steps for women experiencing symptoms.
• Menopause hormone therapy can alleviate symptoms if started within 10 years of menopause onset but carries risks such as stroke and breast cancer, necessitating thorough medical consultation.
• Advocacy efforts, like Dodd’s podcast Rebranding Menopause and social media content by creators like Vera Sweeney, are helping normalize discussions about menopause, empowering women to better understand and address their physical and mental health during this life stage.