Cliff helped daughter Laura change a complicated light bulb on our last visit to Dallas. And talk about complicated! Read the types of light you can get nowadays from various light bulbs. Who knew? I was so impressed that I snapped a photo of the light bulb packaging.
Which bulb would I pick? They all sound wonderful. In contrast are the not-so-lovely moods of menopause. The roller coaster ride can bring on some nasty downward swoops, putting you in unhappy light.
WebMD is one of my favorite health sites because it’s clear, calm, and consistent. They list these emotional troubles that are often brought on by the changing hormones of menopause:
- Irritability
- Feelings of sadness
- Lack of motivation
- Anxiety
- Aggressiveness
- Difficulty concentrating
- Fatigue
- Mood changes
- Tension
Many doctors are still reluctant to point to menopause as the cause of emotional issues. My friend Jessie was instructed to make an appointment with a psychiatrist. Another friend suggested Jessie’s trouble might be menopause. She found a different OB/GYN, and HRT changed Jessie’s gloom into gladness in just a few days. A happy light bulb went on!
WebMD goes on to say:”If you are feeling irritable and sad, there is a good chance it could be related to menopause, but the above listed symptoms are not linked only to menopause. There are a number of conditions that can cause you to feel downright irritable.”
So sure, look for other reasons behind your moodiness, but do consider menopause as the culprit.
Here’s the full article on WebMD.
To go a bit further with the light bulb theme, I found a timeline of light bulbs:
I don’t recall the 1982 version at all. But I don’t remember much about the larger world of the eighties. I was too busy raising little kids. Talk about roller coaster emotions. Me and them!
Friend For The Ride 
Good analogy! I wanted to tell you – I had read Dr. Oz’s article about taking Tart Cherry Juice for sleep, or not sleep- tried it and it works.
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Oh wow. Do you have a link?
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I will find it and send it to you. My husband and both tried it and are sleeping better, surprising both of us. It is such a common complaint among the menopausal I would like to pass it along.
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Cute analogy…interesting how light bulbs have been used as a metaphor for so many things. Menopause too!
Chamomile tea excellent for sleep, or lavendar tea.
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I need to try them. Haven’t in a while!
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That 1982 light bulb escaped me too. When people talk even about 80’s music I am lost. It is my forgotten decade! Glad to know someone else shares the forgotten light bulb of 1982 and the 1980’s!
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And eighties clothes escape me. I do know big hair and small prints (at least I think I used to wear jumpers that buttoned up the front in small prints–my young mother look.) And we went on a kick of wearing keds with white socks which our husbands HATED. That just lasted a few months.
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I love the metaphor of the light bulb, and the different types of lighting these days. Our kitchen (ironically recently renovated during my peri-menopause!) has become my favorite room because of the amazing and varying lighting that just calms and reassures me…..or awakens and energizes me….
Thanks for validating my moods and quirkiness etc these days. Now I know I’m normal – I can just blame all my recent idiosyncrasies on menopause….
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Wow. Lighting is so cool now days. Sounds way fun! The mood stuff can be a real bear. It can be fun too. I had moments of menopausal euphoria.
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Wow, “Anxiety” is one of two highlighted in “red’ symptoms.
Anxiety is real and a problem in menopause. Although it has sometimes been downplayed as just a problem that is actually “unassociated” with the hormonal transition of menopause, and just happens
to chronologically occur (for other possible reasons) at the same time, well . . . .
I’m not so sure. I’m not so sure, and I will tell you why.
I am not so sure about some of the research that says that anxiety only increases for women who did not experience anxiety prior to the menopause, and it is greater only in those who did not experience significant anxiety events prior.
Well, that would rule me out. (Ha! Anxiety prone since 4th grade?!) And, I have friends and colleagues who can attest to the same “Anxious before Menopause, More Anxious After” paradigm!
I am working on a post for you, Barbara, on this.
But, anyone suffering from anxiety in menopause, the whole story is not told yet.
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Looking forward to your post, esp. on post-menopause anxiety. Mine has definitely increased.
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