Menopause Irritability Symptom

You’ve always been a patient person, offering a listening ear, a shoulder to cry on and a welcoming smile. But since you’ve entered menopause, you’ve found yourself growing irritable at the smallest disruptions and annoyances – or sometimes, for no discernible reason at all. You’re likely experiencing menopause irritability, a mood disruption that occurs as a symptom of menopause caused by hormonal imbalance.

Definition of Irritability

Menopause irritability often involves high levels of negative emotional reaction to surrounding people, events or sensory input. Many times, irritability also includes mood swings, which cause an easily provoked agitated or annoyed state.

Symptoms of Irritability

Though everyone experiences some irritability at times, irritability caused by the hormonal changes associated with menopause tends to be more persistent and severe. Over-reaction to one’s surroundings is the primary symptom of menopausal irritability. However, irritability can manifest itself in a variety of other ways during menopause.

Other symptoms of menopause irritability may include physical symptoms such as muscle tension, jaw clenching and tension headaches. Emotional symptoms may include lowered stress thresholds and higher levels of experienced stress. Sleep disturbances such as insomnia may also occur as a result of menopause irritability. Women may also experience mood swings, and feel easily annoyed, frustrated and angry, even to the point of rage.

Risks Associated With Irritability

Like other emotional and cognitive symptoms of the menopausal transition, irritability carries with it the risk of interpersonal conflict and compromised professional relationships.

Irritability can also combine with other symptoms of menopause to create low energy, depression, paranoia, lack of focus and mood swings, creating a “perfect storm” of emotional distress. These symptoms can lead women suffering from menopause irritability to isolate themselves socially as a result.

Causes of Irritability

In most cases, hormonal imbalance is the primary cause of menopause irritability. The endocrine system is highly complex, and regulates many different functions of the body and mind, so any changes in hormone production can have far-reaching effects on mood, sensory perception and stress tolerance.

Tinnitus (ringing in the ears), electric shock sensations, and hot flashes can all create physical discomfort and sensitivity, which can lead to further irritability during menopause. Insomnia also contributes to irritability through exhaustion, as patience levels naturally lower due to lack of sleep.. Menopause depression, anxiety, paranoia and mood swings can all further exacerbate menopausal irritability levels.

Menopause Irritability Treatments

While stress-reduction techniques, adequate sleep, and proper diet can aid irritability to a degree, most cases of menopause irritability must be resolved by balancing hormones in the body.

Amberen’s Clinically Tested, lab-created formula provides the body with specialized versions of naturally-occurring ingredients needed to promote hormonal harmony. Amberen also promotes cellular health and hormonal signal transmission necessary to allow the body to return to its natural state of hormone production. As hormones become regulated once more, symptoms of menopause such as irritability diminish and disappear.

Irritability FAQs

FAQ: In addition to hormonal imbalances, what other factors can affect irritability during menopause?

A: Non-hormonal causes of irritability can exacerbate the already sensitive psyche during menopause. Such causes may include poor diet, physical inactivity, stress, pre-existing mood disorders, or excessive consumption of caffeine, alcohol or drugs. Reducing stress, eliminating other symptoms of menopause, and creating a healthy lifestyle can help address other causes of irritability in menopausal women.

FAQ: How can I explain my irritability to my friends and family?

A: Once your irritability has receded, talk to your family about the hormonal imbalance you experienced and its effects on your mood. You also may want to communicate that instances of irritability have been symptoms of menopause, rather than any indication of how you view friends and family.