There are three times over a woman’s lifespan when she is more susceptible to developing symptoms of depression and anxiety. Termed “windows of vulnerability,” they occur during seasons of great hormonal fluctuation:
puberty and periods
pregnancy and postpartum
perimenopause and early menopause.
Though unintentional, it’s no surprise that my nearly thirty-year career in women’s wellness has focused primarily on two—early motherhood with Breathe Mama Breathe and perimenopause with Reclaim Midlife and Don’t Forget to Breathe, all about recalibrating sustainable balance in midlife.
Years of education and experience as a therapist. Doing my best to walk the life balance talk….
Neither was quite enough to prevent being thrown completely off balance during my own windows of vulnerability. Those tumultuous times called for extra information, guidance, and care. Thankfully, I got what I needed but it required a ton of research, patience, false starts, and missteps along the way.
It’s why I am so passionate about helping others navigate the third window of vulnerability—I want women to feel like themselves again so they can thrive and get on with making the world a better place.
Many midlife women seek therapy for increased anxiety- and depression-related symptoms, unaware that perimenopause could be the cause.
To be sure, some women skate by with nary a symptom. Research indicates, however, that in early perimenopause, women are one and a half times more likely to develop a mood disorder, even without a previous history of one. In late perimenopause chances increase up to threefold.
In addition, women who have a history of PMS, PMDD (like PMS on steroids), and postpartum depression or anxiety are also at higher risk of suffering from mood disorders during this time.
As always, this is not meant to incite worry, but to inform and empower.
The emotional impact of recognizing perimenopause and its accompanying mood issues can be huge, as it prevents women from blaming themselves for how they are feeling and wondering what in the hell is wrong with them. Only then can they accept what’s not under their control, and take wise action on what is.
So, how do we know when it’s perimenopause?
Mood changes (along with those irregular periods) may be one of the first symptoms:
Irritability
Crying more than usual
Increased worry/anxiety
Low motivation or energy
Lessened ability to experience joy
Not feeling like yourself
Mood swings
Difficulty concentrating/brain fog
Experiencing other perimenopausal symptoms—like insomnia or continued waking with night sweats—can exacerbate a lowered ability to cope.
Potentially confusing matters, hot flashes and panic attacks show up in much the same way—racing heart, cold sweat, feelings of panic/doom/dread. Knowing that shortness of breath occurs only with a panic attack, not a hot flash, can help distinguish between the two.
Next time I’ll share next steps and various ways we can turn this third window of vulnerability into a window of opportunity.
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