Mood Swings: “I’m Not Yelling, I’m Just Passionate”
😂 One minute, you’re crying at a dog commercial. The next, you’re plotting your neighbor’s downfall for parking too close.
Is It Me, or Are My Hormones Trying to Ruin My Life?
You start your day with the best of intentions. Deep breaths. Calm mindset. You even tell yourself, “Today, I will be rational.”
Then… BAM.
Someone chews too loudly in your vicinity, and suddenly, you’re questioning all your life choices.
Welcome to menopause mood swings – where your emotions play musical chairs, and the winner is always rage or tears.
But WHY does this happen? And more importantly, can we do anything about it besides warning our loved ones to approach with extreme caution?
Let’s investigate. 🕵️♀️
Mood Swings, Explained: Why Are We Like This?
Hormonal fluctuations during menopause directly impact serotonin and dopamine – a.k.a. the brain chemicals responsible for keeping us stable, happy, and not yelling at strangers in traffic.
🔬 Science Says:
✔️ Estrogen drops = serotonin crashes. (So instead of feeling balanced, we’re suddenly crying over a spilled latte like it’s a personal betrayal.)
✔️ Cortisol (stress hormone) spikes more easily. (Great. As if we weren’t already on edge.)
✔️ Dopamine (motivation + pleasure) dips. (Which explains why your motivation vanished mid-task, but your irritation is fully awake.)
📌 Translation? Menopause is out here playing DJ with your emotions, and the playlist is pure chaotic energy.
What Do Menopause Mood Swings Feel Like?
If you’ve experienced it, you already know. But for science (and the amusement of others), here’s a breakdown:
😂 The Emotional Rollercoaster:
🎭 The “Tear Factory” – One adorable puppy video later, and you’re a wreck.
😤 The Instant Rage Button – Spouse breathes wrong? UNFORGIVABLE.
🙃 The “Nothing Feels Right” Spiral – Why does my sweater feel itchy? Do I even like this house? WHO AM I?!
😑 The Blank Stare Shutdown – Someone is still talking, but you’re mentally buffering like bad WiFi.
📌 Summary: If your emotions had a physical form, they’d be a toddler throwing LEGOs and then hugging you immediately after.
Mood Swings in Action: Real-Life Scenarios
👀 Before Menopause:
🌸 “Oh, the barista got my order wrong? No worries, mistakes happen!”
🔥 After Menopause:
👹 “I SAID OAT MILK. DO YOU WANT TO FIGHT?”
👀 Before Menopause:
🧘♀️ “I’ll just take a deep breath and handle this rationally.”
🔥 After Menopause:
🔪 “I don’t like your tone. And I don’t know why.”
👀 Before Menopause:
📺 Crying at the end of a sad movie.
🔥 After Menopause:
😢 Crying at a commercial. Or a song. Or because someone looked at you with ‘a weird expression.’
How to Survive Your Own Mood Swings
Because let’s be real – we’re not about to “just calm down.”
But there ARE some actual ways to manage the hormonal chaos.
SCIENCE-BACKED SOLUTIONS (THAT DON’T REQUIRE A TIME MACHINE)
✔️ Magnesium + C & B Vitamins – Supports serotonin and helps smooth out emotional chaos. (Basically, supplements = emotional seatbelts.)
✔️ Omega-3s – Supports mood stability. (More fish, fewer freakouts.)
✔️ Adaptogens (Ashwagandha, Rhodiola) – Helps lower stress hormone levels (a.k.a. your chance of snapping at an innocent barista).
✔️ L-Tyrosine – We thought this might be a mood swing cure (since it helps make dopamine, the “feel-good” chemical), but plot twist – it’s actually a stress shield. And since stress makes mood swings 100x worse, this still matters. L-Tyrosine helps you stay sharp, functional, and less likely to snap over nothing. Naturally, we had to dig deeper → Read Here.
✔️ Caffeine Control – Too much coffee = anxiety gremlin mode. (Yes, I hate this advice too.)
✔️ Exercise (Ugh, I Know) – But it actually helps. Even rage-walking counts.
✔️ Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Brain training for emotional survival.
So… Do These Things Actually Work? We Investigated.
Look, lists are nice – but let’s be honest, we wanted proof.
Researchers have actually studied how to outsmart menopause mood swings, and while they haven’t yet invented “Chill Pills for Menopause”, here’s what they DID find:
📌 What happens when scientists throw menopausal women into experiments?
📌 Do supplements actually help, or is it all just expensive pee?
📌 How did Cognitive Behavioral Therapy turn out? And did anyone actually enjoy it?
We went deep into the three most studied solutions for menopause mood swings – and the results were way too interesting to ignore.
(Spoiler: One of them literally reduced the number of threats to move to another country.)
🔬 Study #1: The Nutrient Dream Team for Mood Stability (If You Use Them Right)
👩🔬 What They Did:
- Scientists reviewed 14 studies to see if essential fatty acids (EFAs), B vitamins, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin C could actually help women feel less stressed, less anxious, and less like they were starring in an emotional soap opera.
- They tested these nutrients on women across different hormonal phases – premenstrual, menopausal, and just existing while being female.
🚨 What They Found:
✔️ EFAs (like Omega-3s) = Hit or Miss.
- Worked for reducing stress in pregnant women (because let’s be real, they needed it).
- Helped with anxiety during PMS and menopause – but only if there was no depression involved.
- Otherwise? Didn’t do much.
✔️ Magnesium & Vitamin B6 = Only Effective as a Team.
- The combo helped with premenstrual anxiety (good news for anyone who turns into a gremlin before their period).
- Alone? Useless. Like a locked door without a key.
- Didn’t help stress in women with painful periods (so cramps and mood swings still win that round).
✔️ Vitamin B6 (by itself) = A Surprise Anxiety Fighter.
- Worked for older women (a rare win for aging!).
- B12 and folate? Meh. No noticeable effect.
✔️ Vitamin C = The Unexpected Anxiety Hero.
- High-dose, slow-release vitamin C helped reduce anxiety and lower blood pressure during stressful moments.
- (Translation: Not just for colds anymore.)
💡 Takeaway:
✔️ If you’re menopausal and dealing with anxiety, EFAs might help – but only if depression isn’t involved.
✔️ Magnesium and B6? A package deal. Separately, they do nothing, but together, they might take the edge off PMS-related stress.
✔️ Vitamin B6 could be a game-changer for older women struggling with anxiety.
✔️ High-dose vitamin C = The unexpected stress shield.
🔬 Study #2: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Outsmarting Your Mood Swings
👩🔬 What They Did:
- Taught menopausal women CBT techniques (a.k.a. brain hacks to stop mood swings from ruining their day).
- Tracked emotional regulation, reaction control, and general “not losing it” levels.
🚨 What They Found:
✔️ Women who practiced CBT had fewer emotional breakdowns. (Which is a big win for both them and everyone around them.)
✔️ They felt more in control – so instead of spiraling, they could de-escalate their own mood swings before launching into an emotional monologue.
✔️ Meanwhile, the non-CBT group? Still fighting the hormonal chaos. (May their loved ones rest in peace.)
💡 Takeaway: CBT won’t erase menopause mood swings, but it might help you outsmart them. Think of it like playing chess with your hormones – except your opponent is unpredictable, ruthless, and possibly possessed.
Humor-Based Coping Strategies (Because Science + Sass = Survival)
🛑 Set up an emotional “NOPE” Zone.
If you feel a meltdown brewing, politely excuse yourself from humanity. Preferably before throwing something.
📝 Issue mood swing warnings to loved ones.
“Hey, just a heads up – I’m currently starring in ‘Menopause: The Emotional Horror Movie,’ and you don’t want to be an extra in this scene.”
☕ Blame caffeine or the moon.
“I swear I was fine until I had that extra espresso. Or maybe the moon is too close today.”
🚪 Master the dramatic exit.
“I must leave before I say something I technically don’t mean.” (Then exit like the misunderstood main character in a telenovela.)
👀 Use the “Would You Like to Rethink That?” look.
One perfectly timed glare can prevent at least three unnecessary arguments.
Using Mood Swings to Your Advantage
Look, if menopause insists on making you emotionally unpredictable, you might as well make it work for you.
🔪 1. The “Strategic Outburst” Method
Need someone to stop asking annoying questions? Drop a completely unhinged, over-the-top reaction to a minor inconvenience, and watch them NEVER bring it up again.
👀 Example:
Them: “Are you sure you need another pair of shoes?”
You: Gasps dramatically “WOW. I didn’t realize I was on trial for CRIMES AGAINST FOOTWEAR.” (storm out, but not before grabbing your credit card)
🙃 2. The “Mood Swing Scheduling” Technique
Feeling extra emotional? Use it! Schedule big conversations when you KNOW you’re feeling spicy. People are less likely to argue when they sense you’re a ticking time bomb.
👀 Example:
You: “I’d like to discuss why I should be in full control of the thermostat.”
Them: “…Now? You want to discuss this NOW? Okay, fine, just take it, take all the control.”
Mission: Accomplished.
😡 3. The “Unfiltered Honesty” Superpower
Hormones remove your filter – so use it for good.
Nobody respects boundaries quite like people who fear your zero-tolerance phase.
👀 Example:
Before menopause: “It’s fine.” (It’s not fine.)
After menopause: “No. I don’t want to. And I have exactly 3.5 seconds of patience left, so let’s wrap this up.”
Congrats – you’ve just upgraded your boundaries.
😂 4. The “Menopause Excuse Card”
You don’t have to go to things you don’t want to. Just blame menopause.
👀 Example:
Event you don’t want to attend? “Oh, I’d LOVE to, but menopause fatigue is really bad today.”
Awkward conversation? “I’d respond to that, but my brain fog just kicked in.”
🔮 They will never question it. Ever.
If Mood Swings Are Here Anyway… USE THEM.
Menopause owes us compensation for emotional whiplash, so we might as well profit.
📝 Weaponize mood swings. Enforce boundaries. Master the dramatic exit.
And if all else fails? Just say “It’s the hormones.” (No one will argue.)
You’re Not Crazy, You’re Just Menopausal.
💡 Will we ever regain full control over our emotions?
Unlikely.
💡 Can we learn to navigate it without causing unnecessary casualties?
Maybe. (Jury’s still out.)
Until then? Ride the mood swings like a hormonal rodeo queen – and make sure your loved ones buckle up.
💬 Drop a comment:
What’s the funniest, most unhinged thing menopause has ever made you do? 😂🔥