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Gemma Furlan

Antoinette Lollis

General Psychology

6 December 2023

Menopause and its repercussions

Fifty is the new thirty, they say. However, for women going through menopause, it might

be a different story. Menopause causes a lot of physical changes: weight gain, hot flashes, and

mood swings. Dr. Anurogo states, "the study of the psychoneuroimmunology of menopause

contributes to a broader understanding of the mind-body connection and the intricate relationship

between psychological and physiological processes." The psychoneuroimmunology of

menopause is critical for several reasons. First, understanding the complex interplay between

psychological, neurological, and immunological factors. Second, it can help identify potential

therapeutic targets and interventions to alleviate menopausal symptoms and improve overall

well-being. In this transition phase, it is essential to inform women of the different approaches

available to help them deal with the changes and be aware of their health. Intervening with drugs,

various psychotherapies, and support groups can ensure that this phase is associated with a

positive moment of personal growth and learning to manage stress, typical of this phase of life.

Stress is an individual's response to environmental circumstances and events that threaten

the person and test their coping skills. Depending on the stimulus's type, time, and severity,

stress can exert various actions on the organism. Ranging from alterations in homeostasis, that is,

the ability of an organism to self-regulate by maintaining the internal environment constant

despite varying conditions affecting the external environment, that can lead to potentially lethal

and life-threatening effects. Current research in this area has highlighted that "In many cases, the
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pathophysiological complications of the disease derive from stress, and subjects exposed to

stress are more prone to have complications, (Yaribeygi et al.) In a nutshell, stress can trigger or

aggravate many diseases and pathological conditions that affect the immune system, increasing

susceptibility to infection. (King). Referring to menopause, stress can worsen a woman's delicate

psychophysical balance.

The most tangible impact on a woman's body in this transition occurs at a biological

level, where hormones not only decline but do so in an oscillating pattern. In practice, hormone

levels are irregular, and estrogen follows a fluctuating trend, while progesterone tends to be

almost absent. These changes start a chain reaction that affects a woman's physical health.

Cholesterol levels and heart disease risks may increase. Additionally, decreasing estrogen levels

can also reduce bone density, increasing the risk of osteoporosis. (Hale and Burger)

Furthermore, beyond the hormonal and physiological changes and symptoms typical of

this phase of life, there is a psychological dimension of menopause capable of significantly

influencing the experience of each woman. Psychological, cognitive, and social changes can lead

women during this period to experience feelings of anxiety, frustration, and confusion, which can

lead to increased stress levels. The physiological symptoms of menopause can have severe

psychological consequences. In fact, feelings of embarrassment, shame, insecurity, and low self-

esteem can make it difficult for women to stay fit and healthy and lead to mental health

problems. It seems clear that depression and anxiety are not always caused by hormonal changes

but rather by psychosocial factors. Menopause is frequently associated with a pessimistic image

because it also coincides with social modifications related to reaching a mature age: illnesses,

caregiving or death of parents, and children growing. In addition, the societal pressure to

conform to specific gender roles and expectations of beauty standards for women can further
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compound these feelings. Modern medicine offers help to women in this time of transition, with

effective treatments for the physical symptoms of menopause. Hormone therapy (HT) is the

undisputed leader for its ability to rebalance the delicate harmonies of hormones. "Estrogen

remains the most effective treatment for symptom relief as well as chronic disease prevention in

women who experience menopause."(Paciuc). Psychiatry can also help. Antidepressants and

anxiolytics can reduce feelings of sadness, anxiety, and hopelessness, as well as improve

symptoms of insomnia and difficulty concentrating. It is important to inform women of the

potential benefits and risks of all treatment options, and care should be individualized based on

the woman's medical history, needs, and preferences.

What matters most of all is the need to realize that the key to living this delicate phase as

best as possible lies in the way of thinking about menopause. Psychology, with the use of

different techniques, is the right way to address, alleviate, and prevent psychological and

physical problems. During menopause, the risk of depression is 2 to 5 times greater than pre- or

post-menopause. Unfortunately, suicide rates also increase significantly around the age of

menopause. In fact, the highest suicide rate among women is recorded around the age of

menopause (Kułak-Bejda et al.), thus demonstrating how terrible menopause is and

concomitantly how important it is to take care of mental health in this delicate phase. Numerous

research studies suggest that Cognitive-behavioral therapies (CBT) significantly improve

functioning and quality of life and have been demonstrated to be as effective as, or more

effective than, other forms of psychological therapy or psychiatric medications. CBT is a

psychological journey in which the patient and therapist work in tandem with psychotherapeutic

strategies and techniques to gain awareness, which can help women adapt to a new scenario

involving the body and emotions. Recently, therapists have developed a new type of treatment to
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enhance well-being. Well-being therapy (WBT) is a short-term, problem-focused, directive

therapy that encourages clients to accentuate the positivity and see the arrival of menopause as

an unacceptable transition.

There are many strategies aimed explicitly at psychological distress during menopause.

Support groups, for example, are born from the idea of offering the opportunity for women to

meet in a group setting and are founded on the belief that the fears and anxieties linked to the

various stages of life do not only belong to the individual but also have a collective dimension

and therefore involve, all women who go through menopause. Support groups are an

extraordinary opportunity for women to share and, above all, not feel alone, creating an

emotional support network to help women adapt to the changes they are experiencing and

improve their mental health.

In conclusion, intervening with drugs, various psychotherapies, and support groups can

ensure that this phase is associated with a positive moment of personal growth and learning to

manage stress, which is typical of this phase of life. Menopause should be seen as a liberation, a

reevaluation of a life to be lived according to new rules. It is possible to support women during

this midlife transition and promote and improve mental health among menopausal women by

targeting and managing psychological distress.

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Work cited.

Anurogo, Dito. “The Art of Psychoneuroimmunology in Menopause Management.” Journal of

Biomedical Research & Environmental Sciences, vol. 4, no. 6, June 2023, pp. 972–
92. https://doi.org/10.37871/jbres1758.
Hale, Georgina E., and Henry G. Burger. “Hormonal Changes and Biomarkers in Late
Reproductive Age, Menopausal Transition and Menopause.” Best Practice & Research in
Clinical Obstetrics & Gynecology, vol. 23, no. 1, Feb. 2009, pp. 7–
23. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2008.10.001.
Kantor, J. R., and Noel W. Smith. The Science of Psychology: An Interbehavioral Survey.
2009, ci.nii.ac.jp/ncid/BA19273909.
King, Ed. The Science of Psychology: An Appreciative View (Bound).
Kułak-Bejda, Agnieszka, et al. “Risk Assessment of Depression Amongst Women During
Menopause Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic.” International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health, vol. 20, no. 1, Dec. 2022, p.
596. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20010596.
Paciuc, John. “Hormone Therapy in Menopause.” Advances in Experimental Medicine and

Biology, 2020, pp. 89–120. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-38474-6_6.

Yaribeygi, Habib, et al. “The Impact of Stress on Body Function: A Review.” PubMed, vol. 16,

Jan. 2017, pp. 1057–72.