Menopause and Emotional Well-Being: A Time of Profound Transition

As a psychologist currently experiencing perimenopause, I have felt the need to look more closely at the link between this stage of life and mental well-being. Research confirms what many women already know: during perimenopause and menopause, symptoms of depression and anxiety are common. But are hormones the only explanation? Not quite.

Hormonal changes certainly play a role. They can influence mood, making us more irritable, impatient, or emotionally reactive. Physical symptoms such as hot flashes, insomnia, or body aches also weigh heavily on our psychological balance. Yet researchers emphasize a bi-directional relationship: our emotional state can intensify physical symptoms, while persistent physical discomfort erodes our emotional health.

A Transition Beyond Biology

Beyond biology, menopause is best understood as a major life transition, one that demands multiple adjustments.

• Bodily changes and self-image: we are faced with adjusting to a body that no longer mirrors the self-image we hold or wish to project socially. This can limit how we participate in daily life, connect with others, or express ourselves. In societies that prize youth and vitality, this can also undermine our self-esteem. The loss of feeling attractive or desirable may lead to isolation or loneliness, and a decline in sexual intimacy can deepen the impact on self-perception and well-being.

• Lifestyle changes and choices: we may have to change our current habits, adopt new ones. This can feel overwhelming or confusing in view of the many health advices, sometimes contradictory. Add to this the comparisons with women who seem to “sail through” this phase effortlessly, and feelings of shame or inadequacy can quickly arise.

• Professional identity: the numerous physical changes - such as hot flashes, fatigue, and cognitive fog, to name a few - profoundly influence how women perceive themselves at work. These disruptions, sometimes leading to leave of absences, often dent confidence and erode the aspect of the self-image tied to professional competence. As there is often little acknowledgement or support in the workplace, a stigma persists. It becomes hard for women undergoing menopause to feel seen or supported when no adjustments are proactively offered to help them navigate this transition.

  
  

• Shift in family and relationships: menopause also unfolds alongside other profound life changes. Children may be leaving home, creating a sense of emptiness or loss of purpose. For others, teenagers are navigating their own turbulent transitions, leading to conflict and misunderstandings. Couples often need to redefine their relationship, finding new ways of being together without the shared focus of parenting. Sometimes, this reveals that the relationship itself is unsatisfying and that children were the main bond holding it together.

• Caring for aging parents: at the same time, we may find ourselves stepping into caregiving roles for our parents or facing the grief of their passing. These experiences not only bring responsibility and loss but also force us to contemplate our own aging: How will I cope with illness or dependency? Will I be a burden to my children, or will I move into this next stage of life with peace and dignity?

Clearly, there is much to navigate. Each of these changes can act as a stressor—because they challenge our identity, roles, and support systems.

What Helps us Thrive?

And yet, research shows that psychological resilience during menopause is strongest when we can adapt rather than resist. Building healthy self-esteem, regaining a sense of mastery, and cultivating purpose in life are powerful protective factors.

Menopause, then, can be reframed not as an ending but as an opportunity: to care for ourselves physically and emotionally, to redefine our identity and priorities, to make peace with unresolved issues, and to foster supportive circles of women where experiences can be shared openly. It can also be a time of reflection—acknowledging dreams not realized or paths not taken, and defining new paths. The support of a partner also plays a significant role; whether they respond with understanding or not can deeply shape how we live this stage.

Emotional well-being in menopause requires a holistic approach—one that embraces emotions, thoughts, body sensations, relationships, and the environment in which we live. With openness and support, this transition can become not just something to endure, but a chance to grow into a fuller, more authentic version of ourselves.

Sources:

Blackson, E. A., McCarthy, C., Bell, C., Ramirez, S., & Bazzano, A. N. (2024). Experiences of menopausal transition among populations exposed to chronic psychosocial stress in the United States: a scoping review. BMC Women's Health, 24(1), 487.

Klukas, I. F., & Schotanus-Dijkstra, M. (2025). How to Flourish during the Menopausal Transition: A Scoping Review.

Opayemi, O. O. (2025). Menopausal transition, uncertainty, and women’s identity construction: Understanding the influence of menopause talk with peers and healthcare providers. Communication Quarterly, 73(2), 239-263.

O'Reilly, K., McDermid, F., McInnes, S., & Peters, K. (2024). “I was just a shell”: Mental health concerns for women in perimenopause and menopause. International Journal of Mental Health Nursing, 33(3), 693-702.

Saleh, S. A., Almadani, N., Mahfouz, R., Nofal, H. A., El-Rafey, D. S., & Seleem, D. A. (2024). Exploring the intersection of depression, anxiety, and sexual health in perimenopausal women. International Journal of Women's Health, 1315-1327.

Sathiyaseelan, A., Patangia, B., & Hainary, P. (2024). Meaning in Life in Menopause: A Narrative Literature Review on How Menopausal Women Make Sense of Their Life?. Indian Journal of Psychiatric Nursing, 21(1), 66-73.

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Verdonk, P., Bendien, E., & Appelman, Y. (2022). Menopause and work: A narrative literature review about menopause, work and health. Work, 72(2), 483-496.