Mental symptoms of menopause: Canadian woman opens up about 'moments of rage' when she 'didn't recognize' herself

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When Giovanna Gerencser turned 50, she knew she was entering menopause. However, the cessation of her periods was only the beginning of a phase filled with unexpected symptoms and emotional distress.

"I woke up one morning, and my sheets were full of blood... I felt extremely weak... and collapsed," she described the harrowing experience that led her to believe she had a serious health issue — like cervical cancer, which her mother had suffered from. The scare was a false alarm, but it marked a turning point in her menopause journey.

Menopause not only disrupted Gerencser's physical health, but deeply affected her emotional and mental state. "I would snap at the silliest things. I was what I would call 'HSP,' a highly sensitive person," she admitted, adding she was never like that before.

"Normally, things would just roll off my back my whole life. My outlook was positive; I just tackled each obstacle as it came and dealt with it. This was a whole new ballgame — I didn't recognize myself anymore," Gerencser, owner of skincare company Halo & Horns, previously told Yahoo Canada.

At the time, Gerencser was living in Vancouver with her family and thought it was her job making her stressed. But even after selling their home moving to a more peaceful Sunshine Coast didn't help ease her distress.

She never knew to expect these changes, because both her mom and her sister had a mild menopause experience. "I was having moments of rage when I couldn't even recognize myself," she said.

One time, a worker came to her house to fix something in the yard and she "just screamed at him one day, for no reason," Gerencser recalled. "He did something that I thought was wasn't right, and normally, I would just say, 'Hey, can you maybe have a look at that.' Instead, I just freaked out."

At the same time, she was having severe hot flashes, "75 a day to the point where I was just sweating and dripping," but that wasn't nearly as bad as the agitation.

Despite seeking support from medical professionals, Gerencser encountered a frustrating lack of understanding and empathy. She described feeling dismissed and unheard, with doctors offering quick-fix solutions (medication) that failed to address the deeper emotional turmoil she was experiencing. "The number of women that are suffering in silence... They go to their doctors and their doctors tell them to go for a walk, or they just say 'it's all in your head.'"

Now, she aims to raise awareness about the mental and emotional toll of menopause, providing a voice for those who may be struggling. "The one thing that helped me was recognizing that those symptoms are symptoms, and not Giovanna," she said. "I was able to separate the symptoms of menopause from the identity of who I was."

Gerencser's story serves as a reminder that menopause is not just about physical symptoms like hot flashes — it's also about the impact it can have on mental and emotional well-being.

Spokesperson for the Menopause Foundation of Canada, Janet Ko, told Yahoo Canada the tolerance for women's suffering in our society is high. "Women are essentially being told to put up with and push through symptoms that can last for up to a decade or more. While menopause is natural, suffering is not."

Earlier this year, Yahoo Canada spoke with Dr. Alison Shea, an OBGYN and menopause specialist at McMaster University, about why these symptoms occur and what coping methods you can try.

What are the emotional impacts of menopause?

According to Shea, "many women will experience changes with mood, anxiety as well as severe irritability, most of which starts in the perimenopause." She explained the erratic fluctuations in estrogen and progesterone during this period significantly affect brain chemistry, particularly the levels of serotonin, known as the happy chemical.

"Fluctuating levels of estrogen influence your serotonin... When you have those big decreases, big ups and downs, you get shifts in how much serotonin is floating around," Shea said. This biochemical turmoil can lead to feelings of depression, anxiety and a generally heightened state of irritability, making everyday interactions challenging.

"We also know that there are many estrogen receptors throughout the brain, particularly in the prefrontal cortex... involved in behavioural inhibition, and in the amygdala and your hippocampus —important areas for behavioural regulation and emotional regulation."

How common are mental symptoms in menopause?

The prevalence of emotional and mental symptoms during menopause is significant, with Dr. Shea noting that "as many as 50 per cent of women will have symptoms of depression, low mood, crying episodes, changes in appetite, changes in sleep, feeling a lack of interest in many activities."

Anxiety and irritability are also commonly reported, affecting more than half of the women going through menopause.

The impact of menopause on sleep cannot be underestimated, the expert said. "Women aren't sleeping as well... if you're waking up several times because you're hot... and then you can have difficulty getting back to sleep. That's happening several times a night, and your sleep is disrupted, then certainly that would contribute to any symptoms of not feeling refreshed, feeling low mood, not energetic, more irritable."

Suicide rates for women in Canada are highest during the years that coincide with perimenopause and menopause (ages 40 to 59) at 8.1 per 100,000 women vs. 5.8 per 100,000 for those aged 15-39.

Questions about menopause? Want to share your experience? Email us and you could be featured in an upcoming Yahoo Canada article.

How can I cope with the emotional impact of menopause?

When dealing with the mental and emotional symptoms of menopause, Shea emphasized the importance of proactive health management and self-advocacy. "First of all, just understanding that it's super common and super normal and the majority of women will experience them," she advised.

Implementing lifestyle changes such as a healthy diet, regular exercise and proper sleep hygiene can significantly improve these symptoms. Shea recommends aerobic exercise at least three times a week.

For those seeking medical intervention, she encouraged women to come prepared when visiting healthcare providers. "Go to your doctor armed with what to say and what to ask. Ask for a referral, there is a list of menopause specialists that are listed on the Menopause Foundation of Canada website," she suggested.

For women struggling to find understanding healthcare providers, Shea recommended using resources such as the Menopause Foundation of Canada, which offers a playbook for patient advocacy, and the Canadian Menopause Society, which provides comprehensive information on menopause management.

Janet Ko added that being unaware of the full scope of menopause symptoms leads to "poor health outcomes and lower quality of life." She added stigma also plays a role. "We need to stop trivializing menopausal symptoms and making women experiencing them the butt of unflattering jokes."

For women like Gerencser, sharing their stories can demystify the process and provide solace to others going through similar struggles. "My hope is to draw awareness, to help give women options, to give other women hope — because there is hope," Gerencser said.

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