Mental health and the perimenopause | The Dr Louise Newson Podcast

Content advisory: this podcast contains themes of mental health and suicide.

Joining Dr Louise on the podcast this week are Lynsey and her husband Kieran. Lynsey movingly describes a rapid deterioration in her mental health during the perimenopause which saw her sectioned under the Mental Health Act.

‘I just felt desperate that this was a new version of me and I couldn't work out why,’ she recalls.

Lynsey and Kieran, who is a GP, speak to Dr Louise about the need for greater understanding of how hormonal changes during the perimenopause and menopause can impact on mental health, coupled with improved access to HRT.

[thesavannalady]

I don't know what to write. My jaw dropped so much while watching this that I had to take a flight to Antarctica to go and fetch it. What in the world. This matches so much of what happened to me. I had a hysterectomy in 2016 and kept my ovaries but no one told me that I may start the perimenopause/menopause. Not a soul. And when the suicidal ideations and attempts started, not a soul linked it. And when the anger just wouldn't go away, no one connected the dots. And when the mood swings and emotional instability and social anxiety took over my life, no one thought to link it to my operation. After 7 years of this absolute hell of a mental health situation, about a month ago I was staying at a friend's house and coincidentally her friend staying there is a menopause specialist and heard my story and she was the first doctor out of perhaps 30 I have seen in 7 years (I move around a lot) to suggest HRT. It took about two weeks for the HRT to kick in properly and, as the lady in this video said, "PING!", the suicide ideation more or less disappeared and my mental health stabalised. The calm especially has been absolutely amazing. I had forgotten what emotional calmness felt like!!!! Saying all of this, I have been skeptical about this and so have started to have a look around to see if this is common. And here it is. One thing that really struck me: "I don't know why I want to kill myself." Gosh. My brain constantly drove me towards this and made it seem like such a logical solution to all of my problems. Someone looked at you weirdly in the street? Bank balance is low? Had an argument with your partner? Putting on weight? House is a mess? My brain led me to the same solution every time, regardless of how illogical this is. Reading about the lack of serotonin from the lack of estrogen this makes so much sense. The HRT switched that off completely and now it seems so absurd. And the calmness. It is priceless. Just priceless. Life is so so so much easier when your emotions are not so volatile and all over the place. Calmness is just joy. Thank you for this podcast and thank you to the two guests here. This has been so helpful and I wish I had had a time machine 7 years ago to travel to the future to watch this and then go back and start HRT then!

[sareanon]

This was so profound. That you for the energy you put into your work.

[Tethero]

Thank you. I’ve been struggling. My gyno put me on hrt. I feel better. I went to a female gyno after for more specific direction and she blew me off and she was part of the North American menopause society. So it’s so hard to find support. Your YouTube channel has helped me so much with the missing pieces. I appreciate you.

[laurahill]

Thank you for this pod cast, literally today I’ve just called my GP to make an appointment due to what I think is the perimenapause, I quit my job last month that’s how bad it’s got as I can’t cope with work, running a home, doing life things even cleaning my house, I’ve lost interest in hobbies, friends, doing things I used to love, typing this Iam crying because the thing I’ve lost most is myself .
I look back to aged 38 Iam 48 now, the symptoms over the years are totally making sense, the heavy periods, then no periods for ages, anxiety, memory, taking in information, dizziness unexplained for years, now the not coping and now struggling with absolutely everything. Thank you to you Louise for all you do for women.

[mermaidmaca]

I've even had 3 consultations with a Menopause Consultant (Not Newson Health) and I still cannot get testosterone prescribed. They want my Oestrogen to be a higher level first but that would mean continued blood tests but at the same time I am hearing we should not be reliant on blood tests but rather focus on how we feel. I know testosterone is what I need as that level was pretty much zero. I'm still having brain fog, moodiness, no libido, tiredness, bad sleep etc. My Oestrogen level on my blood test result was 76 but that was tested on the day I was supposed to change my patch. Oestrogen levels go up and down so I have no idea why I cannot start testosterone. I'm now on a higher Oestrogen patch. I wish the people I speak to were as passionate as Dr Louise Newson. She's amazing to listen to and I love her passion for helping women get their hormones back.

[Corrans]

As a woman in perimenopause myself, I can so relate! I suffer with feelings of depression rather than anxiety. It sucks. Being on biodentical estrogel does help!

[lindacooper]

Thanks for this podcast. I got to the suicidal thoughts stage, but having had mental health issues in the past I was convinced I was having a breakdown. I was infact suffering with the menopause. It took my local superb pharmacist to walk me to the surgery and get an immediate appointment with a very kind and understanding Dr. A week after I was started on hrt patches, and after 2 days I felt better!! Long live hrt.

[walkinjewel]

Im on HRT for 3 months but severe anxiety started that I almost cant eat. My gyno said she cant prescribe testosteron when I requested. Or ask me anything about my anxiety. I go out for shopping and next minute I think I cant walk or talk to anybody and return to home rightaway. I saw testo creams online but not sure it this should be the way. Im really tired to think on behalf of my ignorant dr😫

[tracyanntaylor-bjfi]

Thank you for sharing your story. It's like looking in a mirror. I myself have been going through the same thing for 10 years after my last child was born, and I put it down to Postnatal depression. My youngest daughter has had so much from me shouting, screaming at her for no reason, and I asked the school to help me, and they did nothing. My partner was out at work all day, so he didn't get how bad I was. It is so debilitating, and you can see what you're doing but can't stop. The worst part was we moved from Manchester to Cornwall, so I had no one there to support me or the girls. It's been a very hard 10 years for all of us. Thank you again. luckily, the doctors offered me Anti depressant, but said no to them as I caught a video of Louise newson on menopause, Now that was a god send to me. Days are still a struggle but I'm getting there. Thank you all ❤

[blgolpe]

Thank you so much for your bravery and sharing. So many women are suffering unnecessarily. I also worry for the future of my daughters. Thank you again

[mercyln]

I just found you here Dr. Louise Newson...I'm already on your app Balance.

I just love you because you're doing so much good for women with extreme and less extreme menopausal side effects and ill health.
I will support you in any way❤

[jelenatisma]

my dr has only prescriped the pill as has the opinion that HRT is prescribed after going into actual menapuase. I have mental health problems in the past but currently have been suffering for around 4 years, previous episodes were cyclical and i would be fine for several years. I can really relate to this lady

[breezyveezy]

I can relate to this. Thank you so much for sharing❤

[ayselkarafiruze]

Thank you very much for this wonderful podcast. I appreciate it greatly🎉❤

[Amanda_]

Really enjoyed this ! Thank you. Can relate to so much of it. I’m now on HRT 🙏❤️

[Miracles]

I started HRT but I was still up and down with anxiety and depression. Until I heard about Keto diet and it changed everything like miracle! It was like a bright light turning on in the darkness of my world. The peace and calm that I have in my heart now is indescribable. The permanent anxiety had become a part of me and kind of my identity, I thought I had to live with this new me forever. But changing my diet changed everything. Have you ever thought, how our body is making hormone? FOOD! Food is the fuel for our body to make hormones. Are we giving the right food to our body to be able to make enough hormones? Our diet is so wrong nowadays and we expect our body and brain to function well.
Change your diet one step at a time and eliminate things one by one. The first thing I cut from my diet was sugar and after only 2 weeks I felt like I was literally in heaven and I am not even exaggerating. Before changing my diet, it was like a constant war in my head with racing negative thoughts and a washing machine rolling in my stomach from anxiety and then suddenly everything stopped and it was complete silence and deep feeling of relief and freedom. This is how I can describe it. I am free now, I am happy, I have hope and looking forward to life. I got myself back and I got my life back thanks to my diet, Keto for a year and now 3 months Carnivore.
If you really care about yourself, please look into changing your diet.

[Hollowmoon]

I am sorry to hear that in the UK testosterone is not easily available for women. In the US, pellets seem to be gaining popularity. Many women end up on too high of a dose and stop the pellet. I started a low dose a couple of months ago and it has helped with so much!

[helenroscoe]

Amazing video ❤❤ im hoping to visit Newson health soon after being poorly for 10 years and two failed major believe it was perimenopause all along xx

[historianz]

Thank you for this video. I heard mentioned briefly 'flat effect'. I'm global Anhedonic. Been for 20 + years. (Self diagnosed) Just wondering if any reports of relief from Anhedonia in your patients please? I'm starting HRT soon and it it my final go at something. Thank you so much in advance. I'm in New Zealand.

[ankaviva]

I was 45 when my GP in Glasgow wanted me to take antidepressants, mainly to treat sleep issues. I refused to take them, but wasn't offered any alternative despite obvious symptoms of perimenopause. The interesting thing is, my otherwise very sympathetic GP was herself in her 50's and surely should have known better, but nope she did not. 2 years later, doctors in France wanted me to take anxiolytics. Again, I refused and started taking HRT instead. It's been a game changer. I've even lost the midline fat I accumulated in Glasgow 😂 Do I think most doctors are idiots everywhere? Hell yeah I do.