Is It Normal to Feel Hopeless During Menopause?
If you're asking yourself, “Is it normal to feel hopeless during menopause?”, you are not alone—and YES, it is common, though not something you should ignore or “just push through.”
The Science: Link Between Hormones and Mood
During perimenopause and menopause, levels of estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone fluctuate significantly. These hormonal changes impact not only your physical health but also brain chemistry, especially neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and GABA—all of which help regulate mood.
Estrogen, for instance, plays a key role in serotonin production and receptor sensitivity. When estrogen levels decline, serotonin can drop as well, which is associated with low mood, irritability, and in some cases, feelings of hopelessness or depression.
Mood Symptoms Are Medically Recognized
According to the North American Menopause Society (NAMS), women in the menopause transition are up to two to four times more likely to experience depressive symptoms than premenopausal women, even if they have no prior history of depression. The Mayo Clinic also lists depression, anxiety, and mood swings as common menopausal symptoms.
It’s not unusual for women to report:
Loss of motivation
Persistent sadness or hopelessness
Crying spells
Emotional numbness
Irrational anger or irritability
These are not signs of weakness—they are neurobiological, emotional, and behavioral responses to profound physiological change.
A 2023 meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials found that taking estrogen (alone or with progesterone/antidepressants) significantly reduced depressive symptoms compared to control groups. Researchers highlighted that stable estrogen levels—rather than higher doses—have the strongest mood benefit .
Latest Medical Evidence
A 2024, a Canadian clinic study involving 170 perimenopausal and early postmenopausal women found:
62% scored in the depression range at baseline
Menopause hormone therapy (MHT)—used alone or with antidepressants—led to significant mood improvement after 3–12 months
These findings align with current North American Menopause Society guidance: MHT is a proven option to ease hot flashes, sleep issues, and mood changes
Getting Help
A combined approach often works best:
mental health support
medical evaluation
MHT when appropriate
lifestyle changes
If you’re feeling overwhelmed and unsure of where or how to start, coaching can be the first step toward clarity and action.
In one free consultation call, we can:
Break down your biggest struggle—whether it’s mood, energy, or overwhelm—isolate one or two actionable steps.
Create a simple, practical plan so you’re not stuck in indecision.
For more in-depth support, my 3‑month support program offers:
Personalized daily/weekly routines
So you are not trying to figure it all out on your own
Hormone symptom tracking
To highlight conversation points for you and your physician
Accountability check-ins for motivation and consistency
So you can feel seen, heard, and understood
You Don’t Have to “Just Tough It Out”
It’s easy to dismiss feelings of hopelessness during menopause as “just aging.” But research shows these feelings are tied to neurological and hormonal shifts. You deserve practical tools, compassionate support, and a roadmap to get you beyond just coping.
In Summary
Yes, feeling hopeless during menopause can be a common experience—but it is not something you should accept as your new normal. The emotional effects of menopause are real, recognized in medical literature, and treatable. You deserve support that acknowledges the biological, emotional, and social dimensions of this life stage.
Start Here:
Download the free resource to better understand the symptoms of the menopause transitions and my free symptom tracker. These tools can help you get a clear picture of your physical and emotional symptoms and help you frame conversations with your primary care physician and coach.