Mental health is our emotional, psychological and social wellbeing. It’s influenced by things like relationships, finances, work, and physical health. It affects how we think, feel, act, manage stress and interact with others. Good mental health helps us enjoy life and cope with challenges.
Hormone changes can affect your mood. You might experience this before or during your period, during pregnancy, perimenopause and menopause. Generally these feelings can be managed with self-care, and will pass as your hormones shift. Understanding your menstrual cycle will help you notice any unusual changes.
It’s more common for women and girls to experience anxiety, and for this to affect relationships with food or body image. Learning to manage strong or confusing feelings is crucial for overall health and wellbeing.
Neurodiversity
Neurodiversity is not a mental health condition and neurodivergent people do not always experience difficult mental health symptoms but may experience challenges that increase stress, anxiety or depression.
Many more girls and young women than previously thought experience neurodiverse conditions like ADHD and autism. Mental health challenges like mood fluctuations, intense emotions, difficulties relating to other people, or concentrating for long periods can come along with these conditions.
Periods and mental health
It is normal to feel low, agitated and/or irritated before your period. It’s estimated that as many as 30% of people who have periods can experience moderate to severe pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS).
PMS can be unpleasant, but symptoms affecting your mood should only last a few days. More information about PMS.
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a very severe form of PMS. It not only impacts on your physical health but also can cause depression, suicidal feelings and anxiety.
Pregnancy and mental health
Pregnancy involves physical changes which can affect your mood. Most mild changes can often be managed with a healthy lifestyle and by talking about your experiences.
Some people may experience an improvement in their mental health while others may experience mental health challenges during or after pregnancy, particularly if you have had a mental health condition in the past, or have a current mental health condition.
Pregnancy can also be a frightening or emotional time for people who have experienced previous losses, either through death, or by their children being taken into care.
Experiencing very low moods, hearing voices, seeing things that are not there, or having thoughts of suicide or of harming yourself or your baby are symptoms of more serious mental health issues and require immediate professional help.
In the first few days after giving birth, hormonal levels and lack of sleep can cause feelings of low mood. Generally, this will pass in a week or two, but it is not normal for a very low mood to continue for a long time.
Menopause and mental health
Some mental health symptoms, like occasional low moods, mild anxiety, brain fog and forgetfulness, are a normal part of the menopause, and can be very mild. Depression, regular anxiety, suicidal thoughts and psychosis are more serious, and you should talk to your doctor if mental health symptoms are having a negative impact on your life.
Symptoms can last for months or years and can change with time. Getting advice early can help reduce the impact perimenopause and menopause have on your mental health, relationships and work.
If you already live with a mental health problem, you may find the menopause affects it. Symptoms may get worse or become harder to manage, or medications may be less effective than before. Talk to your doctor if you are unsure.
Eating disorders
An eating disorder is when unhealthy attitudes towards food lead to someone becoming ill, often focusing on food and body weight and shape so much that it interferes with their daily life. This can involve food restriction, episodes of overeating and attempts to avoid weight gain through vomiting or excessive exercise.
While anyone can get an eating disorder, it primarily affects teenagers and young adults, with girls being more commonly affected. With treatment, most people can recover from an eating disorder.
Support in Dorset
If you are struggling with an eating-related problem which is affecting your health, you can access the Dorset eating disorders service by talking to your doctor. They provide several evidence-based treatments including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), family therapy, motivational interviewing and interpersonal therapy, as well as body image and self-esteem therapies.
Self-harm
Self-harm is when somebody intentionally damages or injures their body. It’s usually a way of coping with or expressing overwhelming emotional distress. Young women and girls hurt themselves in different ways to boys.
Support is available for anybody who self-harms or thinks about self-harm, as well as their friends and family. Talk to your doctor if you are worried about self-harm or refer yourself to Steps2Wellbeing.
Personality disorders
Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and anti-social personality disorder (ASPD) are disorders that make your emotions feel difficult to cope with and can affect your relationships with other people. Women are more likely to be diagnosed with BPD. ASPD can range in severity, and women often show different symptoms to men. Both conditions are commonly experienced alongside other mental health conditions, such as generalised anxiety disorders, eating disorders and self-harm. It is important to receive advice and support to live well with BDP or ASPD.
The Intensive Psychological Therapies Service in Dorset provides specialist therapy for people with complex trauma and longstanding interpersonal difficulties, including post-traumatic stress disorder and personality disorders. You will need a referral from a community mental health team to use this service.
Dementia
Dementia is a progressive neurological disease of the brain; it is not a normal part of ageing. Of the people living with dementia in the UK, 65% are women.
