Navigating Menopausal Rage: Causes, Coping, and Reclaiming Control

The Menopausal Rage: Recognizing the Storm

People often feel rage during menopause.

It’s something we all recognise, but why does it happen?

There are direct and indirect causes.

Direct Causes: Hormonal Fluctuations and Sensitivity

The direct causes parallel PMS – in other words, fluctuating oestrogen and progesterone levels have an impact on our nervous system, making us irritable, emotional & unsettled. For those with hormone sensitivity (such as PMDD), this can feel very intense and frightening. Some women even feel suicidal.

Indirect Causes: The Multi-Faceted Menopausal Experience

The indirect causes come about from the general (excuse our French) shitshow of other symptoms affecting our well-being and confidence.

Poor sleep, hot flushes, night sweats, joint pains. Heavy or painful periods. Palpitations, anxiety, and a fight-or-flight nervous system on a hair trigger due to the chaos of our hormonal balance.

The Weight of Societal Pressures and Ageism

And finally, there are the “micro-aggressions” coming at us in all directions in culture and society. Ageing is not something we give status to in the West. Women are often made to feel we don’t measure up from a young age – and this steps up as we age and find few positive images of women like us reflected back at us in media, films, or even on the walls of clothes stores and hair salons.

Balancing Act: Juggling Roles and Responsibilities

We’re also often chasing our tails trying to balance the sheer number of people relying on us: children, ageing relatives, work mates. Friends with relationship drama, partners, neighbours. Sometimes it feels like the whole world is held up by the quiet efforts of middle-aged women. And that’s only speaking about the middle-aged ones – if your menopause has turned up as a result of cancer, surgery or endometriosis, then you have a heap more trauma and stress on you too.

Rage and Resilience: Breaking Free from the Corner

In short – menopause and rage often go together because we struggle to be allowed to make space for having our bad days. We keep trying to give an A game even when we feel like we are utterly depleted.

If this is you: we suggest leading from the front. Make time for headspace and self-care. Sort out the biology (HRT or non-HRT – whatever feels right), and delegate wherever you can. Rage exists when we feel pushed into a corner and unable to say what we need and do what we feel. Find your voice. Take up your space.

And know we have your back.