Symptom guide

Low mood and anxiety

Low mood, irritability and anxiety are common menopause symptoms linked to fluctuating hormones and often worsened by poor sleep. The NHS points to exercise, good sleep and staying connected, while NICE notes that HRT can help menopause-related low mood for some women and that cognitive behavioural therapy can help mood and anxiety. These are GP conversations, not problems to manage alone with supplements. This is information, not medical advice.

What it looks like

The NHS lists changes in mood, low mood, anxiety and irritability among the common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. They are linked to hormones fluctuating and are often made worse by other symptoms, particularly disrupted sleep and hot flushes. For some women this shows up as feeling flat or tearful, for others as a shorter fuse or a level of anxiety that feels out of character. These changes are real and deserve to be taken seriously rather than brushed off as just stress.

What the evidence says helps

The NHS points to steps that support mood generally: regular physical activity, protecting sleep, staying connected with other people, and managing stress where you can. Because poor sleep and mood feed each other, improving sleep often helps both.

NICE guidance (NG23) notes that hormone replacement therapy can help with low mood that arises as part of menopause for some women, and that cognitive behavioural therapy can help with low mood and anxiety; these points sit in the NG23 recommendations on managing menopausal symptoms (nice.org.uk/guidance/ng23/chapter/Recommendations). Importantly, the same guidance advises that antidepressants should not be offered as a first-line treatment for low mood arising solely from menopause unless there is also a diagnosis of depression. That distinction is exactly why this is a GP conversation: the right support depends on what is actually driving the symptoms.

Where supplements fit

There is no supplement authorised to claim it treats menopausal mood symptoms or anxiety. Some nutrients carry general EFSA roles in normal psychological function, but a general role is not a treatment, and reaching for a product risks delaying support that would actually help. For mood and anxiety that affect your life, the evidence points firmly to talking therapies and options discussed with a GP.

When to see your GP

See your GP if low mood or anxiety is affecting your daily life, relationships or work, or if it has lasted more than a couple of weeks. Seek help straight away at any time if you have thoughts of harming yourself. The NHS and NICE both encourage seeking help rather than struggling on, and a GP can tell menopause-related mood changes apart from depression and arrange the right support.

Sources

Frequently asked questions

Can menopause cause anxiety and low mood?

Yes. The NHS lists changes in mood, low mood, anxiety and irritability among the common symptoms of perimenopause and menopause. They are linked to fluctuating hormones and are often made worse by poor sleep and other symptoms. They are real and worth taking seriously rather than dismissing.

What helps mood changes in menopause?

The NHS points to regular exercise, good sleep, staying connected with others and steps to manage stress. NICE guidance notes that HRT can help with low mood related to menopause for some women, and that cognitive behavioural therapy can help with low mood and anxiety. Antidepressants are not a first-line treatment for low mood arising purely from menopause unless there is also a diagnosis of depression, which is a GP decision.

Do supplements help with menopausal mood and anxiety?

There is no supplement authorised to claim it treats menopausal mood symptoms or anxiety. Some nutrients have general roles in normal psychological function, but that is not the same as a treatment. For mood and anxiety that affect your life, the evidence points to talking therapies and options discussed with a GP rather than supplements.

When should I see my GP about my mood?

See your GP if low mood or anxiety is affecting your daily life, relationships or work, if it has lasted more than a couple of weeks, or at any time if you have thoughts of harming yourself. The NHS and NICE both encourage seeking help. A GP can distinguish menopause-related mood changes from depression and discuss the right support.

This is information, not medical advice, and is not a substitute for a registered clinician. If low mood or anxiety is affecting your life, speak to your GP. If you are in crisis or have thoughts of harming yourself, contact your GP, NHS 111, or Samaritans on 116 123. Return to the menopause symptoms hub.

OM

Oliver Mackman

Editor, Her Vitals

Oliver leads Her Vitals's editorial coverage of women's life-stage health and supplements. He curates and reviews existing branded products across trying to conceive, pregnancy, postnatal, perimenopause, menopause and the senior years, weighing what the evidence supports against guidance from bodies such as EFSA, the NHS and NICE, and is clear that the content is information rather than medical advice.

Last reviewed: 23 June 2026