when hormones start to go haywire, spiking and dipping seemingly at random. During this time, women may experience physical changes like missed periods, sleep problems, and, yes, hot flashes. But some physicians don’t realize any more than their patients do that fluctuating estrogen puts women at risk for mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and even, according to some experts, schizophrenia.
Luckily, thanks to the dedicated efforts of a few scientists , experts have begun to make a clearer connection between erratic midlife hormones and serious psychological woes, but they still aren’t sure why these issues arise in the first place. Researchers suspect that dips in estrogen may cause disruptions in other hormones that can affect mental well-being, such as serotonin and dopamine, says Stephanie Faubion, M.D.
As for Amanda, she’s still on hormones and has returned to her old unstoppable ways. She and her husband are again hosting gatherings with friends. And she’s eagerly planning her next adventure: a trip to Morocco to ride camels and sandboard down the dunes.