Mood swings are a classic menopausal symptom and caused by fluctuating hormone levels, as your body tries to cope with peaks in oestrogen and dips in progesterone. They’re a scaled-up version of premenstrual syndrome [PMS].

However, if you find your mood plunging for no apparent reason from feeling good to a deep sense of despair or rage then here are five habits that could be making them worse.

😴 Not getting enough sleep and staying up too late binge-watching series on Net-flix. It’s no surprise that you’re feeling tired and cranky, you’re not giving your brain the opportunity to refresh and recover.

🍷 Using a glass of wine as a quick pick-me-up because you’re feeling stressed and low can make your bad moods worse, just adding to the problem.

☕🍰 Treating yourself to a coffee and piece of cake to boost your mood, when in fact the caffeine is making you feel wired and the sugar is sending your blood sugar haywire.

🏋🏻 Avoiding exercise because you're feeling too tired or moody can make things worse. Regular movement helps release endorphins, the “feel-good” hormones, which naturally lift your mood.

🍴 Skipping meals especially breakfast, can lead to blood sugar imbalances, which make mood swings more intense. When blood sugar drops, your body releases stress hormones like cortisol, leading to irritability and fatigue. Eating regular, balanced meals with protein and healthy fats helps stabilise blood sugar and keeps your mood steady.

If any of these sound like you, try changing one habit at a time and do let me know how you get on.