Most conversations about menopause focus on physical symptoms such as hot flashes and fatigue. Unless you’ve experienced menopause yourself, it can be easy to underestimate the toll it can take on your moods and emotions.
Most women who experience menopause have jobs or other responsibilities to take care of. It can be hard to find comprehensive treatment that makes sense for your life. A Virtual Partial Hospitalization Program (vPHP) allows you to receive a high level of care without having to go to a treatment center.
In this article, we’ll talk about how Virtual PHP can help you manage the impact of menopause on your moods and emotions without leaving home.
Understanding the connection between menopause and mood
The hormone fluctuations associated with menopause can directly cause mood swings. Women can also experience mood changes as an indirect result of other symptoms, such as hot flashes and trouble thinking clearly or focusing.
Changes in sleeping patterns, weight gain, decreases in energy, and other aspects of mental and physical health sometimes affect women’s lifestyle choices and habits during menopause. If you don’t exercise as much or your diet changes, this can affect your mental health.
These mental health symptoms are more common than you might think. During menopause, women are particularly likely to experience depression. It’s common to notice a reduced sex drive, but for some, the opposite happens.
Anxiety and irritability can also come as a result of significant changes. If menopause has you feeling like you’re not the same person you were just a few months or years ago, you’re not alone, and there are treatments that can help. Self-discovery (or rediscovery) is often a big part of mental health treatment for women experiencing menopause.
How Virtual PHP addresses menopausal mood challenges
Virtual PHP offers personalized treatment and emotional support in the comfort of your home. You’ll learn about what’s happening in your brain and body, as well as other mental health topics.
You’ll connect with other people who are going through similar challenges. You’ll also learn healthy coping skills. One of the benefits of Virtual PHP is that you can start applying what you’re working on right away.
At Lightfully, we see our clients as people first, not a diagnosis. Our licensed clinicians get to know each person so they can provide treatment that supports the life they want to live.
We use evidence-based modalities to help clients take a proactive approach to maintaining their mental health. We focus on four core life processes: your thoughts, feelings, behaviors and emotions. This unique approach is called Precision Care Model (PCM).
Your individual therapist will guide you through every step of the process. You’ll attend several group treatments every day, which adds a social aspect to your treatment. You can also invite loved ones to take part in family therapy sessions. This helps your family understand what you’re going through and learn about the most effective ways to support you. If medication is needed, you’ll also have sessions with a staff psychiatrist.
Practical benefits of receiving treatment from home during menopause
Virtual PHP makes treatment more accessible to people who live in rural areas and those who might have trouble commuting to treatment every day. You never have to leave your home, so if you’re worried about the stigma of going to treatment, vPHP is much more discreet. Many people simply prefer it because it saves time and allows them to do their treatment around their other responsibilities.
Receiving treatment at home allows you to manage the physical symptoms of menopause privately. If you’re having hot flashes or feeling tired, you can make yourself comfortable.
Virtual PHP also creates a more immersive treatment experience. There’s no divide between the work you do in treatment and your life at home. You can get support during real-life situations and build new routines and habits in the spaces where you’ll be using them most.
Find out if Virtual PHP can help you through the emotional impact of menopause
Each woman’s experience with menopause is unique. Caring for the mental and emotional impact on your life is just as important as caring for your physical health. Menopause brings enough changes to your life. Virtual PHP brings treatment to you for more flexibility and support in the comfort of your home.
At Lightfully, our licensed clinicians provide treatment that focuses on your present and your future. We take the time to listen and understand your concerns, and then we create a plan to work toward your goals together.
When you’re ready to transition out of Virtual PHP, you can continue treatment in our Virtual Intensive Outpatient Program (vIOP). It’s similar to vPHP, except treatment days are shorter, and you can taper down to fewer days each week.
Are you considering a Virtual PHP for yourself or a loved one who’s going through menopause? Let’s talk through your options. Contact us with questions or reach out to our Admissions Concierge Team if you’re ready for an assessment.
