Menopause and Depression
Perimenopause is the time leading to menopause when a woman’s body is gradually getting accustomed to the hormone and other physical changes which will occur as a result of menopause. There are several adverse symptoms associated with menopause, of which depression and anxiety are the most worrisome. These two symptoms together can cause a menopausal woman to react negatively to all the changes in her body and make the transition even more difficult. Menopause is generally a pretty upsetting time for women when they are not only fighting the unwelcome physical symptoms but are also mentally anxious and sad about the end of their reproductive years and the feeling of getting older. The hormonal changes associated with menopause when combined with all the stressful factors mentioned can lead to depression amongst women. If the feelings are strong they should be no means be considered normal or a part and parcel of menopause. Depression in all forms should be treated immediately as it can prove very harmful. It may help somewhat to remember that you are not alone in menopause and it is causing many other women to feel depressed also. Tell yourself "This too shall pass." What is Depression? Depression is an actual disease which can cause a person to feel very melancholy, sad and lonely for a fairly long period of time. Such negative feelings, if they last for more than two weeks are termed as depression. Menopause related depression is by no means some mental aberration; it is caused due to hormonal fluctuations in the brain. Serotonin in particular is a hormone which is responsible for the positive moods in human beings, during menopause the levels of serotonin go down thereby making menopausal women more susceptible to depression. See our page on this site about increasing your natural serotonin. Are there any Special Factors Which Make a Menopausal Woman More Susceptible to Depression? All women entering menopause are at a higher risk for depression, however the ones who have had some time to prepare their bodies for the transition are better off than those woman who have surgical menopause. The body has no time to adapt to the hormonal changes and the sudden dip in estrogen caused due to menopause can make depression a distinct possibility for such women. Women who have a history of suffering from depression even before menopause are more susceptible for menopausal depression. Heavy work or family stress can also trigger depression in menopausal women. How can Depression Caused by Menopause be Treated? Exercise: Some studies say that daily vigorous exercise is very effective in improving mood and it releases endorphins into the bloodstream which act as a natural mood improvement tonic. Estrogen therapy: The decline in estrogen hormone levels during menopause is the main reason for the negative mood swings of menopausal women. Estrogen therapy works by boosting the levels of estrogen in women thereby helping them in maintaining a happier frame of mind. Antidepressants: Antidepressants are a common way of treating depression. Most of the antidepressants function by increasing the serotonin hormone levels in the body. Serotonin is the feel good hormone of the body and a boost given to this hormone can be very effective in fighting depression. Psychotherapy: Talking to a trained physician or even a social worker about the problems can help immensely in improving the moods of a menopausal woman. An understanding family can also help women by sympathizing with her mood swings and reducing the house work stress for her. Women's Supplements: Some specialty supplements are formulated just for the purpose of helping women deal with PMS and menopause. One we often recommend to family and friends is Total Balance for Women which is very popular with women. If you are feeling blue due to menopause and depression please feel free to talk to other women about it on our menopause questions and answers page. Best wishes to you and we hope you are feeling better soon. The Editors |