Menopause And Depression
A recent study indicates that the risk of depression can double while women are going through menopause.
Hormonal changes are often the cause and can cause menopause depression symptoms of sadness, fatigue, feelings of guilt, sleep disorders, changes in appetite and when left untreated may progress to a more serious state know as major depressive disorder. Here are a few facts about menopause and depression.
Women and Depression
Women are times more likely to develop depression than men. Depression can range from simple Dysthymia to a more severe condition of Major Depressive Disorder with suicidal ideation.
About Menopause
Menopause occurs when the ovaries cease production of the female hormones progesterone and estrogen. During this period women may experience menopause symptoms caused by depleted hormones, particularly estrogen including hot flashes, night sweats and vaginal dryness. Particularly troubling may be menopause symptoms related to depression including fatigue, insomnia, appetite disturbances and mental fogginess. These symptoms may be normal and subside over time but some women experience lagging depression including tiredness, unclear thinking and a lack of enjoyment in regular activities. Some of these symptoms can be explained by the hormonal lack that has occurred while others may be a normal effect of aging. Some women may experience more depression symptoms because they have not reconciled themselves to being old enough to achieve menopause.
About Perimenopause
Perimenopause is the period preceding depression when the ovaries start to slow down in hormone production. The ovaries begin slowing production of progesterone first and some of the particular symptoms of perimenopause are related to the drop in that hormone. Some women have no symptoms of perimenopause at all while others experience hormonally related acne, occasional hot flashes and menstrual irregularity. All of these symptoms can help to induce perimenopause depression. Women who are experiencing perimenopause may not be ready to face the changes of aging. Many women experience sadness at the thought of no longer being able to bear children in the natural process of aging while others are irritated at the physical symptoms which can cause fatigue.
About Treatment of Menopause and Depression
Menopause treatment traditionally involves hormone replacement therapy (HRT). Hormone replacement therapy may relieve some symptoms of menopause but there are risks associated with HRT including the possibility of increasing depression. Depression, itself can be medically treated with the use of prescription anti depressants such as Prozac, Zoloft, Lexapro, Celexa along with many others. These medications carry a number of side effects as well depending upon the type taken and may not address the true problems of menopause and depression. Many women choose a more natural, holistic approach including moderate exercise, improving nutrition and supplementation with herbal medications such as St. John’s Wort for depression and Wild Yam Extract for the symptoms of menopause.
Some women may have situational depression related to menopause. Situational depression is a temporary condition that is explained by the occurrence of a life event….such as entering menopause. If a women in menopause is experiencing depression, some counseling and kindness may be in order until she adjusts to “the change”.
