Depression and Menopause

One of the most debilitating symptoms of perimenopause, or the state preceding menopause, is depression. Most women can prepare for the myriad of side effects and symptoms they suffer from as they enter the next phase of their life, but how can one face the big black cloud or the sinking blue mire of depression? Or how do you know if this depression is more than the simple malaise you normally experience on rainy days or Mondays?

Whether your depression is brought on by the circumstances in life or the chemicals affecting the neurotransmitters in your brain, you can manage and conquer depression caused by Menopause.

The Symptoms of Depression
Symptoms of depression can range from physical signs to obvious emotional feelings. Many woman suffering from depression suffer from cognitive problems including poor concentration and memory loss; while others find that their bodies require more or less food or sleep. Emotional symptoms may include increased anger as well as feelings of malaise and hopelessness.

If you find that you’re suffering from any of the symptoms of depression, you need to see a doctor. Depression is a serious illness, and it warrants medical attention just like any other serious illness.

While we all suffer from some of these symptoms at sometime, and even a few of them at one time, a cause for concern should arise when two weeks have passed without a change in the pattern of these symptoms. Other symptoms not usually present but sometimes occurring can include; bodily aches without cause, a change in weight and an excessive amount of sleep.

Treatments for Typical Depression
More often than not depression can resolve itself with a commitment to clearing up the problem, therapeutic counseling and in some cases anti-depressants. One of the factors needed for success in treatment is an early diagnosis. Allowing depression to gain a foothold and withholding treatment can contribute to a more entrenched problem and a prolonged resolution.

Depression and The Menopausal Woman
Once depression has been identified as a symptom of perimenopause it’s important for a woman to immediately seek to resolve the issue quickly. Whether by therapy, medication or alternative medicines, a quick resolution

will help conserve strength and energy for Menopausal Management of other symptoms. The danger with depression during menopause is that it can affect the management of the other symptoms, often causing them to be neglected due to lack of personal ability or desire to improve the health and well being of the sufferer.

One of the first steps should be to get a complete physical examination and discuss with your Primary HealthCare provider the symptoms and effects of the depression you are suffering from. Once that is accomplished the two of you can then decide on a course of treatment.

Treating Depression

Therapy
Talking with a trained professional can provide for a wonderful amount of relief from depression. The two most effective forms of depression fighting therapy are Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Interpersonal Therapy. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy removes negatives thoughts and behaviors and develops attitudes and patterns for a more positive outlook. Interpersonal Therapy helps teach better communication skills allowing for a reduced amount of stress in the subjects daily life.

The Holistic Approach
The use of natural, herbal and dietary remedies towards the treatment of depression has gained an increasing amount of popularity in recent years. St. John’s Wort has been found to be one of the best herbal remedies to treating mild depression but should not be taken in conjunction with other anti-depressants. A wide variety of herbal supplements are available but all should be taken with the same care one would take prescribed medication.

Medication
Usually a healthcare provider such as a doctor or psychiatrist will prescribe the appropriate medication. Be sure to do all the available research on the medication and take personal responsibility for its usage.

The Lifestyle Approach
A well lived life is one that is lived well. Are you getting enough sleep? How about stress? What are you eating? These questions and many more need to be addressed when attempting to root out depression. Too often a simple daily tasks, such as eating, sleeping or communicating with others has broken down or is suffering from some sort of problem, and thusly affecting the menopausal woman, engendering her with a propensity towards depression.

Step back look at your life. Find your joy and do those activities associated with it. Make sure to get just enough sleep, but not too much. Spend time with close friends, loved ones and a support group. Merely having someone who understands you, can make the world a much more well-lit place.

Eating right is an often neglected factor in managing depression. Reducing the false friends of alcohol, caffeine, chocolate and nicotine will help. Try incorporating more calcium and B Vitamins in your diet. And don’t be so hard on yourself. You are not a bad person. Analyze your problems but don’t ruminate on them, dwelling over issues for days on end. Ask yourself, where is this leading and how does it and will it affect me. Find out what you’re spending the majority of your time thinking about or doing and then decide if its worth it.

In closing, depression is a land every one of us will cross through. Some stay and others move along quickly, but make no doubt about it, every person you will meet today has or will suffer from it. Some are even suffering right now. By taking the time to treat the root cause of the depression you will find that the black curtain that has descended about your life will be removed, thus allowing you more opportunity to enjoy your life.

Keeping a journal on a daily basis will help you to articulate some thoughts and feeling that might just need to be processed quickly rather than festering inside you. Having a group of friends, a mentor, a support group and activities that you enjoy will also negate the bad side effects depression causes. You have the choice to manage your depression and only you know the extent to which it is truly affecting your life. If you take the time to examine this you will find that you truly do not wish to carry this awful weight with you wherever you go and by embarking on a course of therapeutic removal of the depression you will find that you experience and enjoy life much more fully. Don’t let depression waste another day of your life.

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