Menopause is a time of significant change for women. While perimenopause prepares you for the changes you will experience, nothing can prepare you for the finality that comes with menopause. Many women are deeply saddened by their inability to carry children anymore and the many problematic effects of menopause can cause an incredible roller coaster of emotions. Sadness is something that menopausal women suffer in this roller coaster but sometimes it can lead to depression. There has been a proven link between menopause and depression by researchers who are trying to find ways to relieve the difficult symptoms that come with the change of life.
Menopause and Depression
Depression is a disease just like any cold virus or bacterial disease and should be thought of as such. In many cases a hormonal shift in the brain can cause an imbalance that leads to depression. The hormone serotonin regulates the moods and any imbalance in serotonin levels can lead to depression. Menopausal women suffer from feelings of sadness, hopelessness, physical pain and melancholy. If these symptoms last as long as two weeks, you may be suffering from depression. When dealing with menopause and depression, doctors like to control the symptoms as early as possible to alleviate suffering.
Theories About Menopause and Depression
It is believed that up to 15 percent of women experience menopause and depression, especially during the perimenopause stage. The actual causes of menopause related depression is unknown but everyone seems to have a theory about it. Some people believe the incredible stresses that take place in the body causes depression. This theory asserts that the daily pressures of life along with menopause lead to the imbalance that causes depression. Another theory simply blames the fluctuation of hormones in causing depression symptoms. The changing levels of hormones like androgen, estrogen and progesterone may cause depression just like they cause symptoms of PMS. Either theory or both may be true but the only thing that is certain is that women who suffer from menopause and depression need help.
At Risk
If you already have a history of mood disorders, have had episodes of depression, have had surgical menopause (as in having the uterus or ovaries removed) or have a family history of menopause and depression you are at higher risk. Women most at risk are those in the surgical depression category because the menopause is unexpected and the women are unprepared for the changes. Of these women, those at highest risk are smokers, those with young children and those who have a great deal of stress in their lives due to work or personal issues.
Treatments for Menopause and Depression
Depression is a disease that needs to be treated as soon as it is realized. Menopausal depression is easy to treat and the results are often seen relatively quickly. There are a number of treatments available for menopause and depression that can help improve the quality of your life and reduce the symptoms of depression. Some of the treatments include:
Antidepressants – there is a huge range of antidepressant medicine available for all forms of depression because millions of people suffer from depression. Depending on the level of your depression, you will be given a particular type and dosage of antidepressant.
Estrogen Therapy – you are given estrogen supplements to better regulate the hormone levels in the body. Most women who have had estrogen therapy report dramatic decreases in depression. It works best when coupled with an antidepressant.
Psychotherapy – also known as talk therapy, this treatment is usually done along with a medicine prescription. A mental health professional will guide you through the therapy to try to find the source of your depression while keeping a check on your depression symptom changes as you take the medication.
