Author: Maria Alfano
By now you have researched all the symptoms imaginable, but did you know about menopause depression?
Your hormones are all over the place and that is giving your mental health a run for its money.
Are you feeling sluggish, not quite like yourself, or do you seem to cry at the drop of a hat? These could be symptoms of menopause depression.
What is Menopause
The “change” as it is often referred to, looks like this:
- 3 stages of menopause – perimenopause, menopause, post-menopause
- After 1 year of no period, a woman has entered into menopause
- These stages result from a depletion of female hormones needed during reproduction years
What Is Depression
Depression can result from one of these factors:
- History of depression in the family
- Certain medications
- Illnesses or health issues
- Personality disorders
While menopause itself is not a “health issue”, it does create a change in your health that could lead to menopause depression. Many women experience periods of up to 2 weeks at a time where they feel a deep sadness that takes over.
The frequency of these depressive episodes is dependent on the individual.
Some ladies say the symptoms go away once they are in the post-menopause phase. Others feel despondent for a much longer period of time.
Menopause Depression Symptoms
There are many symptoms that could indicate you are experiencing depression. If any of these below connect with you, then contact your primary caregiver right away. Your mental health is as important as your physical health!!
- Irritability or aggression for no reason
- Overwhelming sadness
- Fatigue that does not go away no matter how much or how well you sleep
- Feeling worthless or hopeless
- No longer enjoy your favorite activities
- Change in sleeping pattern (not enough sleep or sleep too much)
- Hard to remember things
- Change in eating habits (eat too much or not enough)
- Withdrawl from family and friends
- Aches and pains
- Self-loathing
- Thoughts of ending things
How To Deal With Depression During Menopause
There are a variety of ways to deal with depression caused by menopause. Some are so simple that you wish you would have thought of them sooner. Others…well you’ll see.
- Anti-depressants prescribed by your doctor.
- Psychotherapy is really helpful to have an unbiased third party listen to you in a non-judgemental way.
- HRT, hormone replacement therapy, could ease your symptoms by increasing your depleting estrogen and progesterone
- Reduce caffeine and cigarettes to help with your sleeping patterns
- Eat healthy whole foods (not processed) or dark chocolate.
- Excercise. I know this is not fun for many of you, but even just going for a walk around the block a couple of times a week is awesome.
- Yoga, Tai Chi, or meditation is useful to calm you down and help improve your sleep.
- Hypnosis. Say what! Yes, this can help to rewire your thoughts and get your mood swings back in order.
- Self-talk is an important way to tell yourself every day that you are a good and worthy person
- A gratitude journal is great to remind you of all the goods things in your life. Get yours on Amazon, today.
Should You Take Antidepressants For Menopause
Antidepressants are not the first thing to go to for menopause relief. There currently is no scientific evidence that these drugs will help with your menopause symptoms. If prescribed by your physician, however, then you should follow their instructions.
If at any point you have a feeling of wanting to put an end to the misery, consider reaching out to some of the places online.
Do you feel better after menopause?
Generally speaking, once all the hormones have finished their nosedive and the monthly cycle has stopped for 12 consecutive months, most women claim to feel much better in the post-menopause stage of their lives.
They are no longer dealing with the hot flashes, the irritability, the cramps, or the fluctuating emotions. At this point, they have reached the summit and feel a sense of relief.
In Summary
Menopause depression is very real. Get to know the symptoms so you too can understand why you are feeling so bad. Knowing is only half the challenge, the other half is being brave enough to do something about it. Baby boomers, especially, were taught to keep those feelings buried inside. That’s no quality of life. There is no shame in seeking help.
We would love to hear from you. Is there a tip or trick you could share on how to remove menopause depression from your life?
Other Posts You Might Enjoy:
- 12 Unusual Menopause Symptoms They Never Told You About
- 10 Peri-menopause Herbal Teas That Are The Best For Your Symptoms