Menopause and Depression

Feelings such as tension, anxiety, depression, listlessness, irritability, tearfulness and mood swings can occur at any age, but they rarely occur together or as frequently as they do during the menopause.

If you are experiencing several negative feelings simultaneously, it may be helpful to know that the menopause is the reason.

Women describe subtle sensations such as trembling, fluttering, unease and discomfort. More severe feelings of anxiety or panic can arise with little provocation. Tasks that you used to be able to tackle can leave you in total disarray.

Mood swings from elation to despondency are common. Your patience is easily exhausted. The future may look hopeless, your loss of self-esteem is precipitous and you may feel truly depressed. The transition from one epoch to another accompanied by hormonal changes and absence of oestrogen are the main causes of this emotional state.

These are possible predictors of depression during menopause:

• past or recent history of stressful events, such as divorce or bereavement
• surgically-induced menopause
• having negative expectations of menopause
• severe hot flushes or night sweats
• a family history of depressive illness
• "empty nest" syndrome.

Depression affects your body, your mood, your thoughts and severely interferes with normal life. As a woman, you are more likely to experience depression than a man is.

Check yourself by the online Menopause Depression Test

Depression decreases in women after the menopause, according to a study, carried out in 1997. It had been concluded that a large random sample of women over the age of 55 actually displayed lower levels of depression than men.

(Read more...)

Return from Menopause and Depression to Homepage

Return to Top