Menopause and Depression Should be Hand in Hand?
The great passage of a woman’s life is the menopause, which might be accompanied with depressive episodes. For many women the menopause can be a psychological, emotional an intellectual turning point as well as a physical one, but it does not have to mean a decline. Menopause and depression should not be hand in hand.
However, many of the bodily functions go through a definite change and the experience of getting older and youth fade away might cause depressive periods. But, the menopause is closely involved with gaining new insights, maturing, changing standards, choosing new lifestyles and developing new opinions and priorities.
As you can see depression and menopause are not strongly linked together, it is more a time of crisis. If, gone through this menopause crisis properly there is no worry about menopause depression. Moreover, it is a well-documented fact that women are more prone to depressive disorders than men, but a latest study shows that, as a group, a large random sample of women over the age of 55 actually displayed lower levels of depression than men.
Feelings
such as tension,
anxiety, depression, listlessness, irritability,
tearfulness and mood swings may 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 might be 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 (midlife crisis) accompanied by hormonal
changes and absence of oestrogen are the main causes of
menopause depression.
At this point I believe this rollercoaster of emotions like low self esteem, low energy, and the like are stemming from the ever changing play of neurotransmitters and hormones going on within my body and brain. Of course there never seems to be a way of measuring any of that and so I wait for things to settle back down and then I can feel some comfort again.Cam
Depression in menopause is generally a situational depression, associated with the dramatic unresolved change in life. It differs essentially from major depression.
Possible predictors of menopause and depression:
-
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.
Do
you have your own observations and experiences with depression and menopause?
Could you find anything which works for you?
Why not
share with fellow sufferers? Share your story about menopause and depression.
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