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Menopause and Depression

Menopause and depression often go together. It is quite normal to feel the blues during this time. The emotional responses to this phase of life are complex; frustration with one's body, sadness that the child bearing years are over, resentment, impatience, and other strong emotions can all collide at one point in time.

On top of the emotional storm comes a horde of symptoms that can overwhelm even the strongest woman. When that happens, the blues can become a full blown depressive episode.

So What is This About?

Menopause can serve as the trigger that starts a depressive episode. Current statistics state that as many as 15% of menopausal women will experience a bout of depression during menopause.

Typically depression does not wait for the onset of menopause to make it's presence felt. It is most likely to strike in the phase leading up to menopause.

Male menopause is a lot more fun than female menopause. With female menopause you gain weight and get hot flashes. Male menopause - you get to date young girls and drive motorcycles.

- Rita Rudner

Research has shown no clear reason for depression to be triggered by menopause. There are two main schools of thought regarding this:

One is that the stress of both emotional turmoil and physical change leads to depression. Menopause may be the proverbial straw that breaks the camel's back. Having to juggle family, career, friends, finances and other stressors are enough by themselves. Adding menopause to the mix leads to menopause and depression.

The other school of thought is that menopause and depression are linked through fluctuating hormone levels. During this time estrogen, progesterone, and androgen are fluctuating wildly. These hormones affect the mood centers in the brain. When hormone levels drop, especially estrogen, your mood can drop into feelings of sadness and hopelessness. If this drop is drastic enough - depression results.

Indicators of Menopause and Depression

The likelihood of having menopause and depression is increased if you have a history of depressive episodes and other mood disorders. Women who suffered depression during their young adult years are especially likely to see a recurrence of depression during menopause.

A hysterectomy (surgical menopause) can also trigger menopausal depression. Surgery causes an instantaneous drop in hormone levels as well as increasing anxiety and stress levels.

Smoking, heavy drinking (alcohol is a depressant), unhealthy lifestyle choice all contribute and add to the risk of menopause and depression.

Treatments for Menopause and Depression

Depression is a serious condition. There are treatment options available and depression should be treated. While depression and menopause are two distinct conditions, treating the symptoms of menopause may alleviate depression.

Hormone Therapy. Hormone therapy is a relatively new method of treating depression in menopausal women. This therapy is based on the idea that it is hormones that are causing the depression to begin with. Estrogen supplements can boost your mood significantly. Studies are showing that as many as 80% of women who have menopause and depression respond positively to oral doses of estrogen.

Antidepressants. A variety of antidepressants are available as cures for depression. These carry their own risks and women should be wise before assuming that medication should be the first or only resort for treating menopause and depression.

Psychotherapy. Talking to a counselor can be an effective way of dealing with the issues surrounding menopause and depression. These professionals can help you change negative thinking to positive and recommend other resources to help you overcome depressive feelings and behaviours.

Alternative Treatments for Menopause and Depression

If you have decided to investigate alternative treatments for menopause and depression you owe it to yourself to investigate a new breakthrough technology. The technology is brainwave entrainment. When it is combined with affirmations designed specifically to address the conditions that exist in the mind and the brain, you have an extremely powerful means of combating and attacking anxiety and depression. The amazing thing about this technology is that as more studies are done it is proving to make an almost permanent change in the brain. Depression can become a thing of the past. You can look forward to a future without depression and it's ugly symptoms.

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