How do I deal with depression during menopause?
As ladies come to the midlife period and the menopause one of several different things to be aware of is depression. While menopause isn't thought to become a root cause of depression the two things can happen at the very same time. What's thought to be at a root cause of depression is modifications in estrogen levels which arise during the period of menopause. It's well known that many ladies are impacted by depression in fact over two times more than males and that a history within the family of depression can be factored into this too.
Can menopause affect your mental health?
The indicators of depression and those of menopause are extremely similar and include sleep disorders, anxiety, hot flashes, fatigue, and irritability. A great many women make a connection with these symptoms and with the changes which the menopause brings about, although they might be some indications of depression which then has be understood and also dealt with. There's absolutely no reason that women should have to go through a form of depression during the period of menopause.
It's essential they acknowledge the actual physical changes going on in the body during this particular time as well as working with their medical practitioner in an attempt to mitigate the symptoms of the menopause. However it's also essential that they recognise that menopause and depression is often mutually exclusive and each may be dealt with accordingly.
As ladies approach the time of the menopause, the menstrual cycle begins to change and can then become somewhat unpredictable. This unpredictability of the monthly cycle is a signal of erratic ovulation. Erratic ovulation leads to unforeseen releases of the hormones estrogen as well as progetserone which can bring about a triggering mood swings, forgetfulness, hot flashes and most of the other symptoms mentioned which are connected with the menopause.
Is depression a side effect of menopause?
Many ladies going through menopause experience the feeling that they're losing the power to command their bodies, when in fact it's only their natural response to the process of aging. This sensation of loss of control may actually result in symptoms of depression. As the signs of both depression and menopause worsen they can begin to really feel their is not a great deal they can do and then a sensation of hopelessness can begin to fall upon them. This sensation of hopelessness is a significant part of the depression and if it is left unattended could actually result in a more severe form of depression.
How do I deal with depression during menopause?
Untreated depression is a significant health risk. Researchers have discovered that depression is connected to a heightened risk of heart problems and in a number of cases it is able to result in bone deterioration which then boosts the likelihood of both broken bones and osteoporosis.
The treatment for menopause and depression is able to follow a two pronged approach. It's essential to treat not just the depression with antidepressant medicines as well as counselling but additionally very important to be treating the symptoms of menopause also. Menopause is usually addressed with hormone replacement therapy this is where artificial types of estrogen as well as progesterone are utilised to even out the woman's hormone levels.
Start taking Regular Exercise
Regular exercise has the power to alleviate stress and have a positive effect on your energy levels and state of mind. A good suggestion is to look to take half an hour of exercise a daily, resting at the weekends. If you are not used to exercise you could start with a brisk walk and build up as you see fit. Further activities to take up could be bike riding, swimming, or playing a sport like tennis, golf or badminton.
It is also vital to incorporate at least two sessions of muscle-strengthening activities within your weekly regimen. These could include activities like lifting weights or perhaps activities that make use of resistance bands. Another good option would be yoga but check with your doctor to figure out what will be suitable for you.
Menopause Depression Treatment
Be Sure to Receive Sufficient Sleep
A great many women going through the menopause suffer with sleeping issues. Make every attempt to keep to regular sleeping patterns. This can be achieved by going to bed at a particular time every night and then rising at the same time in the morning. Other useful tips include maintaining a level of darkness in the bedroom and in terms of the temperature make sure it is not too hot while you are sleeping.
Try out some Relaxation Methods
In order to help your body relax you could look to implement relaxation techniques such as meditation, tai chi or Yoga as mentioned previously. Other ways you could look to relax include lying on the bed listening to calming music and indulging in a body massage is a fantastic way to relax.
Estrogen Replacement Therapy
It is possible your medical praticioner could prescribe estrogen as a replacement therapy for you. This could be in the way of an oral pill or as an alternative a skin patch may be used. Medical research would seem to indicate that having a form of estrogen replacement therapy has the ability to alleviate symptoms of a physical and emotional nature associated with the menopause. It should be noted nevertheless that estrogen therapy has the potential for increasing the chance of breast cancer and also blood clots.
Using Antidepressant Drugs as Therapy
It could be that the use of hormone replacement therapy is not suitable for you and in this case your medical professional could choose to prescribe antidepressant drugs. These types of drugs may be utilized over a short period while you make some adjustment to the change in your life that the menopause brings about. However on occasion it could be that they are needed for a more extended time-frame.
Using Psychotherapy
For dealing with the menopause their are two kinds of psychotherapy which are generally suggested for tackling the associated condition depression. The first is Interpersonal treatment, this concentrates on understanding how changing human relationships could bring about, or perhaps relieve, depression.
The second type of therapy is Cognitive-behavioral therapy and this concentrates on locating and transforming any kind of pessimistic outlook and associated beliefs that come with the depression state. If it is used in it's own, the psychotherapy method typically performs in a more gradual way than that of the prescription of medicines. Nevertheless, it should be considered that the ensuing advantages could last longer. In most cases psychotherapy is generally mixed with some form of medication in chronic depression.
Conclusion
If perhaps you're a female approaching midlife along with menopause be mindful that depression could be a genuine side affect of the changes which will take place. Whenever begin to see the signs of depression it's better to talk to your doctor about exactly which treatment options might work the most beneficially for you.
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