Peri Menopause Symptoms |
|||||||||
The symptoms of depression and menopause are very similar. These include sleep disorders, hot flashes, fatigue, anxiety, and irritability. Many women associate these symptoms with the changes that menopause brings, but they may be a sign of depression that needs to be understood and dealt with. There is no reason women need to suffer from depression during menopause. Women must accept these natural physical changes happening to their bodies during this time and work with their doctor to mitigate the symptoms associated with it, but it is also important that they realize that depression and menopause can be mutually exclusive (meaning one has nothing to do with the other) and both can be dealt with. Please be aware ... you can slip into a depression and not even be aware it is happening. It is not that you "talk yourself into it", but it is a state of mind not controlled by you but by changes in your body and around you, so never think "it is my fault I am depressed".\ As women approach menopause the menstrual cycles begin to change and become unpredictable. This unpredictability of their monthly cycle is a sign of erratic ovulation which causes unpredictable releases of the hormones estrogen and progesterone, leading to mood swings, forgetfulness, hot flashes and all the other symptoms associated with menopause. And depression. Most women going through menopause feel that they are losing control of their bodies when in fact it is just a natural reaction to the aging process. This feeling of loss can lead to symptoms of depression. As the symptoms of both menopause and depression worsen they start to feel that there is nothing they can do and a feeling of hopelessness falls over them. This feeling of hopelessness is a major part of depression. Untreated, depression is a major health risk. Researchers have found it is linked to an increased risk of heart disease and in some cases it can lead to bone deterioration increasing the likelihood of osteoporosis.
Treatment for depression and menopause can follow a two pronged approach. It is important to treat not only the depression with antidepressant medications and counseling but also to treat the symptoms of menopause as well. Menopause can be treated with hormone replacement therapy where synthetic forms of estrogen and progesterone are used to even out the hormone levels. All women approaching menopause need to be aware that depression can be a very real side affect of the changes that will happen to your body during the menopause. If you start to see the symptoms of depression, as described above, talk to your doctor about what treatment options may work best for you. You do not have to suffer depression.
|
More Peri Menopause Tips
Breast Cancer- Top ten things every woman should know
|
||||||||
