Menopause marks a major physiological transition a woman’s body has to go through which ends the reproductive phase. While other menopausal symptoms like night sweats and hot flashes have clear physiological explanations, it is so much harder to explain mood swings, depression and anxiety that often accompany the transition.
Are You Insane?
Even experts are divided. Some find it disturbing that women who go through emotional extremes around menopause are being readily prescribed with anti-depressant drugs with little care about how these might affect their overall health and well-being in the long run. While some will prefer herbal supplements, a Profemin review will reveal that not all women experience the same benefits from these remedies.
Despite the lack of expert consensus about matters concerning depression during menopause, there are studies that claim to have already made the link, most especially connecting female hormones with a menopausal woman’s state of mind. Here are some of the explanations that have been presented:
- Female sex steroids, including estradiol, can directly affect risk for major depressive disorder (MDD) during menopause;Women who have a history of MDD are at a higher risk of experiencing the same during menopause. This is according to a study led by Drs. Anita Clayton and Philip Ninan published in 2010 in the Primary Care Companion Journal of Clinical Psychiatry.
- Women in perimenopausal stage are at a higher risk for deteriorating psychological states as a result of dealing with traumatic events experienced during this stage. This is based on a study conducted by Harvard in partnership with the Emory University in 2012.
- Women, 40 to 65 years old, are at a higher risk for experiencing depression which can be associated with cigarette smoking, personal life events including conditions of relationship with parter, and socioeconomic status. This is based on a study involving 1,280 women that was published in the Jundishaput Journal of Chronic Disease Care in 2015.
Is It Depression Or Do You Need To Pay More Attention?
Unfortunately, menopause and its symptoms also come at a time when women are going through life-changing events which may include retirement, grown up children moving out of the house, financial troubles, onset of diseases, and possibly separation from a long-time partner. These complicate the diagnosis of depression during menopause but also keeps expert opinions divided as to whether or not menopause does have a direct effect on a woman’s state of mind at this stage.
Before you even consider taking a medication for depression, perhaps you should see a Profemin review to become enlightened about how an all natural supplement can help you. Other than putting all of your eggs to bet on a pill, here are 5 other things that you can do:
- Help yourself. There is nobody else who can help you turn yourself into a fighter than yourself. You may need to rise above the challenge laid out before you to see the brighter side. You can only do that if you believe that you can and take baby steps to make everyday better than yesterday.
- Ask for help. Professional is good but, you might want to try talking to people in your closest circles first. Most of the time, you just need to vent out your troubles and that alone makes you feel better. Actress, Amanda Redman, once cited the importance of speaking freely about your menopausal troubles when she said, “How hideous for women of our mothers’ generation, because…it (menopause) was something they didn’t discuss. They must have felt so lonely and embarrassed all the time.”
- Connect and reconnect. You need to be part of something bigger than yourself. Feeling that you are a part of a group, community or clique helps make you feel important and wanted.
- Love yourself more. Stop criticizing your ever so bulging physique or your sagging cheeks. Laugh out loud even toward your own awkwardness. Morph into a healthier version of you. A healthier body simply means better moods.
Keep learning. Challenging yourself means that you are staying interested about life and living. There must be a skill that you’ve always wanted to learn or, some experience you’ve always wanted to try. Now is the best time to get on it and be excited about it.
Conclusion:
For so many women, menopause can be dreadful merely judging by the stories told by older women about the horrible experiences they’ve had during this stage.
Authors Bio:
Lisiana is a renowned independent researcher and is studying the impact of technology in the beauty industry. She is passionate about beauty, makeup, fashion, fitness, health and skincare industry. She holds a Ph.D. in beauty and has been writing on beauty and skin care related topics from past 10 years.
Photo by Sue Richards 