Menopausal
women will kill for this
Menopause Depression
Women who are approaching the menopausal stage are at a higher risk for
depression, and two current studies show strong evidence that hormonal
changes may be at least partially to blame. Both studies followed women
through menopausal transition called perimenopause. Women in the studies
did not have history of depression but their risk of developing
indicators of depression significantly increased during these years.
Depression is a disease that due to biological factors such as hormones
in the brain, particularly serotonin, that regulate the mood. There are
times that levels of serotonin may drop causing fluctuations in mood and
severe episodes of depression. People who suffer from depression
experience intense feelings of hopelessness, melancholy, and sadness for
lingering periods of time, which is at least two weeks. This disease can
lead to range of symptoms and can have terrible effects on a persons
life including isolation, physical ailments, and even suicide.
Menopause can set off feelings of sadness and episodes of depression in
some women. It is said that anywhere between eight percent and fifteen
percent of menopausal women experience some for of depression. Menopause
depression causes are still on debate and has had theories and
assumptions of why so many menopausal women experience mood disorders.
One theory of menopause depression is that the stress of menopause
symptoms leads to depression. Some women find it hard to manage on their
own symptoms of menopause as they already have to deal with work,
family, finances, and friends, let alone the big physical change,
causing the onset of depression.
Another theory on menopause depression connects the illness with
irregular levels of hormones in the body. All through the menopausal
stage, levels of progesterone, estrogen, and androgen are continuously
changing. These hormones are believed to be associated with the mood
centers in the brain. As hormones drop, mainly estrogen, a woman
experience periods of sadness and hopelessness. A number of women
experience severe drop in mood which results to depression.
Women in the stage of menopause have an increased risk of developing
menopause depression if they have a history of mood disorders. Those who
have been depressed before, particularly during their twentys, are more
probable to see the depression reoccur. Those who have gone through
surgical menopause are also at a higher risk of menopause depression.
Surgery cause a significant drop in estrogen levels in addition to
increased anxiety and symptoms. Women smokers, or have young children,
or under a lot of stress, are more prone to develop some form of
depression during this time.
Seeking help immediately when experiencing menopause depression is very
much advised, there will be a number of alternatives available to help
reduce the symptoms and assist in letting women get enjoyment out of
life again.
Menopause depression diagnosed is the first step to begin
living a happy life after menopause.
Milos Pesic is a successful webmaster and owner of popular and
comprehensive Overcome Depression blog. For more articles and resources
on Depression related topics, visit his blog at:
http://overcome-depression.blogspot.com/
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