Menopause Symptom Depression

Depression is something that many women cannot detect or feel difficult to accept or share it. Generally, depression is a mental condition featuring a negative sense of failure, feelings of grief, and a dejected lack of activity. In this, a woman can become completely hopeless or might lose interest in activities that she used to enjoy previously. However, depression can also refer to a clinical mental disorder that differs from general feelings of sadness and despondency. Clinical depression is actually more severe and it is a critical mental illness lasting from over two weeks of tremendously low moods. It also influences the way a person feels, thinks, and does activities. In short, women suffering from clinical depression become suddenly incapable to live a normal life as they used to live.

In menopause, several women notice persistent or irregular low moods. As per the studies, during the 5-to-10-year period of perimenopause, women are four times more prone to depression as compared to those who are not in their perimenopausal stage. Statistics say that 30% of menopausal women complain of depression during menopause.

If you want to give a challenging fight to this uninvited symptom of menopause, you need to be thorough about what its types are, what its symptoms and risk factors are, and what the treatment options are. So, read on to know all about depression.
 

• Types of DepressionThere are many types of depression, but all most all require analysis of a doctor. In this article, you will come across those types that are more likely to occur in women during their menopause transition. These are listed below.
• Major Depression: This is where one experiences extreme feelings of sadness.
• Dysthymic Depression: This is not that severe type of depression, but lasts for many years.
• Adjustment Depression: This is related to the response of a person to a stressful event.
• Manic Depression or Bipolar Disorder: This refers to the brain disorder that results in strange mood shifts.
 
• Risk FactorsListed below are some risk factors of which a few can be managed or eradicated.
• History of Depression: If there is a record of depression in the past, a woman approaching a menopausal stage can get easily inclined towards it.
• Stress: Any work-related, menopausal, or personal stress can increase the chances of depression.
• Smoking/Quitting Cigarettes: In menopause, if a woman smokes or quits smoking, she is more likely to have depression. Quitting smoking is associated with the physical and emotional stress and so can result in depression.
• Previous Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) with Mood Symptoms:A woman who suffers from depression associated with her menstrual cycles is more prone to develop more depression symptoms.
• Surgical/Medical Menopause: A surgical menopause results in a sudden and great fall in estrogen level that is one of the causes of depression during menopause.
 
• Depression SymptomsDepression-related symptoms can be split into three groups namely, physical, emotional, and behavioral. If you are in depression, you are suffering from a minimum of five symptoms for at least two weeks and that one of them has to be continuous feeling of sadness or loss of interest. Some of the physical symptoms are fatigue, reduced energy, overeating, appetite loss, insomnia, and excessive sleeping. A few emotional symptoms are continuous sad or empty feelings, feelings of hopelessness, and suicide attempts. Some behavioral symptoms are difficulty in concentrating and neglecting responsibilities.
 
• Depression TreatmentFortunately, a lost hopeful state can be brought back via a myriad of treatment options. Starting with the least risky option, lifestyle changes have to be the first choice. To treat depression with these changes, do regular exercise, eat healthy, and practice meditation or yoga. If you can just take up some physical activity for half an hour - walking, jogging, and cycling; it would be very effective and would provide relief.
  
  Along with the lifestyle changes, try using some alternative medicines like herbs and other natural therapies like acupressure and aromatherapy. This will directly increase the amount of estrogen in the body.
  
  If your case is severe, then you need to go for drugs and surgeries of which the Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT) is popular.