Depression menopause natural remedies

Many women experience depression during menopause. It is sometimes a natural reaction to the emotional rollercoaster caused by a combination of frustrating physical symptoms, sadness at the realization you can no longer carry children, and the hurly burly caused by the changing hormones affecting your mood. Despite this, being aware of the changes taking place in your body during menopause can be a great help in overcoming its symptoms. Read over the following paragraphs for more information about depression in menopause.

What is depression in menopause?

Depression is a disease caused by both environmental and biological factors. Women going through menopause are particularly susceptible to depression because it is hormones in the brain (serotonin in particular) that regulate mood. During menopause hormones fluctuate, causing serotonin to drop and therefore precipitating episodes of depression. Characterized by sadness, depression for long durations can lead to a variety of physical ailments along with thoughts of suicide.

What causes depression during menopause?

Menopause is thought to trigger episodes of depression in between eight and 15% of women. It is most likely to occur in the phase of perimenopause, the stage preceding the total end of the menstrual cycle in menopause.

Depression during menopause can sometimes be a downward spiral because it is many of the physical symptoms that cause the psychological stresses in the first place. The sheer difficulty in dealing with hot flashes, night sweats, aches and pains etc. can be exhausting enough on its own. The stress of dealing with these symptoms and the change of lifestyle that accompanies it can be sufficient to cause depression.

Depression is also caused by fluctuating hormones in the body. During menopause the body´s levels of hormones are constantly changing – affecting the mood centers in the brain. If estrogen drops, many women experience feelings of sadness and hopelessness.

How can I deal with depression in menopause?

There are many ways you can ease menopause symptoms and maintain your physical and mental health. Here are some tips to cope with mood swings, anxiety, and depression:

• Find a relaxing skill to practice (i.e. yoga, meditation, or slow, deep breathing).
• Find a creative outlet or hobby that helps develop a sense of achievement.
• Always stay close (emotionally) with your family and community.
• Seek emotional support from friends, family members, or a professional psychologist if needed.
• Take steps to stay cool during hot flashes and night sweats.
• Take medicines, vitamins, and minerals as prescribed by your doctor.

In addition to these tips it is also necessary to eat healthily and maintain a vigorous exercise routine. Cliché though it may be, a healthy body really does help a make a healthy mind. There are also several alternative medicine treatments that act as hormone regulators and stop the worst excesses of hormonal mood swings.

Click on the following link for more specific information about treating depression in menopause.

Read more about Depression  

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