Today November 8, is national depression awareness day. In the U.S., one in six women will develop clinical depression in their lifetime. Approximately 15% of women between 40 and 60 years of age are affected by perimenopausal symptoms, which can include mood swings, irritability, weepiness, anxiety, and loneliness which can lead to major depression.

Depression during menopause is a serious issue.

The National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) reports that one in six American women will experience depression at some point in their lifetime. For most women, the symptoms associated with depression will not last long after they have gone through menopause. However, for some women, these symptoms can be severe enough to interfere with their daily activities and cause other physical health problems as well.

We’d never have to deal with the blues in a perfect world. But when you experience such feelings for more than two weeks, it’s time to talk about depression. Depression is a severe but treatable condition. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon, and many people suffer from it at some point in their lives—even menopausal women! If you think you might be experiencing symptoms of depression, here are some questions to ask yourself:

Do you suffer from depression that comes every month, peaks a few days before your period, and is gone a few days after?

If you do, then you may be experiencing premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). If you’re not sure if you have PMDD, see your doctor.

Menopause is not the same as depression. Menopause happens when women stop having menstrual periods because they’ve reached the end of their reproductive years. It’s a natural part of life and doesn’t require treatment or medication. Depression isn’t caused by menopause but is an illness that requires treatment — usually with therapy, cure, or both.

Why do I feel depressed? Depression is a complex illness. It can be caused by many things, including -Genetics — You may have a family history of depression or other mental illnesses.

-Life events — Traumatic or stressful life experiences can trigger depression.

-Brain chemistry — A lack of certain chemicals in your brain may cause depression.

Have you experienced severe mood swings or bouts of severe depression since turning 40?

If you have experienced severe mood swings or bouts of severe depression since turning 40, it’s important to talk with your doctor about these mood changes. Depression can be a serious but treatable condition. In addition, women are more likely than men to experience depression, and some research suggests that the effects of menopause may play a role in this increased risk.

Depression can lead to suicide – so it’s important to seek help if you’re feeling depressed and thinking about suicide. Depression is also linked to other psychiatric conditions like anxiety and substance abuse disorders; treatment for those conditions can help improve your symptoms of depression as well.

If you’re experiencing depression, it can be difficult to know what to do. If you’re feeling suicidal, contact a local crisis hotline or call 911.

Does your depression seem to be more intense than usual recently?

Depression is a mood disorder that can affect people of any age. You may have depression if you have feelings of sadness, guilt, or hopelessness for more than two weeks, and these feelings interfere with your ability to function. There are many possible causes of depression. These include:

A chemical imbalance in the brain

Stressful events in your life (such as the death of a loved one or divorce)

Physical illness (such as cancer or Alzheimer’s disease)

Medication side effects

Hormonal imbalances

Grief and loss of a loved one Childhood trauma (such as physical or sexual abuse)

The most common treatment is an antidepressant medication. In addition, therapy can help you identify the problems contributing to your depression and learn how to cope with them.

Do you feel depressed for no apparent reason?

Depression is a common condition that a variety of factors can trigger. Depression is not just an emotion; it’s a complex medical condition with biological, psychological, and social causes. Depression may be caused by brain, body, or gut imbalances. It can also be caused by external situations like stressful life events, changes in lifestyle (such as losing your job), relationship problems, or bereavement.

Depression is not the same as feeling sad. It’s a serious illness that affects your mood, thoughts, and behavior. Depression makes it harder to enjoy things and can make you feel tired, irritable, or anxious. You may also lose interest in things you used to enjoy.

Are there times when you feel depressed for no reason, but then again, the depression goes away for no apparent reason?

Yes, there are many times when women experience depression for no apparent reason. This is known as “reactive depression” and can be triggered by job loss, financial problems, or the death of a loved one. These depressions tend to be short-lived, and symptoms typically resolve within a few months.

A chemical imbalance may also cause depression in the brain that results from a physical problem with your body (for example, low levels of thyroid hormone), an injury to the brain, or a mental illness such as anxiety disorder or bipolar disorder. Depression caused by these conditions tends to last longer than reactive depressions and may result in more severe symptoms if left untreated.

Do you suddenly feel sad or depressed after feeling reasonably good?

If you feel sad and depressed for no apparent reason, or if your depression has been triggered by a stressful event such as the death of a loved one, financial problems, or relationship difficulties, this is likely to be an episode of reactive depression.

It is also possible that you may suffer from clinical depression – in other words, a chemical imbalance in the brain. In this case, the symptoms are usually more severe and last longer than reactive depression.

Some people are genetically predisposed to developing clinical depression; others may suffer from physical illnesses that can cause changes in brain chemistry, leading to mood swings.

Do you feel like crying or want to cry, but when you try to, you can’t?

You’re not alone. Many people experience this symptom during menopause. It’s called tearfulness, and it’s more common than you might think. If your tears don’t come easily, try some of these tips:

• Take a break from the world around you by listening to music that soothes your soul.
• Think about an event in the past that made you feel happy and joyful; it may be something as simple as your wedding day or another special occasion with loved ones.

Have you become disconnected from family and friends and withdrawn from social activities?

Depression can make you feel disconnected from your family and friends, which you need to be aware of. Depression makes it difficult for people to connect with others when they’re depressed, so it can be a sign that your depression is taking over in this area of your life.

Depression can also affect your ability to manage household finances or work responsibilities, like being able to get up on time each morning. If this starts happening more often than usual, it could mean an underlying cause for the lack of motivation in these areas (which could very well be depression).

Do feelings of low self-esteem and guilt prevent you from functioning normally in social situations?

If you answer yes to these questions, you may be suffering from depression. If your feelings of low self-esteem and guilt prevent you from functioning normally in social situations and also interfere with your ability to manage your home or work situation, cash flow, finances, and money matters, then yes, depression over menopause can cause this issue.

If other medical conditions, such as diabetes or thyroid disease, are present, diagnosing depression can be difficult because often, these illnesses can cause similar symptoms.

Also, taking medications such as birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy (HRT) may make it appear that a woman has symptoms related to menopause when they have something else going on that needs treatment.

Are your inadequacy interfering with your ability to manage your home, work, or money situations?”

Depression is a severe medical condition that can be treated. If you’re experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it’s important to tell your healthcare provider so they can help you manage your symptoms and get back on track with your life.

Here are some questions to ask yourself when considering depression:

• Do I feel sad or blue?
• Do my feelings interfere with my ability to manage my home, work, or money?
• Do I have trouble concentrating?

If you answer “yes” to these questions, talk with your doctor about how best to address them.

Depression is a serious but treatable condition.

Depression is a severe but treatable condition.

There are many different types of depression, and each can have varying symptoms. But one thing that often plagues those suffering from it is a sense of hopelessness about their future or the world. Depression can be brought on by negative life experiences like the death of a loved one or the end of a relationship, but it doesn’t have to be caused by something so dramatic—even everyday stressors like work or school can trigger feelings of sadness, loss, and helplessness for sufferers.

Depression can affect anyone at any time, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation —and because it affects so many people from all walks of life in different ways, its effects vary widely too: while some people deal primarily with physical symptoms (like lack of energy), others might experience anxiety instead; still others might find themselves unable to sleep well due to racing thoughts; some may suffer from intense periods where they feel nothing at all—these are just a few examples! So it’s important that we understand what depression looks like and why it happens, so we can help ourselves when we need support most.”

Conclusion

To sum up, there is a link between menopause and depression. If you are going through menopause or have been through it before, it’s important to know all the facts about this condition so that you can get help if needed. Menopause affects women differently depending on their age, hormonal balance, and lifestyle choices such as exercise or dieting. It’s important to talk with your doctor about these symptoms so they can recommend appropriate treatment options for helping manage them.

Would you like to know more about menopause? Click here to read an interesting book by Dr. Cabeca who shows us how to take charge of our health in midlife, using the power of food to start feeling better—and find optimal weight, improved mood and more energy along the way!

Do you have more questions about menopause? Get the facts by clicking here now!

I hope this article has helped you understand depression and menopause. Feel free to comment below, I would love to know your thoughts.

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