Menopause affecting your mental health ? 10 ways to cope with the challenges.
Menopause does affect the mental health of women but there are ways to deal those challenges.
Menopause is the phase of a woman’s life when her menstrual period ends, and her ovaries stop producing estrogen which can cause depression. The major criterion for becoming menopausal is missing a period for 12 months in a row (in the absence of other clear factors).
A lady will no longer be able to conceive if this occurs. Menopause occurs most commonly between the ages of 45 and 55, with the average age of onset being 51.
Although they have a period now and then, many women mistakenly feel they are menopausal when they are actually in perimenopause. This is when your body goes through its natural menopause transition. It usually strikes in your 40s or just before menopause.
Depression during menopause. How and why does it occur?
Depression is a mood condition that affects how you feel, think, and handle day-to-day tasks by causing chronic feelings of melancholy or loss of interest. Major depression (clinical depression) and chronic depressive illness are the two most common types of depression.
Sadness, irritation, exhaustion, feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, and pessimism are common behavioral changes. Physical symptoms like changes in sleep, diet, bowel movements, and fatigue are all common symptoms of depression.
How are menopause and depression related?
Extreme changes in hormonal levels often lead to feelings of depression in women going through perimenopause or menopause, as many women will agree. Managing mood swings and other symptoms can feel quite overwhelming at times, whether it’s a new beginning of depressed symptoms or continually increasing symptoms from an existing condition.
Several of the symptoms associated with hormonal changes coincide with common depression symptoms and other menopausal symptoms. It shows that similar factors contribute to the difficulty in diagnosing perimenopausal or menopausal depression.
During perimenopause and menopause, symptoms such as sleeplessness, hot flashes, sleep disorders, and mood swings are frequent.
Depression has the following indications and symptoms:
- Sadness
- Anxiety
- Hopelessness
- Pessimism
- Feelings of worthlessness
- Fatigue or a lack of energy
- Irritability
- Loss of pleasure or interest in previously loved activities
- Sleeping problems or excessive sleep
- Weight loss or gain
- Concentration, memory, and decision-making difficulties
- Self-absorption
- Aches and pains, headaches, cramps, or stomach issues are some of the most common physical complaints.
- Social withdrawal
- Suicidal thoughts
What causes depression during menopause?
Depression symptoms that appear during perimenopause and menopause can be caused by several factors, including hormonal changes, existing depression vulnerabilities, and other stressors. Hormonal changes during other stages of a woman’s reproductive cycle, such as the postpartum period, are also linked to an increase in sadness and mood symptoms.
Emotional changes such as melancholy, anger, exhaustion, difficulty concentrating, and mood swings can occur when estrogen levels decline as you progress through perimenopause and into menopause. Menopause does not induce depression, however. Consult a mental health specialist if your symptoms are severe or affecting your life regularly.
How can you cope?
Depression symptoms associated with perimenopause or menopause frequently necessitate a holistic approach.
- Lifestyle changes, like many other depression or menopausal tips, can improve your quality of life significantly.
- Daily exercise
- Socializing with friends and family
- Meditation
- Mindfulness
- Engaging in activities that were pleasant before the onset of depressive episodes.
- reducing or eliminating alcohol and smoking.
- Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, lean protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
- Therapy
- Medication
These are just a few strategies to manage depression-related symptoms. If symptoms become difficult to manage, consult a mental health specialist immediately.
How can Therapy help in the successful treatment of menopausal depression?
Anxiety and stress, depression, low mood, hot flushes, night sweats, sleep issues, and exhaustion can all benefit from therapy.
Talk therapy can help women learn new coping skills and techniques for dealing with challenges. Therapy helps improve the physical symptoms of depression significantly by changing the cognitive framework and introducing new ways to embrace menopausal changes. A therapist or mental health specialist can help women deal better with everyday challenges like low mood, irritability, relationship troubles, and intimacy issues.
Need help? Talk to a licensed therapist here.