Menopause can be a challenging time for a woman handling the symptoms as her body transitions. Menopause can cause a woman to feel more vulnerable and susceptible to depression.
While minor mood changes are considered acceptable as menopausal symptoms, depression is never considered normal. It should always be evaluated and treated by your gynecologist. If symptoms persist, a mental health professional should be consulted.
The most common menopausal symptoms that can compound depression are fluctuating hormones, insomnia and hot flashes. These can contribute to mood disorders and depression.
Women that have a history of depression before menopause should consider being evaluated for depression early on. Women that have a history of depression around or after hormonal changes, like mood swings during triggered by their menstrual cycle or after childbirth, are more susceptible to depression during perimenopause and menopause.
Women that experience hormone fluctuation, hot flashes or insomnia are also more likely to experience depression.
Fluctuating hormones
As women move into menopause the ovaries start producing less estrogens and progesterone. The decrease in estrogens may cause mood changes because estrogens interact with chemicals in the brain that affect mood.
Hot flashes
Hot flashes are defined as an intense, sudden feeling of warmth usually radiating to the scalp, face, neck and chest. Hot flashes are an uncomfortable side effect of hormone imbalance. This is usually associated with changes in your estrogen levels or the ratio between the levels of estrogen and progesterone in your body.
Depending on the intensity of your hot flashes your ability to handle daily activities may be affected.
Insomnia
The hormonal changes which impact sleep the most are night sweats and hot flashes. However the lack of sleep can also cause irritability, tiredness, and an inability to tolerate stress. It can also result in frequent infections, an inability to lose weight, alterated appetite, and decreased productivity.
Your doctor can check your hormonal levels including your estrogens, progresterone and thyroid hormones. Imbalances in any of these could cause depressive thoughts. Hormone replacement therapies can help to balance these and restore mood.
If after working with your gynecologist to reduce your symptoms you're still experiencing mood swings and depression, ask to be referred to a mental health professional for a workup for depression.
Menopause is a normal part of a woman’s aging process. Depression is not.
If you are having symptoms that are interfering with your happiness and daily activities, make sure to talk to someone who can help you get a handle on them. It can make all the difference in the your life.
It has been my honor to help patients reduce hot flashes, get more sleep, and relieve mood disorders by adjusting their hormones, and improve their life.
Live Vibrantly,
Dr. Dae
Dr. Dae's website: www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's book: Daelicious! Recipes for Vibrant Living can be purchased @ www.healthydaes.com
Dr. Dae's Bio:
Dr. Daemon Jones is your diabetes reversal, hormones, metabolism and weight loss expert. Dr. Dae naturopathic doctor who treats patients all over the country using Skype and phone visits, visit her or schedule a free consultation at her website, www.HealthyDaes.org
Sources:
Menopause Guide (n.d.). Retrieved February 18, 2015, from
http://womensmentalhealth.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/04/menopause_guide.pdf
Hot flashes. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18, 2015, from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/hot-flashes/basics/definition/con-20034883.
Menopause. (n.d.). Retrieved February 18, 2015, from
http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/menopause/basics/symptoms/con-20019726
Reviewed February 19, 2015
by Michele Blacksberg RN
Edited by Jody Smith