Menopause Mood Swings

Menopause and Depression
by Kenneth L. Meyer


One of the key signs regarding the onset of menopause are mood swings. In addition, we are learning that due to

the changes women (and Men as well) go through during the menopausal trek, depression is often a by product.


Let's make sure we recognize depression.

Depression is a mental health malady that can affect the way you eat and sleep, the way you feel about yourself,

and the way you think about everything. A depressive disorder is more than a passing bent. By all means it is not a sign of personal

feebleness, and it cannot be willed or wished away.

A depressive sickness involves the body, mood, and thoughts. People who are depressed cannot "snap out of it" and

get better. Without appropriate action, symptoms can last for months or years. Treatments such as antidepressant medications

and psychotherapy can reduce and sometimes terminate the symptoms of depression.

Here are some warning signs of depression:

Depression

* Persistent sad, anxious, or "empty" mood
* Feelings of hopelessness, pessimism
* Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness
* Loss of interest or pleasure in hobbies and activities that were once enjoyed, including sex
* Decreased energy, fatigue, being "slowed down"
* Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
* Insomnia, early morning awakening, or over sleeping
* Appetite and/or weight loss or overeating and weight gain
* Thoughts of death or suicide; suicide attempts
* Restlessness, irritability
* Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and

chronic pain

Putting Menopause and Depression Together


1. Menopausal Women Frequently Become Depressed

The drastic hormonal one-sideness that can occur in pre menopuse can create noticeable mood swings.

Many women are not conscious that it is the hormonial imbalance bringing about the mood swings so they won't present themselves

for a solution and the mood swings lead to depression.

The hormonal imbalance causes exaggerated mood swings which if left untreated will develop into depression. This is why

treatments like hormonal replacement therapy actually help in regulating mood swings and depression bouts.

2. No Previous History of Depression Is Needed or Found

Many, many times women who become depressed in pre-menopause had no previous history of depression.

We have quite a number of research studies on women who are going through the menopausal stage, with specific

emphasis on the cause and treatment of depression. It has been uncovered in most of the studies that women who had no

previous history of moodiness and/or depression develop this as they become pre-menopausal. This is further

aggravated by the fact that women themselves tend to dismiss the connection between the onset of menopause and

depression, and do not seek qualified help.

As a result of having no initial background of depression many pre-menopausal women and men will ignore the depression they are

going through and the business worsens because they are not considering the cause.

3. Quality of Life Suffers

Most of the time when a pre-menopausal women (or man) suffers symptoms and periods of depression it worsens and they can not

only develop mood swing symptoms and behavior but can suffer from acute migranes.

When all the symptoms and behaviors are put together it can strain most of the relationships pre-menopasal women

are in and radically worsen their quality of life. In addition, it becomes more difficult for those around the

women (or man!!)to understand and deal with the depression/menopausal behavior and many relaitonships end at this point.

4. Two Pronged Approach Can Help

Firstly, changing the pattern of eating in pre-menopause and menopause to one of more soy orientation can help to reduce the mood

swings and degree of depression...one more time, we are what we eat.

In the second place, hormone replacement therapy, when properly sustained, can also diminish the severity of depression and mood

swing symptoms.

By grasping that depression can be in some women an almost automatic result of being pre-menopausal, women can

find relief not only for some symptoms but family links can be enhanced during this time.

Depression really is one of the more dangerous maladys of out age.




Menopause and depression are affecting millions of Americans of both genders! Hope you enjoy this article regarding the rudiments of menopause and depression. Ken Meyer is a researcher, educator, internet publisher and marketer. Ken also has suffered with male menopause.