As women begin to age, there are certain negative side effects they may experience in correlation with their experience of menopause. This time of life is a big transition, your body is going through a number of changes related to the hormones it produces, and these changes can impact your quality of life by throwing certain curve balls your way.
One side effect commonly experienced by women during menopause is a drastic change in their overall mood and outlook on life. While much debate still exists over why women experience depression during this time, the general belief is that the gradual drop in estrogen during the perimenopausal phase, or the transition into menopause, is responsible for a notable change in mood. If you are entering into this new season of life, there is no reason to suffer, keep an eye out for specific symptoms of depression so you can address this symptom with medical intervention and improve your overall quality of life.
The Symptoms of Depression
Depression presents itself in a wide variety of ways depending on the circumstances and experiences of the individual in question. In general, depression can be characterized by two or more weeks of feeling generally sad or hopeless about your life or about the future. These feelings may make it difficult for you to sleep, or you may sleep more than normal and struggle to get out of bed to address the tasks of your day to day life.
Additionally, individuals experiencing depression may feel especially irritated, lose interest in their hobbies or normal activities and may notice extreme changes to their weight. Due to the fatigue and energy loss the often accompanies depression, you may find it difficult to care for yourself or complete your work.
Treating Depression in Women
If you are a woman who is nearing menopause or already experiencing menopause and you are experiencing symptoms of depression, there are many options for treating your mood and improving how you feel each day. There is no reason to continuing suffering, as soon as you notice the symptoms above you can visit with a doctor and create a plan for treating your depression.
In general, we believe that an antidepressant should be a last resort. Instead, we encourage our patients to take a holistic approach to treating depression including hormones, supplements, dietary changes, therapy and regular exercise. This approach is successful for most of our patients. Of course, if your mood takes a drastic turn for the worse or you begin to experience suicidal thoughts, you should seek the safety of an emergency room right away.
If you are experiencing mild to moderate depression, Dr. Edgerton would like to help you find a natural approach to changing your outlook on life without the negative effects antidepressants can cause. To learn more about creating an individualized supplementation program, click here or call 512-459- 4405 to schedule a consult with the doctor.
