Menopause and Depression

For a small group of women going through menopause, depression and anxiety can get to the point that medical treatment may be required. It’s important to recognize the symptoms of depression and get help.

There are various types of depression, not all of them require treatment.

Mood depression is a sense of feeling sad or down. This is usually only temporary and will pass in time without treatment.

Depression as a symptom is depression that is usually brought on by a traumatic or troubling life event such as a family death or divorce. In most instances this type of depression will also pass in time and will usually not require treatment. If these depression symptoms continue for an extended period of time it can lead to clinical depression and medical treatment will be required.

Clinical depression is the most serious type of depression and it does require medical intervention, this type of depression is actually caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain and can be very devastating and hard to manage.

Some typical symptoms of clinical depression are exhaustion, feeling overwhelmed, crying all the time, sleeping for extended periods of time, and not being able to manage in your day to day life. When in the midst of depression, just rolling out of bed can seem like a terrible chore. Besides seeking medical treatment there are some other things you should keep in mind that can help to make life more manageable. For example, put off all but the most simple of tasks. Try to exercise, spend time with loved ones, and make sure you have a lot of time to relax. Try to keep in mind that this period of depression is only temporary and it will take time to get better.

If you or someone you know is going through menopause and is experiencing any of these symptoms do not ignore them or hope they improve on their own, it’s very important to discuss this with a doctor and get treated as soon as possible. Please visit Signs of Menopause Guide for more articles and information.

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