Menopause and depression appear to go hand-in-hand in our minds once we talk about what to expect with menopause. According to Dr. Christiane Northrup, it is not as common among women at middle age than women of different ages. However, there are lots of women who do experience this at midlife.
Moody
What does this gloomy mood seem like, why do so many women experience it, how does it affect your health, and what can you learn from this experience? Depression can range from a case of the blues that lasts a few days to a deeper grief over a loss e.g., a job loss, loss of a relationship, loss of a pet, to some persistent sadness that immobilizes you and makes life seem overwhelming.
Fluctuating hormones may trigger or exacerbate feelings of confusion and despair. Typical menopause symptoms can mask depression. Mood swings, headaches, fatigue, irritability, loss of libido, crying spells, fuzzy thinking, and sleeplessness can be signs of a depressed mood. According to Susun Weed, steroids, high blood pressure medications, and ERT/HRT can bring on a depressive mood. One in four women will suffer from this sense of grief in her lifetime. This is your body’s wisdom telling you that something in your life is out of equilibrium.
Often, it’s unacknowledged emotional pain on a dead end job, a dead connection, victimization, or poverty. There may be a situation in your life that’s in a dead end and that’s exactly what your body is expressing and experiencing. You feel stuck in a situation that’s not fulfilling your needs and you find no way out. This sense of hopelessness often signals a possible growth spurt mentally and emotionally that should take place within your body. This is the wisdom of menopause. It’s literally rewiring your body for individual self-growth to perceive life differently and to be emotionally affected by injustices which have up until now not been on your radar screen.
Take note
It’s now in life that you have the insight and the courage to leave dead end relationships to look after your needs. This despair is a present to nudge you to move beyond past anger and despair to be free to live your passion and purpose. Women are taught not to”rock the boat”, to be”fine”, to care for everybody’s needs, and not to express anger. It’s not just depressing us, it’s killing us. Living with this overwhelming grief isn’t a natural condition. It’s caused by life style options. Your life does things.
What you’re feeling matters. What you need in your life issues. This profound despair does have physical effects on the body. Osteoporosis is common in women who are miserable. The stress hormone, cortisol, dissolves bone over time. Depression also increases the risk for heart attack and stroke. Emotions associated with depression like anger, depression, grief, and stress create biochemical changes in the body.
These modifications constrict blood vessels, reduce blood circulation, damage tissue, and result in high blood pressure. Natural remedies can support the entire body. However, if you’re depressed for over a two week period, experience reoccurring episodes, or have experienced low level depression all your life, seek help from your medical care provider.
Final note
Antidepressants may be required in this situation together with addressing lifestyle changes. Depression is a difficult chemical disorder. To cure this hopeless feeling, we will need to identify our requirements, adopt our needs, and communicate our demands by taking action to see them fulfilled. You want to adopt full emotional expression. Suppressing your needs and feelings is like a stagnant pool of water inside the human body.