Depression During Menopause Makes a Difference
Whether you are a depressed woman facing what could be several years of menopausal symptoms or a spouse/partner living with said woman, there will definitely be challenges. Depression on its own is bad enough, but add the complications of menopause to it and you get a veritable soup of sorrows.
My Experience with Depression and Menopause
I am almost 49 years old and the symptoms of menopause have begun. While there is no real way to prepare for these symptoms or prevent them; the mood swings, anxiety, fatigue, inability to concentrate... it's the feelings of sadness that terrifies me.
The truth is, as I write this blog, I'm finding it very difficult to concentrate and there's a cloud of sadness hovering over me. It's happening more and more often - every couple of days now. Will it get worse? Will the time between episodes get shorter? Will the episodes themselves get stronger? Will I be able to climb out of this one? And what about the next one? (My husband is giving me that knowing look of his - oh, oh... she's going through something.)
Taking Action to Deal with Depression During Menopause
It would be so easy to just give in to the sadness, to just lay down and go to sleep (one of the worst things I could do given my natural tendencies towards oversleeping). But, I know I can't. I have to fight the (almost overwhelming) urge to do so. Staying alert and forcing myself to do things that keep me functioning, while incredibly difficult, is a necessity for getting through the episodes.
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I've just returned from walking my sweet dog (along with my husband and his dopey dog). I really didn't want to go... but my dog compelled me to go, with her big brown eyes. As I've written before, I'm pretty sure my dog knows when I'm depressed. And you know what? The exercise was good, as was the fresh air (a chilly 54 degrees here in Toronto, Canada). And the sun on my face felt marvelous.
Good decision. I'm feeling much better.
Whether it's depression or menopause or both... it's all about diligence. Knowing when you're going through something is not enough. You have to make one single decision to do one single thing, then diligently follow through. For me, today, it was walking the dog. It turned my entire day around.
APA Reference
Scott, L.
(2013, October 20). Depression During Menopause Makes a Difference, HealthyPlace. Retrieved
on 2024, November 22 from https://www.healthyplace.com/blogs/copingwithdepression/2013/10/depression-during-menopause
Author: Liana M. Scott
I expected the worst but was surprised by how the hormonal mood swings and menstrual migraines went away. Perimenapause lasted a while, but once I stopped my periods things leveled out.
This is so scary, thanks for giving us your experience and how you dealt with it.
Medical induced menopause has made me feel like I have postpartum depression again.
Thank you for the article and thank you for those who commented as well. On the tough days it's nice to know I'm not the only one on this island. Stay Strong!
This is excellent! Exactly how I feel. Just today I was complaining to my husband about feeling like I had no emotions lately then went upstairs to our bedroom while talking irritatedly at my dogs and son andwanting to eat cake. It was nice to read this article. I don't feel so alone.
Felt that I wanted to comment. I have just been told that I am post menopausal at the grand old age of 46, however this comes 8 years after having survived ovarian cancer and having an ovary and Fallopian tube removed but fertility saving surgery. I don’t have any children having married a guy at 34 who then decided to emotionally abuse me and deny any physical intimacy from our honeymoon onwards. The stress of this and relocating to get away from the shame of a failed marriage I have no doubt brought on my ovarian cancer.
Whilst I did feel very lucky to have survived I now feel that I have lost the will to live and am suffering deeply with depression.
I have suffered on and off for the last 20 years and have been through the medication and CBT and a bi polar mis diagnosis route but to no avail. I would rather feel what I’m feeling, the whole loneliness and ageing factors definitely aren’t helping. I don’t have anything to live for and have shut myself away from most of my friends (who play happy families anyway)
My mother has also double crossed me and used me for her financial gain since I was 19 and I have been left now renting and on the poverty line...long story but very sad. My older brother has also been a complete git in many ways including preventing me becoming a foster carer 5 years ago because of his bad reference... and I have no family support...in fact they are the worst.
I have the capabilities to get a job again or get back to earning more from self employment I simply struggle to see the point after years of doing well, saving and thinking I was going to be ok I find the people you expect to love and support you or atleast be trustworthy are infact the opposite and they’ve hurt me more than anyone else.
Anyway, rant over.
Thanks for reading if you got to the end of this.
The betrayal of my trust with my family member's has been the most painful thing in my life. My father made me sick and my family blames me for his behavior. They where my whole life...I loved them unconditionally. Just to have them all of them turn on me. CPTSD and loss of family's love. Can't bare the pain.