For the majority of women, the onset of menopause and depression symptoms go hand in hand. However, in most of the cases depression is accepted as an inevitable part of the process of ageing and its various symptoms are ignored. But the thing worth understanding is that it is important to undergo a treatment of depression otherwise it may lead to a lot of serious health problems, thus degrading the quality of your life.

Symptoms of Menopausal Depression

In the initial stages, the depression symptoms may be relatively mild but ignoring them may have some serious repercussions on your health. Some of the common indicators of depression are:

• A depressed mood accompanied by symptoms like persistent feelings of hopelessness, sadness and some tearful bouts.
• A state of self isolation accompanied by a lack of interest and withdrawal from friends and family.
• Disturbances in the sleep pattern like complete lack of sleep or excessive sleeping or suddenly waking up in the middle of the night.
• Difficulty in concentrating on simplest of things as well as things you enjoyed doing in the past.
• Fluctuations in your body weight caused as a result of changes in appetite.
• Loss of libido and sexual desire
• Feelings of worthlessness and low self esteem which might lead to suicidal tendencies.
• A state of fatigue and tiredness all throughout the day.

If any of these symptoms persist for more than two weeks, it is advisable to go for a proper diagnosis. Although menopause and depression symptoms occur simultaneously, most of the women lay a lot of emphasis on the treatment of menopause but the serious problem of depression associated with it is often ignored. Untreated depression may increase the risk of contracting serious medical conditions like heart attack and an increased risk of fractures.

During the menopausal phase, women may experience a lot of physical and emotional changes; hence, a proper treatment of menopause is necessary to help them cope with the various associated problems. With depression being one of the major symptoms experienced during menopause, a treatment of menopause should essentially be accompanied by a treatment of depression to avoid the occurrence of any serious health repercussions.

Some of the commonly used ways of dealing with menopause are:

• Hormone Replacement Therapy- This therapy is used to deal with a decline in the levels of female hormones, Estrogen and Progesterone, by taking in these hormones in different combinations and different strengths. The different forms of HRT can be implants, tablets, creams, patches, etc. You can tailor the treatment as per your needs. Generally, the effects of HRT should be observable within one to two weeks with no or minimal side effects. However, before starting with the treatment, it is advisable to go in for proper medical consultation so as to ascertain the associated risks.
• Nutrition- The various symptoms associated with menopause can be taken care of through proper nutrition. The risk of osteoporosis can be reduced by taking enough calcium and vitamin D through diet. Various essential fatty acids can help prevent dryness of skin, joint pain, vaginal dryness and bladder infections, along with an increase in your physical and mental energy. In order to avoid the side effects associated with HRT, one can take natural plant Estrogens.
• Self Help Measures- By extending help to your own self; you can fight the problems associated with menopause and depression symptoms. Follow a healthy diet regimen and do lots of exercise. Drinking plenty of water and quitting the use of tobacco can also help in cleansing and purifying your body. And above all these things, try to stay positive, remembering that this is just a temporary phase.

The occurrence of menopause and depression symptoms is something that every woman has to go through, once in her lifetime, hence, instead of suffering needlessly, it is advisable to go through a proper treatment of depression.

Some of the most common ways of dealing with midlife depression are:

• Medication- One of the most effective treatment of depression in women, who are moderately to severely depressed, is taking Antidepressant medications. However, to avoid being affected by any undue side effects, it is best to go for a medical consultation.
• Hormone Replacement Therapy – Although, considered to be a treatment of menopause, HRT can help fight depression as well. However, this treatment is considered to be more useful when used in combination with other treatments of depression.
• Alternative Medicines- There is some evidence which supports the effectiveness of alternative forms of medicines in treating midlife depression, but no standardized information s available as yet. In case you are already taking other medicines, these alternative treatments might interfere with them. Hence, make sure to take proper medical advice.
• Psychological Therapy- Since depression is one of the major symptoms of menopause, Psychotherapy, when used in combination with other forms of medications, can help provide relief to the patients.
• Nutrition- One can reduce the signs of depression by following a proper diet plan, rich in various essential Vitamins and Minerals. Although, a prescribed diet for depression is not available, it is best to take a balanced diet.
• Exercise- In order to combat depression and improve your physical health, as little as 10 minutes of physical activity a day, can be highly beneficial.
• Sleep- In order to promote good physical health along with fighting the symptoms of depression, getting enough of good quality sleep is very important so as to relax your mind and body.
• Stress Management-Depression can be worsened by stress. Stress related to mundane things like marital changes, loss of a parent, etc. can have serious repercussions. Hence, relax yourself and take time to rest, participate in things that you enjoy doing and spend good time with others.