Effective Ways to Beat
Depression During Menopause

Tips for dealing with
depression during menopause

It’s believed that 8% to 15% of women will experience depression during menopause to some degree or other.

Here are some important ideas that can help you better deal with both the symptoms of menopause and the feelings of depression that often accompany it.

Depression during Menopause

It’s not uncommon to feel anxious and even irritated by the symptoms you may be experiencing during menopause. In fact, a lot of women will often associate the onset of menopause symptoms with a feeling of ‘losing control’ over their bodies.

Although menopause isn’t proven to be the actual cause of depression per se, research has found that having severe hot flashes, night sweats and disrupted sleep more often exacerbates the symptoms of depression during menopause.

Peri Menopause and Depression

Symptoms of depression and mood disorders in women often begin during their pre menopause years, during peri-menopause, but become more obvious and troublesome as they move closer towards menopause age.

Also, research has shown that if you’ve experienced depression during your younger years, you’re far more susceptible to experiencing it again during your menopause years.

Causes of Depression During Menopause

There are actually two schools of thought when it comes to the actual causes of depression during menopause.

The first school of thought is that it's caused by dwindling and fluctuating hormone levels.

Low Serotonin Production

Serotonin for example, is an important hormone that influences emotions, mood, sleep, body temperature and even food cravings, appetite and digestion.

When serotonin levels drop or fluctuate, you can often experience feelings of melancholy, sadness, moodiness, and irritability...eventually resulting in full blown depression.

Depression and Weight Gain Problems

In fact it’s not uncommon to naturally begin craving sugars and carbohydrates as our brain sends messages (what we experience as food cravings) to help stimulate serotonin production.

Don’t we all tend to crave these foods when we’re feeling blue? Blame it on low serotonin levels.

Decrease in Estrogen Production

Estrogen is also thought to play an important role in influencing mood.

When major hormones such as estrogen, progesterone and even testosterone (yes, we do have some!) are also diminishing as well as fluctuating and changing, creating a ‘cup runneth over’ scenario within the body that results in depression is quite common.

Chronic Stress

The second school of thought is that the anxiety of dealing with the symptoms of menopause, coupled with the amounts of daily chronic stress we are constantly dealing with eventually creates an overwhelming feeling for most women and leads to depression.

Not being able to cope with all the constant demands of life, plus the additional stress of symptoms we can’t control or don’t understand result in a feeling of loss of control ultimately leading to overwhelm and finally depression.

Depression and anxiety will soon become the number one form of disability in adults according to WHO (World Health Organization).

Natural Remedies for Menopause and Depression

There are some very effective natural remedies to help treat anxiety, menopause and depression available today.

Lifestyle and Healthy Eating Guidelines

Follow healthy eating guidelines which include a natural diet that includes high quality, nutrient dense proteins, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats.

Avoid processed foods and be particularly careful with high glycemic index foods containing white flour, white rice, sugars, sweeteners and stimulants like caffeine.

Include foods rich in phytoestrogens like whole grains, legumes, seeds together with seed oils (particularly flax seed), seaweed, fruits, leafy green vegetables, green tea and soy.

Read My Menopause Diet

Phytoestrogens are plant compounds that have estrogen like effects on the body and may help reduce the symptoms affiliated with decreased estrogen production, most notably night sweats and hot flashes.

Get 7-8 hours of good quality sleep each night. Be sure to sleep in a dark room.

Get some natural sunlight every day.

Exercise regularly. Cardiovascular exercises such as walking, running and cycling help to stimulate 'feel good' endorphins that can improve mood.

Exercise for 30 minutes at least 3-4 times per week to reduce stress and tension and to improve mood. Learn to de-stress daily. Practice relaxation exercises, yoga, meditation, and/or deep breathing to help diminish stress-related symptoms such as anxiety, sleep problems and depression.

Relaxation CD’s can be quite useful and effective tools for helping you to let go of daily stress.

Most Potent Nutrient for Treating Depression During Menopause

One of the most potent and effective nutrients for treating the symptoms of depression during menopause is SAMe.

The most important ingredient in Neuro-Natural Serenity, SAMe is even more natural than any herbal extract as it is present in every cell in our body.

Often there may be a deficiency which contributes greatly to feelings of anxiety or depression.

There are also a number of specific natural nutritional supplements for menopause and depression that you should know about that have been shown to be extremely effective in treating your symptoms of depression during menopause successfully.

Nutritional Supplements for Menopause and Depression

Antidepressants and Weight Loss

Return to Depression and Weight Gain from
Depression during Menopause

Return to Belly Fat Blues Home from Depression during Menopause

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