A woman’s risk for depression rises when she reaches mid-life and enters the menopausal phase. There are many reasons why a woman’s mental health becomes vulnerable at this time in her life. Estrogen deficiency, which occurs in menopause, can have a tremendous impact on a woman’s moods and her cognitive function.
Hormones Trigger Symptoms
Fluctuating hormones, and the subsequent diminishing of hormones experienced at full menopause, can be problematic. Imbalanced or deficient hormones sometimes trigger mood swings along with fatigue, hot flashes, night sweats and insomnia. These symptoms can lead to feelings of being overwhelmed, stressed out and frustrated.
Possible Problems
Some women experience depression over being in menopause and getting older. Stress can increase as they try to take care of children as well as elderly parents. Women can feel besieged and, at times, resentful. Some women are overcome with sadness and anger.
Support
Depression, remorse and anxiety occur for some women who don’t have enough support during this time of life. Women who aren’t happy in a relationship, or don’t have a relationship, can feel blue. Some are sad because they can’t have any more children or because they never had children and cannot now. Menopause is very final-there is no going back.
Changes
Menopause sometimes results in loss of libido. This can be upsetting for women and their partners. Hormonal imbalances and deficiencies are also responsible for brain fog as well as skin and vision problems. Women may gain weight gain or find that weight has redistributed in an unflattering way. This can takes its toll and make women feel down in the dumps.
Being Sick on Top of Menopause
Some women experience crying jags. This, too, is probably caused by erratic hormones. Those who are physically unwell, on top of the added stresses of menopause, often despair. Such women need to seek help from a health care provider.