Menopausal depression and treatment

Depression due to reasons other than menopause

Many women in their 40s become mentally depressed more easily than when they were young, and many women worry about whether they are depressed due to menopause or whether their symptoms can be cured.

There are a number of reasons why you may experience symptoms other than menopause.

So, this time, let's explain the symptoms of depression, possible causes, and treatments for depression other than menopause.

symptoms

Depression is a state of persistent mental symptoms in which you feel depressed all day long and are unable to enjoy whatever you are doing. The main symptoms are depression, lack of motivation, irritability, pessimism, and poor concentration.

When it becomes severe, some people become unmotivated and become bedridden.

Depression is not only a psychological symptom, but also has physical symptoms such as: Sleep disorders Easy to get tired Headaches Palpitations Loss of appetite, overeating Abdominal pain, stomach discomfort, etc. Many people think that depression is a mental illness, but if you look at the experiences of people who have been depressed, they have mental symptoms. In some cases, the physical symptoms are more severe than the symptoms.

It is especially important to note that women tend to be more prone to depression than men. If you feel depressed all day long, or if you continue to feel unwell no matter what you do, it is possible that you are depressed and it is recommended that you see a doctor.

There is also a website where you can self-check your depression symptoms, so please take advantage of it.

Possible cause

The main cause of depression is stress. In addition to bad things such as work, relationship troubles, and the death of a family member, even good things such as promotions, moving, and going on to higher education can cause stress and depression due to changes in the environment.

In the case of women, hormonal changes peculiar to women, such as pregnancy, childbirth, menstruation, and menopause, are also thought to be the cause. In terms of personality, people who are serious, highly evaluated by those around them, and who have a sense of responsibility tend to overwork themselves more than others, and are prone to depression, so be careful.

Treatment

There are four main types of treatment for depression.

• take a rest
• Drug treatment (antidepressants, supplements, hormone replacement therapy, etc.)
• psychotherapy
• Other specialized treatments (modified electroconvulsive therapy, high-intensity light therapy, etc.)

Depression can be expected to improve and overcome symptoms if you prepare an environment where you can take a good rest and take medicine.

If depressive symptoms are severe, psychotherapy should be provided in addition to rest and drug therapy1).

Psychotherapy can also prevent depression from recurring by learning to deal with the stress that caused it.

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Incorporating Chinese herbal medicine may lead to alleviation of various symptoms

Taking herbal medicine is also effective for painful menopausal symptoms. Kampo medicine comprehensively reviews various things such as the person's constitution and lifestyle, and gradually improves symptoms from the inside of the body. There are various herbal medicines, but the herbal medicines that are effective for menopausal symptoms are as follows.

• Kamishoyosan: Depression, irritation, hot flashes, hot flashes, etc.
• Toki shakuyakusan: Tendency to coldness and anemia
• Keishibukuryogan: Hot flashes, headache, lower abdominal pain, etc.

There are individual differences in menopausal symptoms, and it is necessary to take Chinese herbal medicine that matches the symptoms . Kampo medicine gradually improves the symptoms, so it is easy to incorporate it into your life, so if you want to alleviate the symptoms little by little, please consult your doctor or pharmacist.

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Depression due to menopause to psychosomatic medicine and psychiatry

A survey showed that 72% of menopausal women have subjective symptoms of depression, and many menopausal women suffer from depressive symptoms.

If you are suffering from depression due to menopause, please consult a psychosomatic medicine or psychiatrist. If it's mild, you can consult a gynecologist, so if you have even the slightest concern, please visit us.

Menopausal depression can be alleviated with proper treatment. If you leave the symptoms as they are, it will become more serious and difficult to heal, so we recommend that you see a doctor as soon as possible.

References

1) Nanette Santoro et al. Menopausal Symptoms and Their Management. Endocrinol Metab Clin North Am. 2015 Sep;44(3):497-515. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26316239/