Depression And Menopause: The Role Of Depression In Women

Damn, these hot flashes! If I say middle age women, what is the first thing you think of? Most people would probably say menopause or bottles of wine. But does the word depression ever come to mind? High depression rates in women aged 45 to 55 has remained steady for years. Why is this? It may be because depression and menopause share a common link. 
Depression, according to the American Psychiatric Association, is a “serious medical illness that negatively affects how you feel, the way you think, and how you act.” Depression is a result of changes in your brain’s chemical makeup. Other factors, including genetics, stress or changes of hormone levels can all contribute to depression. Everyone experiences this illness differently and there
This is caused when the body stops producing the hormones estrogen and progesterone (medlineplus.org). There are three main stages of menopause, beginning with perimenopause, which transitions into menopause, before finally ending with postmenopause. Perimenopause is the beginning stage where a woman’s period starts to become irregular and some symptoms may appear. Women tend to reach this stage around 45, however, it can begin as early as late 30s and mid-40s. Eventually, menstruation ends completely and more symptoms begin to appear around the age of 50. Some of the common symptoms of menopause include: “hot flashes”, night sweats, changes in sleep patterns or trouble sleeping, fatigue, stress, extreme mood swings, vaginal dryness, hair loss, and trouble concentrating. The journey through menopause varies from woman to woman and there is no set time or degree of symptoms a woman may endure during this
As proven by these two women, the process of menopause is completely unique for everyone. There is no scientific proof that menopause causes depression. Not every woman that goes through menopause reports experiencing symptoms of depression. Until science can prove there is an indisputable link between the two, it will remain questionable. However, the fact that both of these medical maladies are no doubt similar and their symptoms tend to overlap shows that there may be more to this than it seems.
In conclusion, depression and menopause are linked to a certain degree. Depression rates tend to remain high in women, especially those age-ranged 45 to 55. This is largely due to menopause. And while there will always be other causes for depression, such as unemployment, trauma, and grief, menopause will remain one of the leading causes of depression for middle aged women. That, and maybe discovering the bottle of wine is