During menopause it is very common for you to have the blues. It is at this time that you are frustrated with your body and you are sad that you are unable to carry a child. Menopause comes with a lot of symptoms that will try any woman’s patience. However, menopause doesn’t really cause you to get sad it really causes you to be really depressed. Depression is a disease that is caused by biological factors.
In all actuality hormones in the brain specifically serotonin, regulates the mood you are in. Depression can lead to a variety of symptoms and can have terrible affects on a person’s life. Menopause can trigger sadness and episodes of depression in a number of women.
Menopause depression is most likely to strike during preimenopause, which is the phase before your actual menopause phase. There are two theories on menopause and depression:
· One theory is that the stress of menopause systems leads to depression. Sometimes your symptoms of menopause are simply to hard to deal with on your own.
· The second theory is that menopause is linked by menopause depression with fluctuating levels of hormones in the body. Throughout menopause, your hormones are constantly changing.

There are some situations in which you will be at higher risk…I have listed a few of them below for your reference so that you will know if you are higher risk for developing depression during menopause.
1) You may be at higher risk for depression during menopause if you have a history of mood disorders.
2) You may be at risk for depression during menopause if you have gone through surgical menopause.
3) You may be at higher risk for depression during menopause if you smoke cigarettes.
4) You may be at higher risk for depression during menopause if you have younger children.
5) You may be at higher risk for depression during menopause if you are currently under a lot of stress.

If you are experiencing depression during menopause you should get help immediately, you should not try to handle this situation on your own, it is best to have someone that you can talk to. Remember that menopause is just a stage in your life and that things can get better with treatment and time. If you have thoughts of suicide you need to go to your local hospital immediately so that you can get the help that you need. No life is worth taking.

There are treatments for depression during menopause, I am going to list them for you and then discuss them so that you will have a better understanding of the treatments.
1) Estrogen Therapy
2) Antidepressants
3) Psychotherapy

Estrogen Therapy- this therapy goes by the theory that decreased levels of estrogen affect the mood negatively. This therapy works best when combined with antidepressants and is also known to boost the mood that you are in.
Antidepressants- Are known to boost the mood that you are in also.
Psychotherapy- This is believed to be the best way to treat depression although you may also need to take antidepressants also.