Not Myself: Depression

I’ve never been one to experience what I would call “depression”.  Sure, I’ve been sad and moody but I could almost always associate those times as being the result of the current situation or set of circumstances going on in my life for that period of time.  The symptoms were fairly short-lived and I could pull myself out of the funk fairly quickly.    My former spouse of twenty years was, I’m pretty sure, some level of bi-polar and my best friend was given to spells of depression too so I had a pretty good idea of what depression looked like.  That was not me!

However, fairly recently, I began to go down that slippery slope and I found myself in the grips of something that I could not completely shake loose, not matter how hard I tried.  Sure, I was still going through a very ugly part of the divorce process and dealing with some very difficult family matters (details not important) … things I had no control over that caused me to grieve and be very worried about. That being said, I could easily have dismissed this period of time as circumstantial.  But, it didn’t feel that way according to how I’m normally wired and the “Warrior Princess” that I am.  At the very least I have to say… I was NOT myself.  So who was I?

Tears? Ha! They fell freely and what seemed to be half my day.  Out of the blue, some thought would trigger them and I would just completely lose myself to sadness.  Thank goodness most of my business was conducted over the internet and phone.  There was no way I could have shown up to meetings with red puffy eyes and snot bubbles!  If the scale of happiness is numbered 1 – 10 with 10 being super happy, I was never higher than a 4 on my best day.  I knew I had some really serious problems when my thoughts began to randomly entertain suicide.  Woahhh!!!  That scared the crap out of me.  I NEVER ever ever had those types of thoughts show up before, and there were times when things were really really awful.  I knew this was a different type of sadness and I needed to deal with it now.

I’m a big “why” person.  Questioning. Look at the big picture. Examine the details. What’s different? I don’t want a band-aid, I don’t want to mask the symptoms with a pill – I want a cure.  I want to get to the source , get to the root of the problem and fix it there.   As I stepped aside and looked at my life objectively, I considered all that was going on – not only with my divorce but with my age and the possibility that my difficulty in coping might have something to do with that.

About a year ago I attended a seminar given by Wendy Wells of Optimal Women’s Wellness, located in Roseville, CA.  I remembered her telling stories of women who had gone through hormonal changes at various life stages and what I recalled vividly was how almost all of them said, “I’m just not myself”!!!  That’s exactly how I felt!! I was NOT myself anymore and I needed help.   Having recently entered menopause, I strongly suspected that my diminishing hormone levels played a huge part in causing me to no longer be myself.  I wanted ME back and wanted me back like yesterday!!

Long story short, I started a regime of bio-identical hormone creams.  Within FOUR days I felt like my old self!! No anti-depressants.  No psychotherapy.   For me that was about replacing what was deficient which was a combination of progesterone, estrogen and testosterone.  That’s what worked for me but every woman’s needs are different so be sure to check with someone like Wendy before messing around at the health food store.  Most physicians are not savvy in the area of women’s needs when it comes to using bio-identical products because they are conditioned and incentivized by the pharmaceutical companies to prescribe synthetic and potentially dangerous pills.  Sadly, that’s all you will get for the seven minutes time spent with the doctor.

That’s my story but I also know there are many other reasons for depression so I’m sharing this article with you in hopes that it will help you or someone you know find alternative solutions to anti-depressants in the battle to beat depression.

Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Article Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_women.

Depression is not “one size fits all,” particularly when it comes to the genders. Not only are women more prone to depression than men, but the causes of female depression and even the pattern of symptoms are often different. Many factors contribute to the unique picture of depression in women—from reproductive hormones to social pressures to the female response to stress. Learning about these factors can help you minimize your risk of depression and treat it more effectively.

Understanding depression in women

Depression is a serious condition that can impact every area of your life. It can affect your social life, relationships, career, and sense of self-worth and purpose. And for women in particular, depression is common. In fact, according to the National Mental Health Association, about one in every eight women will develop depression at some point during her lifetime.

If you’re feeling sad, guilty, tired, and just generally “down in the dumps,” you may be suffering from major depression. But the good news is that depression is treatable, and the more you understand about depression’s particular implications for and impact on women, the more equipped you will be to tackle the condition head on.

Signs and symptoms of depression in women

The symptoms of depression in women are the same as those for major depression. Common complaints include:

Differences between male and female depression

Although the signs and symptoms of depression are the same for both men and women, women tend to experience certain symptoms more often than men. For example, seasonal affective disorder—depression in the winter months due to lower levels of sunlight—is more common in women. Also, women are more likely to experience the symptoms of atypical depression.
In atypical depression, rather than sleeping less, eating less, and losing weight, the opposite is seen: sleeping excessively, eating more (especially carbohydrates), and gaining weight. Feelings of guilt associated with depression are also more prevalent and pronounced in women. Women also have a higher incidence of thyroid problems. Since hypothyroidism can cause depression, this medical problem should always be ruled out by a physician in women who are depressed.

Causes of depression in women

Women are about twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. This two-to-one difference persists across racial, ethnic, and economic divides. In fact, this gender difference in rates of depression is found in most countries around the world. There are a number of theories that attempt to explain the higher incidence of depression in women. Many factors have been implicated, including biological, psychological, and social factors.

Biological and hormonal causes of depression in women

• Premenstrual problems– Hormonal fluctuations during the menstrual cycle can cause the familiar symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS), such as bloating, irritability, fatigue, and emotional reactivity. For many women, PMS is mild. But for some women, symptoms are severe enough to disrupt their lives and a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is made.
• Pregnancy and infertility – The many hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy can contribute to depression, particularly in women already at high risk. Other issues relating to pregnancy such as miscarriage, unwanted pregnancy, and infertility can also play a role in depression.
• Postpartum depression – Many new mothers experience the “baby blues.” This is a normal reaction that tends to subside within a few weeks. However, some women experience severe, lasting depression. This condition is known as postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is believed to be influenced, at least in part, by hormonal fluctuations.
• Perimenopause and menopause – Women may be at increased risk for depression during perimenopause, the stage leading to menopause when reproductive hormones rapidly fluctuate. Women with past histories of depression are at an increased risk of depression during menopause as well.

Psychological causes of depression in women

• Focusing on and rehashing negative feelings – Women are more likely to ruminate when they are depressed. This includes crying to relieve emotional tension, trying to figure out why you’re depressed, and talking to your friends about your depression. However, rumination has been found to maintain depression and even make it worse. Men, on the other hand, tend to distract themselves when they are depressed. Unlike rumination, distraction can reduce depression.
• Stress – Some studies show that women are more likely than men to develop depression under lower levels of stress. Furthermore, the female physiological response to stress is different. Women produce more stress hormones than men do, and the female sex hormone progesterone prevents the stress hormone system from turning itself off as it does in men.
• Body image issues– The gender difference in depression begins in adolescence. The emergence of sex differences during puberty likely plays a role. Some researchers point to body dissatisfaction, which increases in girls during the sexual development of puberty.

Treating depression in women

For the most part, women suffering from depression receive the same types of treatment as everyone else. The main treatment approaches are psychotherapy and antidepressant therapy. However, there are some special treatment considerations for depression in women.

Depression, hormones, and the reproductive cycle

Hormone fluctuations related to the reproductive cycle can have a profound influence on a woman’s mood. In light of this possibility, you and your doctor should always look for connections between your depressive symptoms and the female reproductive cycle.

• Is your depression connected to your menstrual period and a possible effect of PMS?
• Are you pregnant and struggling with complications and concerns related to the vast changes you and your body are undergoing?
• Are you struggling with the baby blues after recently giving birth?
• Or are you approaching menopause and dealing with hormonal and emotional fluctuations?

All of these milestones in the reproductive cycle can influence or trigger depression. It’s also important to consider mood-related side effects from birth control medication or hormone replacement therapy.

How depression treatment is different for women

Specific aspects of treatment must often be modified for women. Because of female biological differences, women should generally be started on lower doses of antidepressants than men. Women are also more likely to experience side effects, so any medication use should be closely monitored.

Finally, women are more likely than men to require simultaneous treatment for other conditions such as anxiety disorders and eating disorders.

Self-help for depression in women

Learn to recognize & accept your emotions

Watch 3-min. video: Developing emotional awareness

You can make a huge dent in your depression with simple lifestyle changes: exercising every day, avoiding the urge to isolate, eating healthy food instead of the junk you crave, and carving out time for rest and relaxation.

Feeling better takes time, but you can get there if you make positive choices for yourself each day and draw on the support of others.

• Talk about your feelings to someone you trust. Share what you’re going through with the people you love and trust. Ask for the help and support you need. You may have retreated from your most treasured relationships, but they can get you through this tough time.
• Try to keep up with social activities even if you don’t feel like it. When you’re depressed, it feels more comfortable to retreat into your shell. But being around other people will make you feel less depressed.
• Get up and moving. Studies show that regular exercise can be as effective as antidepressant medication at increasing energy levels and decreasing feelings of fatigue. You don’t have to hit the gym. A 30-minute walk each day will give you a much-needed boost.
• Aim for 8 hours of sleep. Depression typically involves sleep problems. Whether you’re sleeping too little or too much, your mood suffers. Get on a better sleep schedule by learning healthy sleep habits.
• Expose yourself to a little sunlight every day. Lack of sunlight can make depression worse. Make sure you’re getting enough. Take a short walk outdoors, have your coffee outside, enjoy an al fresco meal, people-watch on a park bench, or sit out in the garden.
• Practice relaxation techniques. A daily relaxation practice can help relieve symptoms of depression, reduce stress, and boost feelings of joy and well-being. Try yoga, deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or meditation.

Premenstrual dysphoric disorder

Most women are all too familiar with premenstrual syndrome (PMS). Unwelcome symptoms of PMS such as bloating, moodiness, and fatigue appear and reappear each month at the same time in the menstrual cycle. For most women, these premenstrual symptoms are uncomfortable but not disabling. But for up to one out of ten women, symptoms are so distressing and disabling that they warrant a diagnosis of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD). PMDD is characterized by severe depression, irritability, and other mood disturbances. Symptoms begin about 10 to 14 days before your period and improve within a few days of its start.

Self-help for PMDD

There are many steps you can take to improve PMDD symptoms. Many involve simple lifestyle adjustments.

• Exercise– Regular aerobic exercise can reduce the symptoms of PMDD.
• Dietary modifications – Changes to your diet may help reduce symptoms. Cutting back on salt, fatty foods, caffeine, and alcohol is recommended. Eating plenty of complex carbohydrates is also recommended.
• Nutritional supplements – Vitamin B-6, calcium, magnesium, Vitamin E, and tryptophan have all been shown to benefit women suffering from PMDD.
• Herbal remedies – Evening primrose oil and chaste tree berry are herbal supplements that have both been studied and found to be effective in the treatment of PMDD.
• Stress reduction – Relaxation techniques and other strategies to reduce stress may help with PMDD symptoms. Yoga and meditation are particularly effective.

Article Source: http://www.helpguide.org/mental/depression_women.htm