How to avoid depression during perimenopause

This is the 5244th article of Da Yi Xiao Hu

Perimenopausal depression is one of the common symptoms of menopausal women. About 40% of women will experience varying degrees of depression or symptoms during this period, which is significantly higher than other age groups.

The main causes of the disease are

1. Women gradually enter the perimenopause period from sexual maturity. The number of eggs in the ovaries decreases until they are completely used up. Estrogen secretion decreases, progesterone becomes increasingly scarce, and ovarian function gradually declines until it is lost. They are prone to symptoms such as irritability, excitement, anxiety, depression, hot flashes, sweating, palpitations, insomnia, headaches, and joint pain.

Second, after menopause, the internal and external genitals lose the support of female hormones, gradually shrink and become dry, and sexual desire decreases significantly or even disappears. The relationship between husband and wife may be broken due to sexual disharmony.

3. Most women in this period are retired or unemployed and stay at home. Their social status changes, interpersonal relationships become distant, and family income decreases. Some people will feel lost, lonely, depressed, helpless, etc., which will lead to increased anxiety, depression, irritability, and anger.

4. Originally, the children were around, and although they were busy and tired, they lived a prosperous and energetic life, and the "head of the family" felt very comfortable. The children grew up day by day, left home to study or started a new family, and the warm harbor that was originally a warm harbor became a cold and deserted "empty nest", so they fell into unprecedented loneliness, worry and longing, unable to extricate themselves;

5. They rarely participate in social activities. They live in a world of their own, and never leave their homes. Once they encounter something unpleasant, they often "get stuck in a dead end and get stuck in a dead end."

6. Sudden changes in family members and living environment cause one to be unable to face reality correctly and adjust one's mindset in time. One becomes depressed and unhappy all day long. Sometimes, because of a certain person or a certain thing, one becomes devastated and even has thoughts of suicide.

Menopause is an artificial stage division based on the physiological characteristics of women in specific age groups. It is not a disease period. Everyone has to go through it. If you relax and treat it correctly, most people will get through it safely.

Doctors say

1. The perimenopause period is a period of time when women are physically and psychologically vulnerable. Once young, beautiful, happy, successful, and successful, in the blink of an eye, all the good things have become the past, and the sense of loss, frustration, and decline is increasing day by day. At this time, you should learn about the physiological and psychological knowledge of perimenopause, accept birth, aging, illness, and death with a peaceful mind, face unexpected events calmly, firmly raise the sail of life, and look at everything in a positive light, then you will feel relaxed and happy.

2. People cannot be idle. Even if you retire and go home, you must deliberately find something to do. Practicing boxing, swordplay, swimming, traveling, attending senior citizen universities, practicing piano, chess, calligraphy, painting, etc. are all beneficial. Going out of the house, going out into society, making friends, and opening your heart are important measures to avoid the disease.

3. After excluding tumors, reproductive system and breast diseases, appropriate supplementation of female hormones can not only relieve a series of physical discomfort symptoms, but also maintain the sexual function of the female reproductive system, delay osteoporosis, and improve the quality of life and survival. It can be used under the guidance of a doctor. If depression and anxiety cannot be well adjusted and improved in a short period of time, you should seek help from a psychologist in time.

4. Every family member has the responsibility and obligation to build a happy family. After work and rest, they should spend more time with their wives and mothers who are in menopause, and strive to create a colorful, peaceful and optimistic family atmosphere so that they can spend this period safely and enter their old age.

Author: The First Hospital of Shanxi Medical University

Professor Guo Shuzhen

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