Depression Caused by Menopause?

Experts say menopause itself doesn't cause depression, but certain menopausal symptoms and major life events can trigger it. ✔️ Hear from women in the know.

MENOPAUSAL DEPRESSIONMENOPAUSAL SYMPTOMS

Kennerly Clay

5/24/20246 min read

Will menopause cause depression?

So, you’re teetering on the brink of menopause or already knee-deep in it, and you find yourself wondering batshitcrazy much of the time while you sink deeper into menopausal malaise.

But does menopause cause depression? It’s a valid concern—one that’s been whispered about in hushed tones among women for generations. Before you resign yourself to a fate of endless tears and despair, let’s talk about menopause and mental health.

During menopause, your estrogen and progesterone levels fluctuate wildly, leaving your brain’s delicate chemistry in disarray. Estrogen, in particular, has a special relationship with serotonin and dopamine—the brain’s feel-good neurotransmitters. So when estrogen levels take a nosedive, so does your mood, leaving you feeling like you’ve been blindsided by life.

Does this always result in depression in menopause? Absolutely not. You'll have a friend or two who swear they never felt a hot flash or a mood swoop during menopause. (Fuck them, by the way.) You might be one of these people (no offense) who never gets hit by hormonal havoc in menopause.

Emotional fuckedness

Welcome to the emotional fuckedness of menopause, where your feelings end up on a loudspeaker you never knew you had. That's right. In menopause, you give way fewer fucks than ever about what anybody else wants, needs or says. And you've got a lot to say about your own, for fucking once. You're a hot mess, a crazy bee-otch, and you own that shit because you've spent your last decade or two caring way too much about everybody else.

Three a.m. wake-ups and hazy days

Sleep disturbances are another hallmark of menopause, and they can wreak havoc on your mental well-being. Whether it’s struggling to fall asleep, waking up in the middle of the night drenched in sweat, or tossing and turning until the crack of dawn, menopause can turn your sleep patterns upside down. And we all know what happens when you don’t get enough shut-eye. Aside from raging at the person you sleep with and anyone else in earshot, you're dealing with brain fog so thick you don't even know what you're saying half the time. Your thoughts are fuzzy, your memory is shot, and you can’t seem to string together a coherent sentence to save your life.

'Hangry' like the wolf

Menopause can also make you HANGRY. While you're spinning off your MF axis with mood swings and hot flashes, you could also find yourself ravenous like you haven't been since pregnant with your firstborn. Even if you've never been pregnant, you might find the insane appetite of menopause a little off-putting. Like why am I so hungry all of a sudden?

If you or someone you know is in crisis, please call 988, the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline in the United States.

So, will menopause actually cause depression?

Well, hold onto your hormones because the answer isn’t as straightforward as you might think. While menopause itself doesn’t directly cause depression, it can certainly create the perfect storm for its arrival. Think of it like this: Menopause is the match, and your hormonal fluctuations, life stressors, and genetic predispositions are the gasoline. Combine them all, and you’ve got a fiery recipe for potential mental health challenges.

menopausal woman overwhelmed by hot flashes

Menopause depression: Who gets it?

The genetic lottery

Genetics play a significant role in your risk of developing depression during menopause. If you have a family history of depression or other mood disorders, you may be more vulnerable to experiencing menopause-related depression yourself. If you experienced depression at any other time in your life - even if you've lived depression-free for years - hold on for the shitshow. It could be coming your way.

Or NOT.

Just because you have genetic risk doesn't mean you're going to have depression in menopause. Just like cancer, you might have some genetic propensity, but that's no indication that you're going to have cancer.

The stress factor

Life stressors can also exacerbate your risk of depression during menopause. Whether it’s job pressures, financial worries, or relationship woes, chronic stress can take a toll on your mental well-being and make you more susceptible to depression. Stress can suddenly feel unbearable, like the "ordinary" stresses of life now make you so bonkers you want to crawl out of your skin. These things add fuel to the fire, intensifying the hormonal upheaval of menopause.

By minimizing stress, you can potentially minimize your risk of depression in menopause. I found that as I came into my perimenopausal years, it was critical for me to offload a lot of things I used to deftly manage. Eliminating overwhelm became second nature as did saying no, even to things to sounded like fun. I didn't want more accountability or squeezed time to manage.

The hormonal hell

Hormonal fluctuations are the primary culprits behind menopause-related depression, but they’re not the only players in the game. Other hormonal changes, such as thyroid imbalances, can also contribute to mood disturbances during menopause. One thing that can help you determine exactly what's going on hormonally is to get a full hormone panel, often provided through functional and integrative MDs who take a holistic approach to women's physical and mental health in menopause.

Stress can suddenly feel unbearable, like the "ordinary" stresses of life now make you so bonkers you want to crawl out of your skin. These things add fuel to the fire, intensifying the hormonal upheaval of menopause.

Overcoming the joylessness of the journey

I'm not gonna say something pukey, like "Find joy in the journey." If you're dealing menopause depression symptoms, there's no fucking joy to be found. But there could be hope on the horizon. By acknowledging your feelings, seeking support, and prioritizing self-care, you can better cope with depression in menopause. I know it's hard to imagine when you're in the depths of despair, but the wild hormonal ride will eventually end. Just keep seeking out what you need for your sanity in the meantime.

Getting support when it feels like you have none

You don’t have to navigate the fuckfest of menopause depression alone. Reach out to friends, family members, or support groups who can offer a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on. Sometimes, just knowing that you’re not alone in your struggles can make all the difference in the world.

Being insanely self-caring

In the midst of battling menopause depression symptoms, self-care often takes a backseat. But now more than ever, it’s crucial to prioritize your well-being. Get serious about self-care and putting yourself first, every single fucking day. When you get up in the morning, do something that indulges you. For me, it's reading a book - the gift of leisure and relaxation. I get up a little earlier than I used to so I can do this.

Considering therapy or counseling

If menopause depression symptoms are interfering with your daily life, don’t hesitate to seek professional help. I can't say enough about mental health therapy in menopause. My therapist understood me, applauded me, commiserated with me, and gave me tactical approaches to enjoying my life in spite of all the hormonal wreckage.

Debunking the menopause depression myth

So, will menopause cause depression? The answer isn’t a simple yes or no. While menopause itself doesn’t directly cause depression, it can certainly create the perfect storm for its onset (and essentially make depression feel worse). By understanding the hormonal havoc wreaker that is menopause, acknowledging your feelings, and seeking support, you can navigate this challenging time with resilience and grace.

Remember, brighter days are on the horizon—you just have to weather this fucking storm.