Depression & Middleage

Hi there and welcome to My Depression Connection!

Can you tell us more about what you are going through?  I am not quite there yet...I am in my mid forties...but it is right around the corner. 

It might help to talk about what is currently going on with you...there are many people here who suffer from depression and also are going through menopause.  So you are not alone!

You are right...in so many cases...medication is only helpful to a point.  You also need a lot of support.  I hope you can find that support here.

Welcome aboard!

Hi, Meme55.  I'm 60, so I'm past it and you won't want to hear this, but I couldn't really tell by the usual symptoms that I had hit it because my hormones were kind of screwed up anyway and I was on the Pill to try to control that, so I think I might have gone through it without realizing it.  By the time they checked my FSH levels, they said I was post-menopausal - never even saw perimenopause!  Are you having a lot of physical symptoms, or do they seem to be mostly emotional?  When you're depressed anyway (I've had it for most of my adult life, as well), it's hard to tell what's what.  Part of it can be just realizing that you're getting older because of this milestone, but I have to say, I've found it to be very freeing in some respects because with age comes wisdom (for most of us, anyway) and that can be a relief, to let go of a lot of "shoulds" and things we think we need to do.  I'd be glad to keep in touch if you would like me to, even though I may not have the same symptoms you do.  Hope you will soon feel better or at least find some support.

Hi meme55. I understand what you are going through!! I went through menopause in my early 40's. I am now 53. I have also suffered from depression for many years. I was finally diagnosed with Systemic Lupus 6 yrs ago so the doctors think my depression developed from that.

My menopause symptoms didn't seem to be bad at first. As my Lupus got worse, so did the sweating and cravings. Now I break out in a sweat doing the simplest things around the house. After a shower, by the time I get dressed and my hair done, I find I am sweaty. Yuk!

My husband and I are seperated. The reason is too painful to talk about. My depression got worse once again. You are right, meds can only do so much. Some days I don't get out of bed and just want to hide from the whole world.

Because of everything I've gone through over the last several years, I have lost my best friend and feel very alone 99% of the time. My friend just doesn't understand what being deeply depressed means. She thinks I should just pick myself up and charge forward. As we all know, it is easier said than done.

My goal every days is:
1. to get out of bed and pull myself together.
2. eat something healthy for breakfast no matter how
3. leave the house for exercise or do errands. (this is my biggest challenge)
If I don't, I find myself feeling down, giving up, watching a movie or worse back in bed feeling angry at myself for failing. Today was one of those days. I allowed depression to win and missed a beautiful day outside.

I am sorry you are going through this and my heart goes out to you. I felt your pain when I read what you wrote and felt I had to reply. I wanted you to know there is someone else out there that does understand what you are going through.  I will be thinking about you and will check back here tomorrow to see how you are doing.

~One hour or one minute at a time. Whatever it takes to get through the day.~