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Get Through Menopause Successfully with Psychotherapy

Marcelina Hardy | May 15, 2008

Menopause can mean many different things for women. Some women approach it positively because it marks a time when she will no longer have to deal with birth control or menses. Other women find menopause as a reminder that their approaching an older stage in life and reflect on what they have accomplished. If a woman feels happy with what she has done, she will most likely embrace menopause, but if not, this period in life may cause depression.

Depression in Menopause

Depression is a common occurrence during menopause. Not only do women think about what they have not done in their life up to this point but also hormones are changing causing many different emotions and feelings. Some people who are happy with their life will still feel symptoms of depression because of these changing hormones.

What Can Help You through Menopause

Some women seek help from their physician for menopausal symptom relief. Physicians will normally prescribe estrogen supplements since this the hormone causing most of the problems women experience. However, some women cannot take the supplements or they choose not to because they also feel side effects from the supplements. In this case, the physician may prescribe an anti-depressant or refer the woman to a psychiatrist.

Alternatives to Prescription Medication

If you are going through menopause and choose not take any medications, there are more options for you. Psychotherapy is another effective form of help for you while going through symptoms of depression because of menopause. Even though your hormones play a role in how you feel, your thoughts about how you feel and your life may intensify the way you feel.

Your therapist will discuss how you feel about menopause and some of the physical symptoms you are experiencing. He or she will then help you come to terms with your life up to this point in time. Sometimes it helps to talk to someone about everything that has been going through your mind. Your therapist will also help you come up with goals for life during and after menopause. These goals will help you stay focused on something other than the changes your body is going through.

Support from Family and Friends

One of the best ways to get through difficulty in life is relying on friends and family members. If you have friends that are about the same age, they will know what you are going through. You can share your feelings as well as your fears without ridicule or criticism. You can receive a lot of comfort from others.

Final Tip

Menopause is another stage in your life. You can either view it as something negative and feel miserable or you can take control, find the help you may need, and approach it with positivity. If you haven't accomplished what you wanted to do so far than this your time to do it. No one ever said that menopause was the end of your life and ability to accomplish your dreams. Get your goals together and start working on them; this is the beginning of the rest of your life.