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Power Surge Forums > Board Discussions > Depression (Menopause Related) / Anti-depressants / The Blues / Sadness
mourningperson
I began the middle to late stages of Peri Menopause about 5 years ago.
I became fully Menopausal about 2 years ago.
During this 5 year period, I began to become SEVERELY depressed.
I tried addressing it with Bio Identical hormones, but they did not help.
For the past 5 years, I have tried EVERY anti depressant.
I read a book called "Out of the Black Hole", and talked my HMO into implanting a "Vagal Nerve
Implant" device in my chest, supposedly the "cutting edge" cure for depression - it did not help.
Out of supremely, extreme desperation, about 2+ years ago, I had ECT treatments (Electro Shock) - it was the
most horrible experience, besides the depression, that I have ever undergone - it did not help.
I have been through therapy.
I have a loving husband and a good life, the depression, I KNOW, was biologically based, but no one would listen to me.
I have terminated all psychiatric modalities, they were not only a waste of years for me, but they made me more hopeless, and
physically ill.
I will be seeing a new doctor in two weeks, who subscribes to the modalities of Dr. Mark Hyman (as seen on PBS), the author of "The UltraMind Solution".
He also believes that all depression, anxiety, dementia, etc... is biologically based.

What I would like to ask is, has anyone out there survived severe, menopausal depression?

I have become so hopeless. I have researched and researched diligently all through these past 5 years, and tried so hard to "cure" myself of this depression, that has absolutely ruined my life.

Has anyone had a similar experience, have you survived, did you make it "out", did you get better?

I'm past the stage of anti depressants and psychotherapy, I've done all that.
I eat right, don't drink or do drugs.
Peri Meno, and Menopause caused my depression.

I'd like to hear from any "survivors".
I need some hope.

Thank you,
mourningperson
jones
Well, I'm not a survivor....YET, but I just wanted to comment. I was recommended to read the book by Dr. Mark Hyman and it's fantastic. I already do most of the things that he recommends, but went to his Website and am thinking about joining their "club". Please let me know how things go, I would love to hear.
nc53215
yes ive been to peri hell and back, not a nice place, i had the severe deppression 2 yrs ago that had me in a meno-induced phychosis, was hospitalized for 3 days with out my consent, the deppression was very severe, was seeing and hearing things that we,not there hospital gave me some drugs and i finally came back to reality but it was terriable, that was 2 yrs ago today i am fine ( knocking on wood) but afraid of losing control again, my faith has helped me alot, i dont or didnt take any a.d. at the time, not that im opposed to them ,just didnt, i am 49. will be 50 in march, and hope the worse is behind me......
chaotichar
hello
Back 19 yrs ago I had really bad post pardum depression with my daughter. I tried an AD and got sick. So I toughed it out for 6 months. I was told if you go through this the chances are high for meno depression. Yep...they were right! This time I couldn't stand it and tried ADs. Worked for a while but I'm not so sure any more. Very frustrating when you can't find the right one....
taylortoon
QUOTE (chaotichar @ Sep 14 2009, 10:42 AM) *
hello
Back 19 yrs ago I had really bad post pardum depression with my daughter. I tried an AD and got sick. So I toughed it out for 6 months. I was told if you go through this the chances are high for meno depression. Yep...they were right! This time I couldn't stand it and tried ADs. Worked for a while but I'm not so sure any more. Very frustrating when you can't find the right one....



Not a survivor, either but one struggling along. I have all my life fought depression, never taken an AD. Just sometimes out of the blue you would be depressed for no apparent reason. Then out of the blue, eveything seems good again. Can't explain it. With meno(not peri) I am really depressed alot of the time. I wasn't this way with peri. Now I know I'm in full blown meno. I don't know what to tell you except that you're not alone and some of us are suffering too but perhaps not as severly as you. Just hang in there, from what other women tell, we'll eventually survive this.
mood_swinger
QUOTE (mourningperson @ Sep 14 2009, 03:30 AM) *
I began the middle to late stages of Peri Menopause about 5 years ago.
I became fully Menopausal about 2 years ago.
During this 5 year period, I began to become SEVERELY depressed.
I tried addressing it with Bio Identical hormones, but they did not help.
For the past 5 years, I have tried EVERY anti depressant.
I read a book called "Out of the Black Hole", and talked my HMO into implanting a "Vagal Nerve
Implant" device in my chest, supposedly the "cutting edge" cure for depression - it did not help.
Out of supremely, extreme desperation, about 2+ years ago, I had ECT treatments (Electro Shock) - it was the
most horrible experience, besides the depression, that I have ever undergone - it did not help.
I have been through therapy.
I have a loving husband and a good life, the depression, I KNOW, was biologically based, but no one would listen to me.
I have terminated all psychiatric modalities, they were not only a waste of years for me, but they made me more hopeless, and
physically ill.
I will be seeing a new doctor in two weeks, who subscribes to the modalities of Dr. Mark Hyman (as seen on PBS), the author of "The UltraMind Solution".
He also believes that all depression, anxiety, dementia, etc... is biologically based.

What I would like to ask is, has anyone out there survived severe, menopausal depression?

I have become so hopeless. I have researched and researched diligently all through these past 5 years, and tried so hard to "cure" myself of this depression, that has absolutely ruined my life.

Has anyone had a similar experience, have you survived, did you make it "out", did you get better?

I'm past the stage of anti depressants and psychotherapy, I've done all that.
I eat right, don't drink or do drugs.
Peri Meno, and Menopause caused my depression.

I'd like to hear from any "survivors".
I need some hope.

Thank you,
mourningperson


Hi Mourningperson,
I just want to welcome you to Power Surge. The best online support system for peri/meno in the world. I am like you.... having depression with the peri/meno. I have been told that it does eventually get better and we just have to believe it. I also have tried the ADs and BHRT and cannot tolerate them.... having been able to tolerate ADs in the past. Have you had your thyroid checked out? Those of us w/ thyroid problems seem to have such a rougher meno. Low thyroid is one of the leading causes of depression especially during meno. Have you had your ferritin levels checked? If low, this too can cause depression.... As well as low Vitamin D.... Have you had a complete blood work up on everything?

I do hope that soon you can find some relief. Life is SO hard when we are depressed. The depression just colors everything a very dull gray and clouds our perception so negatively.

I am not a survivor YET, but I am determined to be one someday. At least I am some better than I was when this all began. Please please be good to yourself. Surround yourself with kind, loving people and good things. Stay away from the news and try to limit the stress in your life. Keep telling yourself that this is not really YOU, it is your hormones causing this.

Keep us posted on your progress.

lots of hugs....
mood_swinger
joyceveronica
QUOTE (mourningperson @ Sep 14 2009, 01:30 PM) *
I began the middle to late stages of Peri Menopause about 5 years ago.
I became fully Menopausal about 2 years ago.
During this 5 year period, I began to become SEVERELY depressed.
I tried addressing it with Bio Identical hormones, but they did not help.
For the past 5 years, I have tried EVERY anti depressant.
I read a book called "Out of the Black Hole", and talked my HMO into implanting a "Vagal Nerve
Implant" device in my chest, supposedly the "cutting edge" cure for depression - it did not help.
Out of supremely, extreme desperation, about 2+ years ago, I had ECT treatments (Electro Shock) - it was the
most horrible experience, besides the depression, that I have ever undergone - it did not help.
I have been through therapy.
I have a loving husband and a good life, the depression, I KNOW, was biologically based, but no one would listen to me.
I have terminated all psychiatric modalities, they were not only a waste of years for me, but they made me more hopeless, and
physically ill.
I will be seeing a new doctor in two weeks, who subscribes to the modalities of Dr. Mark Hyman (as seen on PBS), the author of "The UltraMind Solution".
He also believes that all depression, anxiety, dementia, etc... is biologically based.

What I would like to ask is, has anyone out there survived severe, menopausal depression?

I have become so hopeless. I have researched and researched diligently all through these past 5 years, and tried so hard to "cure" myself of this depression, that has absolutely ruined my life.

Has anyone had a similar experience, have you survived, did you make it "out", did you get better?

I'm past the stage of anti depressants and psychotherapy, I've done all that.
I eat right, don't drink or do drugs.
Peri Meno, and Menopause caused my depression.

I'd like to hear from any "survivors".
I need some hope.

Thank you,
mourningperson

My dear 'mourningperson'
You are a survivor!Please do not think otherwise.
Unfortunately,there are people who are highly resistant to ADs and life can feel intolerable but you write with such warmth and clarity it is inspiring.
I never did the Therapy route.Frankly I feel I am not brave enough to uproot all my demons.Feel better off when slightly numbed.There is no way I could face talk with another person.Am not saying i am right .Probably.,I am too cowardly to admit to all my mistakes plus the abuse I suffered.
Prozac,Thank God,at a small dose of 20 mgs does work for me plus Xanax on an as needed basis.But my husband is like you.He gets very depressed but nothing seems to work.Actually,he recently started with another AD,Celexa and am seeing a little chink of light.
I completely agree that Menopause is the strangest stage of life that I have ever come across and the problem is we were all so un=prepared.I honestly believed that our periods just stopped and that was that!More fool me.
At 39 I was fully Post and a nervous,skeleton like wreck
Today,I an 58 but still on HRT and so would not call myself a Survivor as it is the Meds that keep me going
But that is how it is.
However,following the stories of lots of great ladies here on the Forum a lot have come out alive and kicking at the end of some real 'horror' stories.
So never give up
You are in my Prayers
Please keep in touch
God Bless
Elizabeth
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