Suffering from depression and peri-menopausal symptoms.

**listen** · 30-07-2009 05:16 PM

ontGrowAutofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:BrowserLevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><style>  </style> My mother aged 54, suffers from depression and peri-menopausal symptoms. There is no apparent cause for her to be depressed as all is well in my family. My sister and I are well settled. My father is in great health and has a good job. Early symptoms of depression started showing up about three years back. Sessions with the counselor have not helped much. She has been on anti-depressant drugs for quite sometime now. However, I wish there could be some way out to assist her to regain her enthusiasm for life.

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**Canuck Physio** · 31-07-2009 04:19 AM

Hi there,

It is unfortunate that the psychologist was not able to help out, but please to pursuvere with such help

Problem solving often results in epiphanies, and utilising the available resources is a must

Try self help books such as Anthony RObbins, Deepak Chopra, or even Inspiring Film. Perhaps look for clues as to what is that which appears to be empty, and that which your mother appears drawn to.

Is her nutrition good? Sometimes the bodies biochemistry simply needs some form of biochemical to allow it to come into balance and turn it around.

As this is a physio forum it is difficult to offer any further advice

Regards

**Judith Mollet** · 09-08-2009 10:48 PM

How much does your mother exercise?? Is she piling on weight due to antidepressants? Is she employed outside the household in something too demanding or her everyday life is the opposite and not demanding at all?
As Cannuck said, it's diffucult to advise fully online.
That your father is in good health and has a good job is a plus for material comfort and that you are well settled is also good, but to assume that there's therefore no "reason" for depression is, I'm afraid, too easy.
With depression, the body stops/ reduces it's production of own "happy chemicals" these include endorphines and serotonin, for example. The person can end up in a downward spiral of lack of motivation-lack of happy experiences-does less-produces less "happy chemicals"-does less-etc etc. Being depressed and not motivated doesn't make it fun for people to be with you. No fun, no laughs, less possibility of boosting own production. The spiral continues. On a practical side if it's linked to menopause: she should start some form of regular exercise even if it's tough to start. If she has a good friend to do it with, to laugh with, all the better. Enough fresh air is also important. Can she walk a dog? Get to a park? work in the garden? Do your parents go out together? To a movie? to friends?
It's often difficult to talk about problems with your own family, if your mum has girlfriends the same age who she can chat to and be active with encourage her to do so. To improve your understanding of what women around 50 plus can experience try to look into the references you've been given or what you find in a bookshop or online, you don't have to let your mum know or deliver a lecture on it !
regards JM

**darrbo** · 20-08-2009 08:06 AM

People suffering from anxiety, panic, stress and depression should consult a specialist and only then should use the medicine, as there can be various reasons behind the disorder. Medicines used to cure such disorders are habit forming and should be used for small duration. As per my personal experience, I have used Xanax and it helped me in getting over my panic and anxiety disorder. Along with medicine, the concerned person should take a break from his/her regular schedule, go out and take good sleep.

**gcoe** · 22-08-2009 02:41 AM

Hi Listen

It is particularly distressing seeing a loved one suffer with depression and for a long time. My limited understanding of depression is that there can be a variety of causes, experiences, and presentations and therefore no one solution works for everybody. Furthermore a lot of solutions to depression seem to help to some extent but may not result in full remission.

Given this I think the thing is to persist with a number of available resources. Firstly I think you should consider sticking primarily to evidence-based methods - no point in endlessly experimenting things that have initial appeal but have no sound research to back them up. Here are some suggestions:

Exercise - cardiovascular exercise seems to be very helpful, and in women including resistance training may also be helpful - but it has to be regular and sustained. For a good review a have a look at:
Exercise for depression
This review is positive but isn't coming out in strong favour of exercise. that may be more to do with the poor quality of the clinical trials rather than the lack of effectiveness of exercise. Exercise may well be as good or even better than an effective antidepressant. I think the big problem with exercise is for the depressive person taking to it and adhering enough to get and maintain benefits. Your mother might need a lot of support to do this eg a personal trainer who is empathetic and initially takes the initiative

psychotherapy - not all therapies are of the same value. Non specific counselling - if that is what she is receiving doesn't have much evidence for it. Cognitive behavioural therapies (CBT) and interpersonal therapy have received the most scrutiny and are shown to be effective therapies. So making sure your mother is receiving an evidence-based therapy by a qualified therapist is important. And if one isn't working try something and someone else. In CBT there are different varieties with evidence: Classic CBT has recieved the most but there is also one called Acceptance and Commitment therapy which seems promising and one called behavioural activation which emphasises doing! There is one for very entrenched chronic depression called Cognitive behavioural analysis System which appears have good results particularly when combined with medication. One thing I would NOT suggest is trying out self help gurus like Robbins, books and courses. While these may vie people and initial high they can also lead to blaming the patient (and often increase self blaming and self loathing) when their “powerful, life changing” ideas and simplistic solutions don’t work. These approaches are prey on the vulnerable and come down to making money, not good evidence for their effectiveness.

Medication - this receives the most attention and funding yet seems to be more elusive in offering answers than it is often understood. For example there was that recent review that suggests the newer antidepressants are no better than placebo except when delivered to severely depressed individuals. Clinical lore tends to suggest that just because you don’t respond to one doesn’t mean you won’t respond to another. Combining medications may also be helpful. Given your mother has persistent depression is she under the care of a psychopharmacologist? If what she is on isn’t working it may be time to try something else.

If she has already have tried a number of these things your mother may have refractive or resistant depression – just really difficult to find something that helps. By the nature of the beast one very quickly can be come despondent about trying different things.

All the best with helping your mother

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