Do you sometimes feel sad, or even a little depressed? Many women, as they approach the age of perimenopause, start to show these signs. They may at first be unaware that they are even showing signs of being pre-menopausal, because there can be other things that are happening in a womans life that are affecting her mood.

However it is actually very common for women to have at least some degree of depression as menopause approaches, and it is more of a physical cause that is the real culprit. While the day to day stresses of having hot flashes, insomnia, bloating, and irregular periods certainly add to the feeling of sadness, the hormonal imbalance itself can really cause terrible confusion and disorientation in women. Even women who consider themselves to be very happy and content in their lives sometimes have these mood disorders occasionally at this time, and it can be rather overwhelming at first.

Knowing that its possible these symptoms are due mostly to hormones, steps can certainly be taken to counteract them. If you havent already tried any of the natural herbal remedies that are currently being used for treatment of perimenopause, perhaps you can give some of them a try. Herbs such as black cohosh and damiana, and soy products that can be found in many health stores are a good place to start. Since these products help to boost a womans natural hormone levels they can provide some relief.

Another great way to elevate the mood is by exercising, which boosts the neurotransmitters like serotonin in the blood stream. This can increase your mood dramatically, which is why many people seem to love exercise. The expression runners high is attributed to this chemical, and it is one of the first things that is measured when a person is diagnosed with clinical depression due the importance in mood stabilization.

Of course sometimes women put too much pressure on themselves and dont allow any down time to rest sufficiently. If you are one of those who need to have everything done on time every time and just perfectly, you could be stressing yourself out. this can easily lead to a mild depression, and coupled with the symptoms of perimenopause will certainly take there toll.

In closing I would certainly like to remind women that if they have experienced a more severe form of depression, and for a longer period of time, it would be appropriate to seek out a doctor that is experienced with diagnosing depression. You may actually be clinically depressed, and in that case need a stronger medication and treatment. Getting help is critical to your mental health, either way, so dont take these symptoms lightly.