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"What is all this I read about serotonin and
depression? What does this have to do with perimenopasue and menopause?"
 Perimenopause,
and especially menopause, marks a time when
estrogen levels fall. Perimenopause is a dress rehearsal for menopause. It's the body's
way of adjusting to the soon to be new lowered estrogen levels of menopause. Some women,
in addition to hotflashes and insomnia, say they
feel depressed during
this time.
Stephanie Bender
author of The Power of Perimenopause says:
"Estrogen is the body's natural antidepressant"
"I told them that estrogen is the body's natural
antidepressant and that progesterone is the body's natural anti-anxiety and
anti-inflammatory....In this country there is a tendency to over prescribe drugs like
Prozac, valium etc.. instead of giving women what they really need. By using these other
drugs many women miss out on half of their lives and have continual hangovers."
see the rest of this interview |
Low estrogen levels can be a reason for depression in
women. Low estrogen triggers the brain to release MAO, an enzyme in the brain
which breaks down and destroys the neurotransmitter, serotonin. Likewise
estrogen increases the destruction of this enzyme MAO . The lower our MAO enzyme
levels the better we probably feel, since MAO breakdowns serotonin.
Serotonin levels can dictate if we feel depressed or
not. The way antidepressant medications like
Paxil, Zoloft, and Prozac work is by preventing serotonin destruction and loss.
These antidepressants inhibit serotonin uptake ( or reuptake) by the neurons in our
brains. It's the low serotonin levels that can make us depressed.
SAM-e for Sure?
by Sue Spataro, RN, BSN
There has been a lot of media attention about a new over- the- counter herbal
supplement called SAM-e, pronounced "Sammy". SAM-e is short for
S-adenosylmethionine which is an amino acid. Find out more.
Potatoes Not
Prozac:
A Natural Seven-Step Dietary Plan to Control Your
Cravings and Lose Weight, Recognize How Foods Affect the Way You Feel
by Kathleen DesMaisons, Kathleen, Ph. D. Des Maisons,
kathle Desmaison, Candace B. Pert
 
Addressing the millions of Americans who suffer from genetic sugar-sensitivity,
this book presents a practical and workable eating program that uses everyday foods--with
an emphasis on complex carbohydrates and vegetables--to balance blood sugars and ease
depression National print ads. National author publicity. 5-city tour. 25-market national
radio satellite tour. |
 
Interview with author
Linda Ojeda
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Living Books
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Living Books
Personal Massager
with Heat
more Spa
& Wellness
Menopause and the
Mind:
The Complete Guide to Coping with Memory Loss, Foggy
Thinking, Verbal Confusion, and Other Cognitive Effects of Perimenopause and Menopause
by Claire L., Ph.D. Warga
Menopause and the Mind gives every woman the survival kit she needs to manage the
thinking and memory symptoms -- long overlooked by the medical establishment -- that
accompany the onset of perimenopause and menopause. Neuropsychologist Claire Warga
provides the first scientific explanation for this common "hormonal
misconnection" syndrome. Drawing upon recent brain and clinical research, she shows
that forgetfulness, malapropisms, and lost concentration are not manifestations of
dementia or senility; instead, they result from the depletion of estrogen in the brain
cells of women as they enter perimenopause and menopause. Armed with this knowledge, Warga
offers women a breakthrough plan for regaining control and confidence in their minds. |
