ANTIDEPRESSANTS……and Midlife Women.
Now – I’ve been on antidepressants myself. So I understand in certain circumstances they’re needed. In fact they can save lives.
HOWEVER….There’s an alarming amount of midlife women telling me a similar story over and over.
They’ve been to their GP to discuss their symptoms.
Which are:
Brain fog.
Feeling depressed, anxious, low on energy and having trouble sleeping.
Their GP suggests they go on antidepressants. At this first appointment.Which I find a little frustrating.
Because during the peri-menopause and menopause women’s hormones can cause all sorts of imbalances which lead to the above symptoms.
These symptoms can be significantly improved through the right exercise, nutrition, natural medicine and alternative therapies such as CBT, NLP and stress management. Not all the time, in every case, but I’ve seen with my own eyes the positive impact lifestyle modifications can make overall for midlife women.
And surely they’re a better starting point than antidepressants?
Because….
Last year, more than 6 million people in England received antidepressants in the three months to September – the highest figure on record.
They’re highly addictive so many will be dependent on them for the rest of their life and research now suggests 56% of people who try to come off antidepressants will have long lasting negative symptoms.
I know this myself. I was only on them for 6 months and the withdrawal afterwards was appalling. As was the weight gain!
I’m categorically NOT doing all GPs down here. I know there are many who would not resort to offering antidepressants as a number one go to.
I’m simply writing this to make all you wonderful midlife women out there realise:
You’re not alone
You’re not going mad
And it’s more than likely being caused by hormonal imbalances…
The effects of which can be managed without antidepressants.
I urge you to seek alternatives and ask for support rather than suffer in silence.I know this is a sensitive subject but I’d love to know if you’ve had experience of this…
Claire x