Depression – The Daddy of Them All

Sourced from The Hysterectomy Association: Hysterectomy Association - Hysterectomy Association - hysterectomy, menopause and hormone replacement therapy (hrt) information and support for women. When it comes to invisible illnesses, it could be said that depression is the Daddy of them all – it’s a slippery customer which is often misunderstood as it comes dressed as an emotion. What does the word ‘depression’ really mean? It may be a short-lived feeling of despair and hopelessness. It can also mean a period of little business activity and low economic growth. An area of low pressure on a weather map is a depression, and so is the impression someone leaves in the couch when they stand up. You can even depress a button to test whether your jar of jam has been opened in the shop. The term lacks the precision you’d associate with a medical diagnosis – it is ambiguous, and all-too-easily dismissed. Compare ‘depression’ with ‘diabetes’, ‘hyperthyroidism’ or ‘acromegaly’. Perhaps not all of these conditions are familiar to you, but they sound serious, don’t they? All of these conditions are caused by hormonal imbalance, and can be very dangerous if not properly diagnosed and treated – just like depression. During the menopause or following a hysterectomy, women are particularly susceptible to hormonal imbalances which contribute to depression. When oestrogen levels decrease, production of serotonin, the brain’s ‘happy hormone’ also decreases –...
Source: The Hysterectomy Association - Category: OBGYN Authors: Tags: Women's Health depression invisible illness Source Type: news