Posted by helenag on January 19, 2004, at 15:41:58
In reply to CHANGE OF LIFE AND DEPRESSION, posted by ZAPPA on January 19, 2004, at 14:36:13
Yes, hormones certainly do have a bearing on our mental well-being. Many studies have been done on the effects of estrogen and progesterone and testosterone on the neurochemicals involved in mood regulation. Turns out Mr. Rogers is right: We're all of one piece.
I am pushing fifty myself and have signs of the upcoming change of life. I never suffered from post partum depressions, however. My pregnancies were the best times of my life, however, as far as moods go.
I have asked both my pdoc and family physician about hormones interfering with my moods. Both agreed that it is entirely possible. My pdoc suggested alternative medicine, a group of women who practice holistic medicine. My family doc said that it was practically impossible to regulate emotions with hormone therapy but he was willing to try a low dose birth control pill. I wasn't willing to take it. Nor any other synthetic hormone. I figure I am on enough meds right now, thank you.
As to your Effexor XR questions: I have been on the drug for over three years and have never experienced what you wrote about as far as the increase in creativity. Perhaps your depression had began to lift and you felt your creativity coming to the fore again? I did have brain zaps when I first started taking the drug. They went away in the first few days. I have found effexor to be a very effective drug with no side effects that I am aware of except if I miss a dose for more than two days (which I don't do anymore)
Hope that this helps. Please search out your answers through this board and other sites. There is a wealth of information out there. Also, a book called, Women and Moods, I think that is the title. It speaks to the topic you refer to.
Helen.
poster:helenag
thread:302817
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20040118/msgs/302845.html