Your Mental Health at Midlife

• Every antidepressant works differently in different people. Just because one drug worked well for your best friend doesn't mean it will work for you. If the medication doesn't seem to be helping, talk to your health care professional about changing the dosage or type of medicine.
• Medication takes time to work. On average, it may take 10 days to two weeks before you see an improvement in your mood.
• There is some evidence that using some forms of estrogen therapy with antidepressants may help the medication work better (estrogen therapy alone cannot treat major depression).
• Therapy is an important part of any treatment for depression. The two most-studied forms in depression are interpersonal psychotherapy (IPT), a less intensive form of traditional psychotherapy, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in which you learn to alter your perception of the world. Some studies find therapy is as effective as medicine for some mild or moderate depression.

Whether your mood swings are related to depression or other issues in your life, certain lifestyle changes may also help. For instance, numerous studies find regular exercise can help reduce the risk of depression and improve mood. Social interaction is also important, with studies finding that supportive social relationships can improve the quality of life for those with depression and may even protect women against depression.

The bottom line: pay attention to how you're feeling emotionally as well as physically. If you notice the lows are more frequent than the highs, take action. This is a great time of life, and nothing should get in the way of your ability to enjoy it!