- Depression is a mood disorder that impairs a person’s life to a great extent.
- Depression can affect all people, regardless of age, gender, and sociocultural background.
- Despite this fact, women tend to suffer the adverse effects of depression more than men.
- Depression is a common and complex mental condition defined by feelings of hopelessness, persistent sadness, low mood, and worthlessness, accompanied by tendencies of self-harm in serious cases.
- In the United States, it is estimated that there are 15 million cases of depression every year. Most of the time, the majority of the women don’t even get help regarding their condition.
- A lot of women have Clinical depression, or major depression, which is a severe case of depression that produces a cluster of symptoms that affect everyday life of a person.
What is the cause of depression in women?
The unique biological makeup of women makes them more susceptible to depression. Women go through different kinds of hormonal changes from puberty to adolescence. Men also change with puberty but for women, this affects them differently.
Family history
Women with a family history of mood disorders are at greater risk of developing symptoms of depression at an early age. It can be transmitted from one generation to the next.
Lack of social support
Women often get misjudged as being emotionally inclined and showing vulnerability;especially by their family and in marital relations; this, combined with persistent psychological stress, could take a toll on women’s minds and lead to depression.
Postpartum depression
One of the least acknowledged and neglected forms of depression for women that impairs their lives. It can act like a silent stalker for women in the early stages of pregnancy because of the changes in their bodies. After pregnancy, women experience chronic symptoms;sadness,crying for no reason, and feeling anxious. These symptoms of depression in women are indicative of a serious postpartum phase that can be harmful if not treated early.
There are several reasons why women are more drastically affected by depression than men:
What are the symptoms of depression in women?
Depression can manifest differently in individuals, and symptoms can vary between men and women. In women, depression may present with a combination of emotional, physical, and behavioral symptoms. Some common symptoms of depression in women include:
1. Sadness, anxiety, or emptiness
Depression is characterized by extremely low moods or sadness. Women tend to show extreme sadness because of the emotional turmoil depression can bring. Every woman has to go through a cycle of hormonal changes every month in the form of the menstrual cycle. Pregnancy also causes a lot of changes in women, and that includes frequent ups and downs of emotions.
Anxiety and empathy are common in cases of depression. Depression triggers symptoms of anxiety, worry, and the empty feeling of loneliness.
3. Lack of interest in activities
Depression causes someone to lose interest in activities that they previously used to enjoy. It includes all the pleasurable activities, such as engaging in sex, hobbies, etc. Even things that bring extreme amounts of joy to a normal person would fail to incite any amount of excitement in a depressed person.
4. Being restless, cranky, or crying excessively
Sure, hormonal changes can cause a lot of mood swings! Imagine the combination of depression just double the dosage of overwhelming feelings and emotions. One moment a person is happy, another is sad. Women can cry excessively without any reason and may get cranky or agitated easily.
5. Feelings of worthlessness, hopelessness, and guilt
Feeling guilty and worthless is one of the most common symptoms of depression in women, and it is so common in men as well. A person may feel that they are unworthy of being loved, that they are helpless about their condition, and that they are hopeless about the good things in life. They feel like a burden to their loved ones, and sometimes they are reminded that life is not worth living.
6. Excessively sleeping or not sleeping
Depression can mess up a person’s sleeping schedule. It can cause a person to sleep all the time, which leads to sleepless nights. Hence, increases daytime sleepiness, and the cycle continues until the sleeping pattern is completely disrupted.
7. Poor appetite
Depression causes changes in appetite and a lack of hunger. A person can either eat so little that they lose weight or gain weight from eating a lot, such as binge eating in sadness. It is one of the most visible symptoms of depression in women. An increase in weight is more spontaneous than menopause due to hormonal activity and slow metabolic activity.
8. Fatigue, tiredness, and lack of energy
A person with depression may feel tired all the time. There is a lack of energy and a feeling of fatigue, despite not doing anything. This lack of energy is the reason people with depression sleep excessively.
9. Difficulty in connection
Depression decreases clarity in thought and concentration. So a person is unable to focus on something in their life, such as studies, work, or even relationships. It also affects the decision-making of a person.
10. Self-harm and suicidal thoughts
In severe cases of depression, women show self-harming behaviors and suicidal tendencies, with or without a suicide attempt. It is one of the most serious manifestations of depressive symptoms that people can see. Women suffering from postpartum depression often take drastic measures to end life due to extreme levels of stress and hopelessness.
11. Presence of physical symptoms
Depression also manifests physical symptoms in the form of chronic pain, headaches, digestion problems, etc. Such physical pain does not respond well to medication, either.
What are the treatments for depression in women?
Depression can be treated using a variety of techniques, including therapy and medication. Other techniques include the use of ECTs to alleviate the symptoms of depression in women.
Drug therapy
The use of mediation can quickly help a person with depression. It can help tackle serious symptoms of depression and allow someone to lessen their stress.
Psychotherapy-mental health practices are involved in providing the necessary mental support to the individual with treatment. Therapy helps to manage the symptoms and provide clarity of thought in a person, boosting their morale and self-esteem in the process..
Family therapy
It can help women by including them and their family members with expert counsel. Here, people can share actions, which creates a better understanding of the concept of depression.
Cognitive behavioral therapies (CBT)
CBT is a form of therapy that improves the thought process in depression. It replaces negative thoughts with positive ones.It raises our awareness and helps us understand the underlying cause of depression.