Clinical depression is a serious and pervasive mood disorder. It causes feelings of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness. Depression can be Mild to Moderate with symptoms of apathy, little appetite, difficulty sleeping, low self-esteem, and low-grade fatigue. Or it can be more severe.
Depression in women is very common. In fact, women are twice as likely to develop clinical depression as men. Up to 1 in 4 women are likely to have an episode of major depression at some point in life.
Symptoms of depression in women include: •Persistent sad, anxious, or “empty” mood •Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, including sex •Restlessness, crankiness, or excessive crying •Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, helplessness, hopelessness, pessimism •Sleeping too much or too little, early-morning waking •Appetite and/or weight loss, or overeating and weight gain •Less energy, fatigue, feeling “slowed down” •Thoughts of death or suicide, or suicide attempts •Trouble concentrating, remembering, or making decisions •Persistent physical symptoms that do not respond to treatment, such as headaches, digestive disorders, and chronic pain
WHAT ARE
THE SYMPTOMS OF
MANIA IN WOMEN
Mania is a highly energized state with elevated mood that can occur in bipolar disorder. Moods in bipolar disorder swing over the course of days or weeks or months from the lows of depression to the highs of mania. Even though mania is an elevated mood, it is serious and needs medical assessment and treatment.
The symptoms of mania include: •Abnormally elevated mood •Crankiness •Less need for sleep •Grandiose ideas •Greatly increased talking
•Racing thoughts •Increased activity, including sexual activity •Markedly increased energy •Poor judgment that can lead to risk-taking behavior •Inappropriate social behavior
WHY IS DEPRESSION IN WOMEN MORE COMMON THAN DEPRESSION IN MEN
Before adolescence, Depression is rare and occurs at about the same rate in girls and boys. But with the start of puberty, a girl’s risk of having depression increases dramatically to twice that of boys.
Some experts believe that the higher chance of depression in women may be related to changes in hormone levels that occur throughout a woman’s life. These changes are evident during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause, as well as after giving birth or having a miscarriage. In addition, the hormone fluctuations that come with each month’s menstrual cycle probably contribute to premenstrual syndrome (PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder, (PMDD), a severe syndrome marked especially by depression, anxiety, and mood swings that happens the week before menstruation and interferes with daily life.
WHAT RAISES THE CHANCES OF DEPRESSION IN WOMEN
Things that increase the risk of depression in women include reproductive, genetic, or other biological factors; interpersonal factors; and certain psychological and personality characteristics. In addition, women juggling work with raising kids and women who are single parents suffer more stress that may trigger symptoms of depression.
Other things that could increase risk include:
•Family history of mood disorders •History of mood disorders in early reproductive years •Loss of a parent before age 10 •Loss of a social support system or the threat of such a loss •Ongoing psychological and social stress, such as loss of a job, relationship stress, separation, or divorce •Physical or sexual abuse as a child •Use of certain medications
Women can also get postpartum depression after giving birth. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.
IS DEPRESSION HEREDITARY?
Depression can run in families. When it does, it generally starts between ages 15 and 30. A family link to depression is much more common in women. But there is not always an apparent genetic or hereditary link to explain why someone may have clinical depression.
HOW DOES DEPRESSION IN WOMEN DIFFER FROM DEPRESSION IN MEN
Depression in women differs from depression in men in several ways: •Depression in women may happen earlier, last longer, be more likely to come back, be more likely to be tied to stressful life events, and be more sensitive to seasonal changes. •Women are more likely to have guilty feelings and attempt suicide, although they actually take their own lives less often than men. •Depression in women is more likely to be linked to anxiety disorders, especially panic and phobic symptoms, and eating disorders.
HOW IS DEPRESSION IN WOMEN TREATED
There are a variety of ways to treat Depression, including medications such as antidepressants, brain stimulation techniques like ECT or TMS, and individual psychotherapy.
Family therapy may help if family stress adds to your depression. Your mental health care provider or primary care doctor will determine the best course of treatment for you.
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