Your health care provider may ask when your symptoms started, what time of day they happen, how long they last, how often they occur, if they seem to be getting worse or better, and if they keep you from going out or doing your usual activities. It may help to take the time to make some notes about your symptoms before you visit your provider.
Pregnancy, the postpartum period, perimenopause, and the menstrual cycle are all associated with dramatic physical and hormonal changes. Premenstrual syndrome, or PMS, refers to moodiness and irritability in the weeks before menstruation. It is quite common, and the symptoms are usually mild. PMDD is a serious condition with disabling symptoms such as irritability, anger, depressed mood, sadness, suicidal thoughts, appetite changes, bloating, breast tenderness, and joint or muscle pain.
Pregnant women commonly deal with morning sickness, weight gain, and mood swings. Caring for a newborn is challenging, too. These feelings usually last a week or two and then go away as a new mom adjusts to having a newborn. Perinatal depression includes depression that begins during pregnancy called prenatal depression and depression that begins after the baby is born called postpartum depression. Mothers with perinatal depression experience feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that may make it difficult for them to carry out daily tasks, including caring for themselves, their new child, or others.
If you think you have perinatal depression, you should talk to your health care provider or trained mental health care professional. If you see any signs of depression in a loved one during her pregnancy or after the child is born, encourage her to see a health care provider or visit a clinic. If you are going through perimenopause, you might be experiencing abnormal periods, problems sleeping, mood swings, and hot flashes. Although these symptoms are common, feeling depressed is not.
If you are struggling with irritability, anxiety, sadness, or loss of enjoyment at the time of the menopause transition, you may be experiencing perimenopausal depression. Not every woman who is depressed experiences every symptom. Some women experience only a few symptoms. Others have many. The severity and frequency of symptoms, and how long they last, will vary depending on the individual and the severity of the illness.
Food and Drug Administration: Women and Depression. Even the most severe cases of depression can be treated. Antidepressants are medications commonly used to treat depression. People respond differently to antidepressants, and you may need to try different medicines to find the one that works best.
Researchers also are studying and developing other medications for depression, such as brexanolone for postpartum depression, and esketamine. There are many different types of psychotherapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy or interpersonal therapy.
The particular approach a therapist uses depends on the condition being treated and the training and experience of the therapist.
Therapists also may combine and adapt elements of different approaches. Depression affects each individual differently. Depression and anxiety seem to be linked to social insecurity. These disparities in mental health statistics provide fresh evidence that the gender gap needs closing — both in mental health-specific research and in broader social structures.
Given that healthy, happy people tend to be more productive and contribute more actively to innovation, wealth generation and success, mental health may be the right place to start to close the other gender gaps.
More research is needed. The views expressed in this article are those of the author alone and not the World Economic Forum. Studies show that people placing a high value on their own happiness can lead to less happiness, as they are disappointed when they expect to feel happy. I accept. Take action on UpLink. Forum in focus. New toolkit protects users from thousands of unregulated mental health apps.
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Depression is predicted to be the second leading cause of global disability burden by It is twice as common in women. Often, [such] rumination is focused on the past — bad things that have happened or unfortunate situations you wish had gone differently.
You also have other symptoms — changes in sleep or eating habits, tiredness, trouble concentrating, or feelings of worthlessness.
The symptoms are bad enough to interfere with your ability to get along in daily life. Ruminating makes these symptoms worse.
Then problem-solving becomes harder, and the increased depression saps your motivation to try any solution you consider. Why do more women suffer from depression? But you may also be genetically disposed. And dramatic hormonal changes might trigger [an episode]. Is the cause mostly physiological? Social factors come into play too. Women tend to have more traumas in their past, and that contributes to a higher depression rate.
They also may live with chronically stressful situations [such as job discrimination]. Psychologically, women tend to get wrapped up in relationships and are unable to pull out of unhealthy ones. Conflict with others is a common trigger. Men are generally less prone than women to [getting stuck] in these rumination cycles.
Men spend less time thinking about relationship problems. You can develop a more balanced way of thinking by identifying the type of negative thoughts that are contributing to your depression, and then learning to replace them with a more balanced way of thinking. All-or-nothing thinking.
The mental filter. Ignoring positive events and focusing on the negative. Noticing the one thing that went wrong, rather than all the things that went right. Diminishing the positive. Jumping to conclusions. Making negative interpretations without actual evidence.
Emotional reasoning. I really am no good! Once you identify the destructive thought patterns that contribute to your depression, you can start to challenge them with questions such as:. As you cross-examine your negative thoughts, you may be surprised at how quickly they crumble. While women suffering from depression respond to the same types of treatment as men, specific aspects of treatment are often modified for women.
Women are also more likely to require simultaneous treatment for other conditions such as anxiety or eating disorders. Talk therapy is an extremely effective treatment for depression.
It can provide you with the skills and insight to relieve depression symptoms and help prevent depression from coming back. One of the most important things to consider when choosing a therapist is your connection with this person. The right therapist will be a caring and supportive partner in your depression treatment and recovery. Because of female biological differences, women are generally started on lower doses of antidepressants than men. Women are also more likely to experience side effects, so any medication use should be closely monitored.
Authors: Melinda Smith, M. Paykel, E. Depression in Women. The British Journal of Psychiatry, S10 , 22— Products—Data Briefs—Number —February New report on women and depression: Latest research findings and recommendations.
Depressive Disorders. American Psychiatric Association. Mayo Clinic. Antidepressants: Safe during pregnancy? Mood Disorders and Teenage Girls — Discusses why girls are more vulnerable to mood disorders and what signs and symptoms you should look for in adolescent girls.
Child Mind Institute. In the U. Australia : Call Lifeline Australia at 13 11 This holiday season alone, millions of people will turn to HelpGuide for free mental health guidance and support. So many people rely on us in their most difficult moments.
Can we rely on you? All gifts made before December 31 will be doubled. Cookie Policy. Learn about the signs, symptoms, and causes of female depression—and what you can do to recover. Signs and symptoms of depression in women The symptoms of depression in women vary from mild to severe major depression and are distinguished by the impact they have on your ability to function. Common signs of depression include: Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
Appetite changes often leading to significant weight loss or weight gain. Changes in your sleep pattern.
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