Depression In Women

Women are more likely to become depressed than men. Women experience depression twice as often as men. According to the National Mental Health Association:

1. Approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical depression each year.
2. About one in every eight women can expect to develop clinical depression during their lifetime.
3. Depression occurs most frequently in women aged 25 to 44.

Not only are women more prone to depression than men, but the causes of female depression and even the pattern of symptoms are often different. Many factors contribute to the unique picture of depression in women—from reproductive hormones to social pressures to the female response to stress. Depression is a treatable medical illness that can occur in any woman, at any time, and for various reasons regardless of age, race or income. Women with depression more frequently experience guilt, anxiety, increased appetite and sleep, weight gain and co-morbid eating disorders.

Depression in women is very serious and as a chain reaction it affects the family. During menstrual cycle, in some women there will be recurrent brief depression which will be very brief. Some women experience behavioral and physical changes during the phases of their menstrual cycle. In some women the changes begin after ovulation till menstruation starts. It is called Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) - If the same thing is very severe and occurs regularly with other emotional physical changes including irritability and depression then it is called premenstrual dysphonic disorder (PMDD) which requires medication. In old age during the transition into menopause, some women experience an increased risk for depression. These problems are not for men. Hence women have double the chance of getting depressed than men.

The symptoms of depression in women are the same as those for major depression.

» Depressed mood
» Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy
» Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness
» Suicidal thoughts or recurrent thoughts of death
» Sleep disturbance (sleeping more or sleeping less)
» Appetite and weight changes
» Difficulty concentrating
» Lack of energy and fatigue

Women are about twice as likely as men to suffer from depression. This two-to-one difference persists across racial, ethnic, and economic divides. In fact, this gender difference in rates of depression is found in most countries around the world. There are a number of theories which attempt to explain the higher incidence of depression in women. Many factors have been implicated, including biological, psychological, and social factors.

According to the National Institutes of Health, factors 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. Women can also get postpartum depression after the birth of a baby. Some people get seasonal affective disorder in the winter. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder. Other factors 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 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 infertility treatments
» Use of certain oral contraceptives

Depression can be treated with counseling, medicine or both. It's also important to take good care of yourself, to exercise regularly and to eat healthy foods. Antidepressant medicines are very effective in treating depression. There are many different kinds of antidepressants. Your doctor will decide which one is right for you. Medicine alone or medicine with counseling can often help most women who have depression.

If you're planning to get pregnant, talk to your doctor about your medicines before you try to get pregnant. If you accidentally get pregnant while you're taking an antidepressant, tell your doctor right away. Your doctor will know if your particular antidepressant is safe to take. All medicine you take passes into your breast milk. If you are planning to breastfeed or you currently breastfeed, talk to your doctor about your medicine.

In most cases, it's okay to take birth control pills or hormone replacement therapy (called as HRT) at the same time as depression medicines. Taking hormones may even help some depressed women feel better. However, if your birth control pills seem to be causing symptoms of depression, discuss this with your doctor. He or she may suggest you use another method to prevent pregnancy for several months in order to find out if your birth control pills are causing depression.