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Causes of Depression in Women

Depressed Woman laying in bed.

Women are considered about twice as likely as men to become depressed. Do you know the reason why women are more depressed than men? It may be due to some hormonal changes throughout life.

In the United States, approximately 15 million people are diagnosed with depression yearly. Unfortunately, most of them are women, and about 2/3 didn’t get the necessary support and help.

Well! This article from Positive Reset Mental Health Clinic will let you know the major causes of depression in women.

 

What is depression?

Depression is an alarming and serious mood disorder that causes weird feelings of helplessness, hopelessness, anxiety, and sadness. It can be mild, moderate, and even severe, with the symptoms of restlessness, fatigue, crankiness, guilty, worthlessness, and more.

Depressive women often show a loss of interest in pleasurable activities, including sex, lack of sleep, trouble concentrating, thinking, remembering, judging, cause weight loss or weight gain. Further, in severe cases, individuals tend to attempt suicide in result of experience toxic thoughts.

 

General causes of depression in women

Many biological and psychological factors can cause depression in women. However, here are some general causes of depression in women.

  • Sometimes, depression considers as a hereditary problem.
  • Early childhood traumatic and abusive events
  • Crash dieting or binge eating
  • Alcohol addiction and substance use
  • Feelings of helplessness and hopelessness
  • Loneliness and isolation
  • Lack of social support
  • Martial relationship issues like constant stress of managing career and personal life
  • Financial problems
  • Death of close one or other saddest life events
  • Body changes during the age of sexual development

Medication effects of birth control medicines

Hormone replacement therapy

Severe injury or any disability

Chronic diseases like thyroid problems, cancer, or other serious medical conditions.

 

Major causes of depression in women

Apart from the factors mentioned earlier, some life experiences like pregnancy can also lead the female towards depression.  So, major causes of depression that may require mental health services can include

 

1.Perinatal depression

Perinatal depression occurs when a woman gets pregnant or right after a baby’s birth (also called postpartum depression).

The body’s hormones change rashly during pregnancy and after birth. It causes pervasive mood changes, ultimately symptoms of severe anxiety and depression. These symptoms include irregular sleep patterns, terrifying thoughts like suicide, and unprotected feelings about babies.

This kind of depression makes life harder as miscarriage may occur or relationship issues, and family and peers aren’t often providing needed support. These pathetic situations then make the women severely depressed.

 

2.Premenstrual syndrome (PMS)

The premenstrual syndrome usually happens in women right after experiencing their first menstrual cycle. It usually occurs between the ages of 14-30. A sudden change in the hormones like serotonin directly contributes to your mood swings and anxiety, which cause depression.

Symptoms are mostly temporary, such as feeling bloated, helpless, severe headaches, and other physical changes.

 

3.Peri-menopausal and post- menopausal depression

Women experience their Peri-menopausal stage before actual menopause begins, normally in their 30s. And the stage after menopause is post-menopause, which is the age between 45-55 years old. Wild hormonal changes occur during this stage that leads women towards severe anxiety, guilt, helplessness, and lack of interest in daily activities. And these symptoms ultimately cause depression.

Remember that depression for any reason and at any stage of life is serious. Don’t need to suffer if you are told that these depressive symptoms are common in women. It would be best if you took it seriously and should adopt adequate measures to treat depression to live better.

Does depression in women different from depression in men?

Yes, depression in women is different from that of men in various ways. Depressive women tend to feel more guilty and alone than men. Depression in women may begin earlier, be more likely to show repetitions, and be highly sensitive to seasonal changes.

Women are more likely to be depressive at any stage of life than men.

Further, women’s depression is often related to eating disorders, anxiety disorders, separation anxiety disorders, and other phobic and panic signs.

 

How to cope with depression in women?

Fortunately, there are plenty of ways to cope with depression. But the problem is only 2/3 of women come for coping purposes, and others stay suffering and often attempt suicide.

Here are some coping strategies that help women get rid of depression;

  • Practicing some self-claiming activities like Medication, yoga, and deep breathing.
  • Medications such as antidepressants
  • Brain stimulation techniques like TMS and ECT
  • Family doctor
  • Individual psychotherapy, like Cognitive behavioral therapy
  • Community mental health centers
  • Psychiatric societies
  • Family support
  • Private clinics and facilities

 

Final thought

In a nutshell, depression can stem from a constant sadness. As a woman, it’s not common to experience depressive symptoms; literally, it’s threatening. Don’t ignore these symptoms and instantly go for help. It will assist you living a happy life and protect you from life-threatening situations. Contact us if you have any questions!