what is depresion
Depression is a common but severe mood disorder characterized by symptoms that can affect someone’s ability to work, sleep, study, eat, and engage in once enjoyable activities. Depression is generally caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors. 1
It isn’t possible for someone suffering from depression to “snap out of it,” as getting better usually requires treatment. If a woman you love is experiencing depression, it is vital to offer support, patience, and encouragement. It is crucial to remind her that she can feel better over time and with the right treatment.1
If you believe you are suffering from depression, a good first step is making an appointment with your primary doctor or a psychiatrist. Some medications, viruses, and a thyroid disorder can produce the same symptoms as depression. A medical professional can properly examine you and rule out any other possibilities. If you are diagnosed with depression, they will present you with treatment options and guide you along the way.1
Signs and Symptoms
of Depression in Women
and they can be different for each individual.
- Feeling empty, hopeless, and sad
- Irritability, anxiety, and guilt
- Exhaustion or extreme fatigue
- Lack of interest in once pleasurable activities
- Inability to concentrate or remember details
- Thoughts or attempts of suicide
- Insomnia, too much or too little sleep
- Appetite, eating too much or too little
- Aches, pains, cramps, headaches
- Lack of energy
- Feeling out of control
- Changes in mood
- Panic attacks
- Disinterest in relationships and regular activities
Why Depression is More
Common in Women
Depression is rare before adolescence and occurs at the same rate in girls and boys during this phase of development. After puberty, girls become twice as likely as boys to develop depression. 5
Women may become more likely to develop depression than men because of the hormonal changes women experience during puberty, pregnancy, and menopause. Women also experience monthly hormonal changes during menstrual cycles.5
Genetics
Chemical imbalances
Environmental issues
Hormonal imbalance
Alcohol or drug abuse
Causes of Depression in Women
Women are almost two times more likely than men to be diagnosed with depression. Mood changes and feelings of depression can occur with a woman’s regular hormonal changes; however, hormonal changes on their own cannot cause clinical depression. Biological factors, genetics, and life experiences create a higher risk of depression. 7
1. HORMONAL CAUSES
Depression is genetic, which means that some genetic makeups are more prone to depression than others. However, environmental factors may also influence whether someone develops depression. Someone who is genetically predisposed to depression, but has healthy family and social relationships, may never develop depression. And someone who is more genetically resistant to depression may find themselves depressed due to environmental factors. 4
Hormonal changes that contribute to depression in women include puberty, premenstrual problems, pregnancy, postpartum, and perimenopause, and menopause.7
1.1 Puberty
Puberty creates hormonal changes in girls that can increase their risk of developing depression. Normal responses during puberty include mood swings related to changing hormones. These mood swings alone do not equate to depression. Puberty is related to other life experiences that can contribute to the onset of depression, including: 7
- Sexuality and issues with sexual identity
- Conflicts with family members
- Pressure from guardians and peers to perform well in school, sports, and other areas of life
Once a female experiences puberty, she is more likely to experience depression than her male counterpart. Girls generally go through puberty before boys do, which means that they are more likely to develop depression at a younger age than boys. 7
1.2 Premenstrual Syndrome
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS) is usually characterized by the following short-lived symptoms: 7
- Abdominal bloating
- Tender breasts
- Headaches
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Sadness
Some women experience more severe and disabling symptoms that affect their ability to work, study, and engage in relationships. Symptoms this extreme are usually characteristic of premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), which is a type of depression that can require treatment. 7 PMS and PMDD cause cyclical changes in estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones. These changes can alter brain chemicals like serotonin that control someone’s mood. This alteration of brain chemicals may play a role in the link between PMS and PMDD and depression. 7
1.3 Pregnancy
There are dramatic hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy that can alter a woman’s mood. Other issues associated with pregnancy and attempting to become pregnant can occur and might increase the risk of developing depression, including: 7
- Lifestyle changes
- Relationship issues
- Previous depression episodes
- Lack of support
- Unwanted or unintended pregnancy
- Miscarriage
- Infertility
- Stopping antidepressant medication
1.4 Postpartum
New mothers may experience bouts of sadness, anger, and irritability. These feelings are normal after giving birth and usually go away after one or two weeks. Postpartum depression is characterized by more severe and longer-lasting symptoms, including: 7
- Crying more often than usual
- Low self-esteem
- Anxiety
- Numbness
- Sleeping problems
- Issues functioning
- Inability to care for the newborn
- Thoughts of harming the newborn
- Thoughts of suicide
Postpartum depression occurs in about 10% to 15% of women and is a serious condition that requires treatment. It may be caused by significant hormonal changes, a predisposition to mood disorders, complications during pregnancy or birth, breastfeeding issues, or a lack of social support. 7
1.5 Perimenopause and Menopause
Perimenopause is the transitional stage into menopause when a woman’s hormone levels can erratically fluctuate. During this stage, the risk of depression may increase. Estrogen levels are significantly low in early menopause and after menopause, which can also increase the risk of depression. 7
The likelihood of developing depression due to menopausal symptoms is relatively low but increases if the following risk factors are present: 7
- Sleep issues
- Anxiety
- History of depression
- Stress
- Weight gain
- Menopause at a younger age
- Menopause caused by ovary removal
2. GENETIC CAUSES
Depression is genetic, which means that some genetic makeups are more prone to depression than others. However, environmental factors may also influence whether someone develops depression. Someone who is genetically predisposed to depression, but has healthy family and social relationships, may never develop depression. And someone who is more genetically resistant to depression may find themselves depressed due to environmental factors. 4
3. PSYCHOLOGICAL CAUSES
Women are also more likely than men to experience stress-induced depression. Women have increased levels of progesterone, which can prevent the leveling out of stress hormones. Women also experience negative body image issues more often than men, which can also cause depression. 4
4. SOCIAL CAUSES
Women experience depression as a result of social causes more often than men do. They are more likely to experience depression due to relationship issues, problems with work-life balance, financial issues, loss of a loved one, and other stressful life events. 4
5. OTHER CAUSES
Additional risk factors for depression in women include: 4
- Death of a parent before age 10
- Physical or sexual abuse during childhood
- History of mood disorders
- Certain medications
Different Types of Depression
Types of Depression
That Affect Men and Women
- Major Depressive Disorder– A combination of symptoms that interfere with someone’s ability to sleep, study, work, eat, complete daily tasks, and enjoy once pleasurable activities.8
- Dysthymic Disorder– Symptoms are less severe than those associated with major depression but last for two or more years. These symptoms can still prevent someone from living a normal life.8
- Psychotic Disorder– A severe depressive illness that includes some form of psychosis, including a break with reality, hallucinations, and delusions.8
- Seasonal Affective Disorder– A depressive episode that occurs each year during the winter months, when there is less natural sunlight.8
- Bipolar Depression– The depressive phase of bipolar disorder. Depression associated with bipolar disorder requires different treatment than that of major depression.8
Types of Depression
That Affect Women
Some types of depression are only experienced by women and occur because of drastic physical and hormonal changes during different stages in a woman’s life. These types of depression include: 1
- Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)– A more severe form of PMS with intense and disabling symptoms including irritability, anger, depressed mood, sadness, suicidal thoughts, changes in appetite, bloating, breast tenderness, and physical pain.1
- Parental Depression– A mood disorder that occurs during pregnancy (prenatal depression) or after childbirth (postpartum depression). This kind of depression includes symptoms such as extreme sadness, anxiety, fatigue, and difficulty completing daily tasks and caring for the newborn.1
- Perimenopausal Depression– A type of depression that occurs during the transition into menopause. Abnormal periods, sleeping problems, mood swings, and hot flashes are normal during perimenopause, but depression is not. This type of depression includes symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, sadness, and loss of enjoyment.1
Treatment for Depression
If you are suffering from depression, remember, there is hope. Counseling and the right medication can help treat depression. These methods can be effective independently; however, most treatment involves some combination of medication and psychotherapy. It is best to approach your healthcare provider regarding the right treatment option for you. 9
- The acute phase lasts 6 to 12 weeks. The goal during this phase is to relieve symptoms. 10
- The continuation phase can last for several months. The goal during this phase is to maximize improvements, and a doctor may adjust medication dosage. 10
- The maintenance phase focuses on preventing future depressive episodes. During this phase, a doctor helps lower medication dosage, and psychotherapy becomes the main treatment method. 10
MEDICATION
Depression medication, called antidepressants, can be used to treat depression effectively. Over 10% of women currently take antidepressants, and about 65% to 85% of people who take antidepressants experience some relief. Antidepressants are equally useful for men and women; however, some individuals respond differently to the same medication, so the choice in antidepressant is individualized. 10
When someone first begins taking antidepressants, they usually start with a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI). This type of antidepressant medication includes fluoxetine (Prozac), citalopram (Celexa), and sertraline (Zoloft). SSRIs influence the serotonin system that affects mood, arousal, anxiety, impulses, and aggression. 10
Psychotherapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
Interpersonal Psychotherapy
This kind of therapy involves weekly sessions and lasts for several months. Patients learn to identify and cope with conflicts that reoccur in their relationships. This kind of therapy generally focuses on grief of a recent loss, disputes regarding social expectations, significant life changes, and social isolation. 10
Psychodynamic Therapy
Group Therapy
Family and Group Therapy
SOURCES
- Depression in Women: 5 Things You Should Know. (n.d.).Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/
- Depression In Women. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.mhanational.org/
- Depression Among Women. (2020, May 14). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/
- Article by: Christina Gregory. (2020, September 25). Depression in Women: Types, Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Retrieved from https://www.psycom.net/
- Johnson, T. C. (2019, March 22). Depression Effects on Women: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments. Retrieved from https://www.webmd.com/
- Miguel, M., Aseni, & Rachel. (n.d.). Women and Depression. Retrieved from https://adaa.org/
- Women’s increased risk of depression. (2019, January 29). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/
- Depression. (2019, May 14). Retrieved from https://www.womenshealth.gov/
- Commissioner, O. O. (n.d.). Women and Depression. Retrieved from https://www.fda.gov/
- Publishing, H. H. (n.d.). Women and depression. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/