In today’s world, about twice as many women experience depression as compared to men.
It is a serious mood disorder that can occur at any age. It is not a ‘sad feeling’ but a persistent sadness that envelops your mind. It controls how you think, feel and even act.
A combination of factors – menstrual cycles, hormonal fluctuations, and societal pressure – is identified to contribute to women’s poor mental health.
Let us walk you through six causes that put women at risk of depression
1. Premenstruation
Lower levels of serotonin in the body contribute to premenstrual depression.
It can lead to severe fatigue, food cravings and trouble getting consistent sleep. With Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD), the symptoms worsen. A woman with PMDD experiences irritability and tension a week or two before her menstruation starts.
Plenty of women with PMDD report feeling depressed and in need of help. It is thus a condition considered severe than premenstrual syndrome (PMS).
2. Puberty
While puberty cannot be quoted as a direct cause of depression in young girls, it certainly leads to hormonal fluctuations that expose them to this medical condition.
The primary reason is the coincidence of the physical changes during puberty with the period of social flux. The possibility of emotional stressors is high at this point, making girls who enter puberty experience depressive symptoms.
While therapy can manage symptoms of depression, in most cases, it alone cannot cure it. Tailored individually, a pairing of medication and therapy would work hand-in-hand as treatment.
3. Pregnancy
Depression that occurs during pregnancy is referred to as perinatal depression. Pregnancy-related depression also includes antenatal (during pregnancy) and postpartum (after childbirth) depression.
The period of pregnancy can be full of significant stressors like financial concerns, the baby’s health, changing lifestyle and other health issues of your own.
Perinatal depression comes across as anxiety, sadness, fatigue and sleep deprivation. Perinatal mood disorders are also very common. In this case, it is better to seek immediate help from an appropriate health professional.
4. Parathyroid Diseases
Parathyroid diseases, especially hyperparathyroidism, are often associated with depression. Approximately ten per cent of patients with parathyroidism experience mental health issues.
The high blood levels due to parathyroid hormone are frequently accompanied by depressive disorders.
High parathyroid levels lead to an increase in depressive neurocognitive symptoms. With proper tests, diagnostic procedures and treatment, these depressive symptoms can be alleviated.
5. Menopause
The time before a woman hits her menopause, termed as perimenopause, is nothing less than an emotional roller coaster for many.
It typically occurs after the age of 40. This changing time tends to put them at risk of severe depression.
The sudden hormonal changes in the woman’s body during perimenopause cause an irregular menstrual cycle. When the hormonal level drops, so does serotonin. This causes increased irritability, anxiety, insomnia and mood fluctuations.
Any external pressure can only worsen the situation. Moreover, if you have a history of depression, you are most likely to experience it again as you approach menopause.
Therefore, make sure to talk to your primary care doctor or obstetrician-gynaecologist and seek help during this difficult phase.
6. Life Circumstances and Culture
If you consider the sociology of depression, it is mainly based on the lifestyle and cultural context in which the patient lives.
The social stressors that women encounter as part of life make it even more difficult for them to evade depression. This leads to a chronic feeling of emptiness supplemented by an inability to manage pressure.
So the higher rate of depression in women isn’t just biological. It can also be the result of severe life circumstances or her cultural background, both salient factors in the development of this medical condition.
Conclusion
Depression is not something a woman can snap out of in a second. It also does not look the same for everyone.
So most women need treatment to feel better. While there is no one-size-fits-all in treatment, talk therapy, medication, or a combination of both are sure to aid you in recovery.
