According the National Institute of Mental Health, 17.3 million adults in the United Sates have had at least one major depressive episode. That is 7.1% of all American adults, with women experiencing depression in a slightly higher number than men. That is most likely because of biological, hormonal, and sociological factors that are related to women.
depression in women: What Is Depression?
Depression in women or men is more than just being sad. Depression is a mood disorder that can affect your ability to work, sleep, eat, and do normal day-to-day activities. Research is ongoing as to the causes of depression, but it is believed to be a combination of genetics, biology, environment, and psychology. Also, certain medications and medical conditions can produce a side effect of depression.
Most people with depression need treatment to get better. It is very unusual for a person to be able to just “snap out” of depression. It is important to see your doctor to examine you, diagnose what is going on with you, and prescribe treatment. Treatment will involve both medication and psychotherapy.
Symptoms of Depression in women
Depression in women changes their behavior and mood. If you have experienced any of these symptoms for at least two weeks, you may have depression:
Persistent sadness, anxiety, emptiness
Feelings of hopelessness or pessimism
Irritability
Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, or helplessness
Low energy, fatigue
Difficulty sleeping, staying asleep (early morning awakening), or oversleeping
Loss of interest or pleasure in favorite activities
Slower movement or speaking
Restlessness, trouble sitting still
Difficulty concentrating, remembering, making decisions
Changes in appetite or weight
Suicidal ideation, thoughts of death
Aches or pains, headaches, craps, unexplained digestive problems
Types of Depression in Women
There are certain unique types of depression in women that can appear at various stages in their lives:
Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD)
This is a less common, more severe form of PMS. It produces disabling symptoms such as irritability, anger, depressed mood, sadness, suicidal thoughts, appetite changes, bloating, breast tenderness, and joint or muscle pain.
Perinatal Depression
Perinatal Depression is a catch-all term for both prenatal depression before the baby is born and postpartum depression after the baby is born.
Pregnant women deal with morning sickness, weight gain, and mood swings. New mothers experience mood changes and feelings of worry, unhappiness, and exhaustion that usually last a couple of weeks. These are all normal. Perinatal depression is more serious. It includes feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and fatigue that make a woman unable to carry out day-to-day activities or to care for themselves or their new child, much less their husband or family.
Perimenopausal Depression
The transition into menopause is a challenging-but-normal time for a woman that is characterized by problems sleeping, mood swings, and hot flashes. These are common symptoms, but depression is not. If you are going into menopause and are struggling with irritability, anxiety, sadness, or loss of joy, you may have perimenopausal depression.
Treatment for Depression in women
Depression in women isn’t experienced the same way by all women. Some women will have all of these symptoms while some will have only some of them. But if you think you could be experiencing depression, do not shrug it off or try to shoulder it on your own. It won’t just pass and you can’t snap yourself out of it. You need to see your doctor for an examination. If he or she diagnoses you with depression, the common treatment is medication and psychotherapy, or “talk therapy.”
At SoulCare Counseling, we don’t prescribe medication, but we excel in talk therapy. Psychotherapy approaches vary among counselors, but we us use Emotionally Focused Therapy, which has been scientifically proven to alleviate depression symptoms through the deepening of emotion.
If you think that you are experiencing depression, let us give you the talk therapy you need. I encourage you to read about depression treatment, and reach out to us to schedule a free thirty-minute consultation. There is hope, there is healing. Let us help.
Risper Ngumba holds a Master of Arts in Professional Counseling and is a Licensed Professional Counselor-Associate under the supervision of Dr. Bernis Riley. She is accepting new clients.