Signs of Depression in Women

The signs of depression in women are going to vary somewhat depending on the nature of the woman. Traditional gender concepts help us to see how women specifically exhibit signs of depression. The first step in dealing with this illness is by acknowledging its presence.

One of the biggest signs of any disorder or illness for any sex is a change in their behavior. They may stray from their normal activities as they issue gets a stronger hold on them. Often, they may not even realize what's happening, so it's a good idea for loved ones to have an idea of what to look for.

Women are generally raised to be nurturers and care takers. Their natural instincts often press upon them to help others and to maintain a decent standard of living. Newer generations may not have had these gender roles thrust upon as much as earlier generations, but the fairy tales still exist and the general idea of what a woman's role is may have been added to, but not erased. In other words, she is now expected not only to look good and take care of the home and family, but to also manage a career, sometimes be both parents and do other things that have been traditionally accepted as things that a male would do.

When people become depressed, one of the first things they do is withdraw from society. In a way, they are seeking to self comfort and yet they are also seeking to avoid the thing that is causing them to be depressed.

When a woman withdraws from society, she may do so in subtle ways. She may not call her friends as much or may be withdrawn when she is out and about. She may even drop some of her commitments as the depression gets worse. This lack of socialization can actually reinforce the depression as the woman begins to feel like she is failing at her tasks and has no outside sources to reinforce any positive thoughts.

Part of withdrawing from the social world includes withdrawing from social norms. The woman's attention may be devoted to spending time in her own mind rather than worrying about what the world outside her mind is doing. She may lose interest in housekeeping, hygiene and the intricacies of interpersonal relationships. In other words, she will eventually become a shell of her former self if there is no intervention.

Sometimes a woman's role leaves those around her feeling as if she is someone impervious to day to day trials. Her traditional role is to take care of others, so it is assumed she needs no one to take care of her. Knowing the signs of depression in women may just be the thing that helps you to be there for the woman in your life in her time of need.