What All Women Should Know About Depression

Men may criticize that women are too "touchy" and "get upset over the littlest things", but it is a known statistic that more women suffer from depression than men. Everyone at some point in their life feels sadness or grief but clinical depression is a much bigger problem. Women need to know what they are up against, why they are more likely to suffer from clinical depression than men, and to know that hope is out there, they can get out of their "funk!"

The lifetime chance of major clinical depression in men is only 8 to 12 percent, whereas with women it is anywhere from 20 to 26 percent. So now we can tell our men, "No we aren't just crazy shrews, we have reasons for acting the way we do!" Seriously though, a woman is much more likely to suffer from major depression than men, for reasons that are yet unknown. There are quite a few theories as to why women seem to have "the trigger" for depression, what those of the scientific world call "risk factors".

One risk factor is the differences in hormones between the genders. No matter what point a woman is at in her life, there are raging hormones coursing through her body. It has been noted that there are certain times hormones are stronger than others, (i.e., the reproductive years), but let's face it, us gals are a wee bit crazy throughout our entire lives! Nonetheless, the peak onset of depressive disorders seems to occur between the ages of 25 and 44, a woman's childbearing years. With the fluctuations of estrogen and progesterone happening on a monthly basis, it is easy to see a connection between female hormones and mood changes. In fact, 5 percent of all menstruating women suffer from pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder, a condition in which showcases severe emotional and physical health problems that is directly linked to the menstrual cycle. A notable amount of women also battle depression after pregnancy, and in a perimenopausal state. Unfortunately, the odds seemed to be stacked against us throughout our whole lives!

Don't despair just yet ladies! There are plenty of other risk factors that come into play regarding women and depression. A lot of it stems from problems or situations that we can handle and work on throughout our lives. Women who have trouble coping with life events or changes are more prone to fight depression as well as a regularity of and reaction to stressful events. From childhood, women are also taught, either by example or in lessons, to be the gentle, nurturing, gender. Women seek to take care of others, care deeply about what people think of them, and not all seem to have the self-mastery and autonomy that most men possess.

When you are struggling with depression, the most important and helpful thing to do is to reach out. Talk to a friend, trusted family member, a pet and don't try to scrap your way through it alone. There are counseling programs, community programs, and even medication for those who need a stepping stone in order to get back onto their feet and regain their lives. Asking your doctor, talking to a social worker, or even a google search for a counselor near you is a great first step to take if help is needed.

Knowing about the risk factors for depression can be amazingly beneficial for women. By knowing how the odds are stacked against us, we can have a better awareness of how to keep ourselves healthy and happy. Realizing that we cannot change, fix, or control everything, keeping our bodies fit, (regular exercise), our minds in tip top shape, (brain exercise), and working towards self validation, (spiritual and emotional exercise); instead of just from outside sources can go a long ways towards winning the war. And always remember, you are not alone, "We are woman, hear us roar!"

Resources:

Schimelpfenig, Nancy. (April 1, 2009.) "Women and Depression." retrieved April 4, 2010 from http://depression.about.com/od/female/tp/women_and_depression.htm

Madison Institute of Medicine. "What is Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder?" retrieved April 4, 2010 from http://www.pmdd.factsforhealth.org/what/