Mental Health and Depression Among Women

Danielle Zoeller
May 15, 2022
(5 mins read)
Mental Health

Hey, friends! We’re tackling a tough one over here today. Mental health. I know, I know. As I said, it's tough out there. Perhaps you’ve struggled with your own mental health, or you know someone struggling right now. We’re here to help. Let’s look at one of the most common mental health concerns among women and what we can do to treat it. Depression is a treatable mental disorder that can impact women of any age. Help is out there, and you do not need to suffer alone. 

Symptoms of Depression

When you feel depressed, your feelings, thoughts, and actions are impacted. You will feel sad or generally down. You may find that they have lost interest in activities they once enjoyed. Sometimes, you may experience changes in your appetite and your sleep schedule. Fatigue and feelings of unworthiness often accompany these symptoms. Many patients also struggle with concentration as well as thoughts of suicide. [1]

Depression Is Twice As Common In Women

Roughly 12 million women experience depression. It is so common that one out of every eight women will experience depression. For most women, their depression arises between the ages of 25 and 44, but women can experience depression at any age, for any reason, in any season. [2] 

How can a patient seek help for depression? 

Fortunately, depression is one of the most treatable mental disorders. While all patients will feel some relief from their depression, 80% - 90% will have depression that responds very well to treatment. Before you are treated, a health professional will do a thorough evaluation that includes an interview and physical examination. Doctors may also do a blood test to rule out other medical culprits of depressive feelings. If a diagnosis is made, patients may be prescribed nonhabit-forming prescriptions in combination with psychotherapy, also known as “talk therapy.” Sometimes, doctors or patients seek a treatment that does not involve medication. In those cases, the treatment plan will nearly always include talk therapy. [3]

What is it like to be in therapy?

In Psychotherapy or talk therapy sessions, patients will usually visit their therapist once a week for 30 to 50 minutes. The patient and therapist will be actively involved in the conversation and trust-building. [4] When patients walk into their therapy session, they walk into a problem-solving situation in which they will openly share their current thoughts and feelings and what has been happening in their lives. The therapist will listen and possibly take notes. As the therapist helps their patient through any current problems, they may assign “homework” to help the client work through their concerns. [5]

Depression is a painful mental illness that impacts many people around the world. However, it is nothing to be ashamed of, and it is highly treatable. Unfortunately, there has been a stigma surrounding therapy and help for people who suffer from mental illnesses for far too long. Now, this stigma is beginning to lessen, and people finally realize the powerful impact that therapy and other treatments can have on those who have suffered in silence for too long. One's mental health is just as important as one’s physical health. They often impact one another. 

Sources

[1]https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression 

[2]https://www.mhanational.org/depression-women 

[3]https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/depression/what-is-depression 

[4]https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/psychotherapy 

[5]https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/all-grown/201512/what-really-happens-in-therapy-session 

Image Sources

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/self-love-sadness-thoughtful-3208894/ 

https://pixabay.com/vectors/fear-anxiety-depression-woman-6562668/ 

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/multitasking-contour-blank-1733890/ 

https://pixabay.com/illustrations/board-chalk-psychology-1030589/