Feeling Depressed: Is It Normal?
Everyone goes through periods of feeling sad, lonely, or unhappy.
Everyday events, and our reactions to them, sometimes interfere with
our peace of mind. That's all part of life. But when such feelings
linger for weeks or months, preventing a return to a healthy outlook
on life, they could signal depression.
Depression is the most common serious
psychiatric problem in the U.S., affecting millions of people each
year. And, for reasons researchers are trying to understand, some
forms of depression appear to be at least twice as common in women as
in men.
Depression In Women: How Common Is
It?
One in four women is likely to experience severe depression. Yet
of all women who suffer from depression, only about one-fifth will get
the treatment they need. The difference in the incidence of depression
between women and men begins to appear around the time of adolescence.
As we grow older, this difference becomes more pronounced. Women
experience more depression than men between the ages of 18 and 44, and
especially after 25. For some reason, between 44 and 65 years of age,
the gender difference is less pronounced, but after the age of 65,
women are again far more likely to be depressed than men.
Not only is depression more common in
women, but it is often accompanied by other troubling symptoms which
occur more frequently in women, including anxiety, sleep disorders,
panic attacks, and eating disorders. One reason that men may suffer
less from depression has to do with different coping styles. Men are
more likely to employ action and mastery strategies, that is, involve
themselves in activities (work, sports, going out with friends) that
both distracts them from their worries and, perhaps more importantly,
give them a sense of power and control. Women, on the other hand, tend
to "brood" and dwell on their problems, often with other women. This
is one reason why many therapists prescribe exercise (especially
aerobic exercise) as a partial antidote for depression; it gives women
an increased sense of self-discipline, control, and mastery.
Recognizing The Signs And Symptoms
Of Depression
The symptoms of depression can vary greatly. Some of the most
common signs of depression include feelings of hopelessness and
helplessness, persistent sadness, negative thinking or worrying, low
self-esteem, loss of pleasure in usual activities, irritability, and
problems with concentration, memory, and decision-making. Other
symptoms can include low energy, decreased or increased appetite,
changes in sleep patterns (either increased or decreased sleep time),
and a diminished interest in sex. If several of these symptoms are
present and persist for weeks or months, there is a greater likelihood
that the individual is suffering from depression.
Depression In Women
The origins and symptoms of depression in women are varied and
complex, and can result from a wide range of physical and emotional
causes. Some experts feel that women generally tend to place greater
value that men do on interpersonal connection and relationships with
other people. This can be a powerful and positive characteristic. It
may be, however, that this emphasis on relationships leaves some women
more vulnerable to depression.
It is interesting to note that positive
as well as negative experiences can sometimes trigger depression. In
other words, depression can be triggered by the anxiety that can
accompany a significant change, even one that's for the better.
Whatever the cause, it is important
that women learn to recognize the signs of depression and seek medical
help if depression persists. A doctor's guidance and medical expertise
are crucial for understanding the appropriate actions to take toward
recovery. Most often, depression can be treated effectively through
the benefits of counseling or therapy and/or with prescribed
antidepressant medications.
In addition, health problems and
depression sometimes go hand in hand. In some cases, physical symptoms
(such as headaches, stomach pain or nausea, constant back or neck
aches, breathing problems) for which doctors cannot find a physical
cause, may sometimes be signs of an underlying depression. On the
other hand, the reverse may also be true. Depression can hide other
health problems that sometimes go unnoticed and untreated in depressed
persons. Unexplained troubles sleeping, trembling hands, dizzy spells,
digestive upsets, and migraine headaches are all common signals that
something may be wrong, and that it's time to talk about these
symptoms with your doctor.
The Role Of Genetics
In many cases there appears to be a genetic component to
depression. Studies have found that there is a higher percentage of
depression and other mental disorders in the families of people
diagnosed with depression than is found in the general population.
Hormonal Factors
Hormones have also received attention in the search for causes of
depression in women. Researchers have suggested that changes in levels
of hormones such as estrogen and progesterone appear to have strong
effect on women's moods. The differences in the rates at which women
and men develop depression begin to show up during puberty, a time at
which many hormonal changes occur. In addition, hormone levels change
during a number of events in women's lives that are often associated
with depression, including menstrual cycles and the time following
giving birth, the use of birth control pills, which work by altering
levels of hormones, has also been associated with depression. Although
all of the answers are not yet in, hormones appear to be worth
investigating as a possible cause of depression.
Depression After Childbirth
Nearly everyone has heard of the "baby blues", in which a new mother
experiences strong, fluctuating emotions and depression in the first
days and weeks following the birth of the baby. Although researchers
have not yet confirmed this is the cause of the accompanying
depression, the plummeting levels of the hormones estrogen and
progesterone may play a role. This depression mood occurs with such
frequency that is considered normal, and it usually resolves quickly
without treatment. But for some women, depressive feelings may linger
and become more severe, and prescription medication and/or counseling
may be helpful. Women and their physicians should discuss the
implications of taking antidepressant medications while
breast-feeding. Women are more likely to experience depression after
childbirth if they have experienced depression before. On the positive
side, however, pregnant women often have the lowest incidence of
depression.
Other Possible Causes Of Depression
Depression in both men and women can also be influenced by
nutrition and diet, medical problems, medicines and other drugs,
psycho-social influences, and other factors. Some of these are
discussed below.
- Medical Problems. Medical
problems, such as thyroid disease, can cause depression, which is
why a physical evaluation and medical work up should be conducted
before a diagnosis of depression can be confirmed. Depression can
also be influenced by nutritional factors, such as low levels of
vitamin B12, or by iron-deficiency anemia, which can result from
poor diet or from menstruation.
- Medicines, Alcohol, and Other
Drugs. All medicines have side effects, and some medicines, such
as certain hormones and certain drugs used to control high blood
pressure, may have depression as a side effect in both women and
men.
Alcohol consumption has been linked to depression both as a possible
cause and as a symptom. Alcohol is itself a depressant, especially
when taken in combination with certain drugs. Street drugs, such as
cocaine can also cause depression.
- Seasonal Affective Disorder
(SAD). People with seasonal affective disorder (SAD) may become
depressed as winter sets in and daylight hours decrease. Researchers
theorize that the reduction in the amount of sunlight affects the
balance of certain brain chemicals, leading to symptoms of
depression.
- Psycho-Social Influences On
Depression. Psycho-social influences, which include life
stresses, coping strategies, and the ways in which women have
learned to view themselves in society, are topics of current
investigation in women's depression. Some psycho-social factors
appear to affect men and women equally, while some apply more
specifically to women. Although clear-cut answers have not yet
emerged, it seems that some of these psycho-social factors may help
to explain why some women are more likely to experience depression
than others.
- Negative Life Events.
Negative life events, such as the death of a loved one, divorce,
unemployment, or poverty, have been known to lead to depression in
both men and women. Some traumatic events, such as rape and other
forms of sexual abuse, happen more frequently to women and may
contribute to the increased incidence of depression in women.
- Relationships, Marriage, and
Children. The state of our relationships often has much to do
with our own emotional state. There is evidence that, in general,
married women experience more depression that do single women. In
addition, depression is common among young women who stay at home
full-time with their small children. Divorce or breakup can also
bring on a depressive episode, especially when it involves children
and custody battles.
- Self-Esteem. Because of a number of
complex familial and societal factors, many women may experience
feelings of low self-esteem and self-worth. These women may feel
that they are not taken seriously, that the contributions they make
are not valued, or that they do not have an important role in
society or in their family.
Effective Treatment Programs Are
Available
Today there are a number of very effective treatments for
depression. Some currently available treatments are antidepressant
medicines, psychotherapy, and electroconvulsive-convulsive therapy.
Choosing the right treatment for you is an individual process that
will depend not only on the severity of your depression, but on your
preferences and those of your doctor.
Antidepressant Medications
For people who are so depressed that they cannot function, or are
suicidal, antidepressant drugs can literally be a lifesaver. It is
extremely important that the prescribing doctor be very well trained
in psychopharmacology and fully understand the proper dosages,
possible side effects, and interaction with other drugs, and that he
or she explain all of this very clearly to you.
Getting Beyond Depression
Depression is a complex disorder; we have seen that is can have as
many causes and many manifestations. But there are now effective
treatments available that can help control depression. With the proper
treatment, women who have suffered from depression can participate
fully in all that life has to offer.
Source: National Mental Health
Association
