Signs, Symptoms, Treatment for Depression in Women

What is clinical depression?

Clinical depression is a serious mental disorder. It can cause an ongoing feeling of sadness, hopelessness, helplessness, and worthlessness. It can decrease  your confidence and self-esteem if left untreated.  Clinical depression can be categorized into mild, moderate, and severe depending on the severity of the symptoms. Some of these depression symptoms include apathy, loss of appetite, disturbance in sleep pattern, fatigue, and possibly thoughts of suicide. 

These depression symptoms are common both in men and women but they can be more common in women. Many women start to show symptoms of depression at an early stage in life and this continues as they grow older and can recur. If there is not any treatment for depression, the symptoms can have a large impact on mental health.Depression can be managed and successfully treated, but it is important to understand the various symptoms and triggers.

Why Is Depression More Common In Women?

Before puberty, depression occurs at the same rate in girls and in boys. But with the onset of puberty, as the hormones and body change, a girl’s risk of developing depression increases almost twice that of boys. The hormonal changes women undergo throughout their lives may be the leading cause of depression symptoms in women. These changes can be seen more dramatically during menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause and childbirth.  

The hormonal fluctuation during the monthly menstrual cycle also contributes to premenstrual syndrome(PMS) and premenstrual dysphoric disorder(PMDD), a severe depressive or mood disorder episode.These episodes, along with the symptoms of stress and anxiety  before menstruation, can make it harder to function in daily life. 

What are the Symptoms Of Depression In Women?

For most women, the early signs of depression may go unnoticed. Depression symptoms in women may be  misunderstood as PMS or mood swings. However, there can be a few signs of depression in women that may differ from what men face. Identifying these early signs can help in the early diagnosis of depression. Some of the physical and emotional signs are listed below:

Physical Signs: Depression can affect both physical and mental health. But it can be more apparent in a woman’s body as their hormones play a major role in the physical changes. Some of these signs include:

• A drastic change in appetite 
• Disturbance in sleep pattern 
• Mental lethargy, or brain fog
• Frequent muscle aches, headaches, and cramps 
• Digestive-related issues

Emotional Signs: Women go through emotional problems  during depressive episodes. These feelings can be chronic and intense: 

• Hopelessness, worthlessness, and/or helplessness 
• Irritability(or mood swings)
• Indecisiveness 
• Loss of interest
• Self-harm
• Thoughts or attempts of suicide  

What Are The Leading Causes And Triggers Of Depression In Women?

The definite cause of depression is unknown, but there are multiple factors which can contribute to the onset of depressive episodes in women. These factors are listed below:

1.  Hormonal Changes: Since the onset of puberty, women go through major changes in their hormones and body. From the beginning of menstruation to menopause, female sex hormones contribute to the symptoms of depression in women. 
2. Genetics: Genetics is considered one of the biggest contributors to the signs of depression in women. Heritability accounts for 40-50% chances of developing depression and can be higher in cases of severe depression. They inherit a unique combination of genes, which can genetically predispose the individual to depression. 
3. Societal Causes: The higher rate of depression symptoms in women can be caused by external factors as well. Women are more likely to have anxiety and/or develop eating disorders because of societal pressure and expectations. Women are often exposed to mental and physical abuse which takes a toll on their mental health and can develop into depression at a later stage in their life. 
4. Substance Abuse: Due to extreme pressure and stress, women often rely on substances (i.e. drugs) to momentarily feel better about themselves. However, this can do more harm than good, and it can trigger the underlying symptoms of depression. 
5. Poor Diet: Young girls are subjected to body issues ever since they reach puberty. Women suffer from body image issues more than men as they face more pressure from society to look a certain way. One of the most common things is to look thin which can trigger eating disorders in women. Leading to forced starvation and poor diet, which can be dangerous for their mental health. 

Triggers Leading To Depressive Episodes

There can be a few instances where certain events, or hormonal changes, can trigger underlying depressive episodes in women. These instances can induce from mild depressive episodes to severe to sometimes extreme suicidal episodes. It’s always advisable to identify these triggers before it's too late and seek or help your loved ones to seek professional help as soon as possible: 

• Puberty: The sudden change in hormones may increase the risk of developing depression in young girls. During and after puberty, the rate of developing depression is higher in girls as compared to boys, as they reach puberty earlier than boys. 
• Menstruations: Menstruations regulate women’s hormonal balance and are an excellent indicator of health concerns. Women dealing with depression are more likely to face irregularities in their menstruation cycle, and women who have dealt with menstruation concerns are more prone to depression. 
• Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder(PMDD): Women usually suffer from some extent of mood swings days before their period, but a significant change in mood or feeling of discomfort can be associated with PMDD. While they might not necessarily face any hormonal imbalance, these women are likely to be more sensitive to changes in hormone levels. This can lead to extreme emotional turmoil in women. 
• Menopause: Women going through the menopausal transition are more sensitive to the hormonal level changes happening in their body such drastic drops in estrogen and progesterone levels. These changes can contribute to the symptoms of depression.
• Pregnancy and Postpartum: Prenatal depression can develop during or after childbirth. It is commonly described as depression that develops during or the first year after childbirth. This kind of depression can severely affect the mental health of a woman. It can last for more than 14 days and have more severe depression symptoms.
• Postpartum Psychosis: Postpartum psychosis is a mental health condition which develops after childbirth. Psychosis can cause hallucinations and erratic behaviors. During this episode, the woman can be a threat to herself and her baby. This is a medical emergency and requires immediate treatment for the depressive episode. 
• Seasonal Affective Depression(SAD): This type of depressive disorder mostly occurs in the colder and darker months. The definite reason is still unknown but it can be because of the lack of natural sunlight  during this season. However, this episode can also pop up in other seasons as well. Women show more symptoms of seasonal depression, as compared to men, like lack of apathy, lack of energy, sadness, and general irritability, along with other signs of depression.

What are some treatment options for depression?

If you feel as though you are struggling with depression, there are a variety of coping methods as well as depression treatment options you could undertake. Here are some various ways how you can manage your depression symptoms: 

• Maintain a healthy diet: Depressive episodes can drive you to eat less than what your body requires or munch on unhealthy snacks. Try adding more protein, iron, and vitamins to your diet. Deficiency of vitamins B and D is proven to trigger a few depressive episodes, especially in women. 
• Move your body: Physical exercise has been shown to improve the symptoms of depression. Even as little as walking can elevate your dopamine and serotonin level, commonly known as “happy hormones”, which can instantly improve your mood. Physical exercise plays a vital role in mental well-being, it can also help with anxiety and panic attacks.
• Socialize: Having peer support makes it easier in dealing with depression, and can also make you realize that you’re not alone in this process. 
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Also known as CBT, is a talking therapy that can help you manage your symptoms of depression and anxiety, by providing you with a perspective that can change your way of thinking and action. CBT addresses your negative thought pattern and helps you maintain a positive outlook in any situation.
• Psychodynamic Therapy: Depression can cause unconscious behaviors. Psychodynamic therapy for depression works with this. The therapist  works with you to address your unconscious processes and makes you self-aware of your unresolved issues of present and past. 
• Interpersonal Therapy(IPT): This therapy focuses on your present relationships with your close ones and targets improving those relationships. This method can help you cope with your symptoms better and help you build healthy interpersonal relationships in your surroundings. 

Conclusion

Depression is not an ailment that can be cured through medication immediately, it's a process that needs time and patience. You should treat depression as you would treat any other disease, without any stigma or shame. 

Every day with depression looks different. Some days you’re hopeful and other days you may struggle to get out of your bed. It’s on these days you should be kind to yourself. Talk to a friend, go on a walk, or talk to your therapist, whatever helps you on those hard days. Remember, one step at a time. Find a Lifebulb therapist near you for depression therapy and treatment.

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