4 Signs of Depression in Women
Depression is a mental health concern that impacts people of all genders and ages. There are the basic signs of depression that can impact someone, regardless of their age or gender. Then, there are the more nuanced signs of depression that manifest themselves differently than they would in the opposite gender.
Depression is complex. There is no rhyme or reason for whom it will impact or why. Contrary to popular belief, there is no one-size-fits-all form of depression.
Maybe you have a loved one who is a woman who you believe may be struggling with depression, or perhaps you yourself are struggling. Here is how depression manifests in women.
4 Signs of Depression In Women
1. They Won’t Talk About It
A classic sign of depression in men is that it manifests through anger issues or substance abuse. However, women manifest their depression symptoms entirely differently. Often, women are more likely to withdraw and turn their feelings inward. They may bottle their feelings of sadness up, or they mask them entirely.
Women also tend to be more critical of themselves and often experience feelings of shame and guilt more frequently. This is often because women often feel pressure from society to be the main caretakers for their families and solely responsible for raising their children and taking care of the household. Because this role is often automatically applied to women, many feel uncomfortable expressing how much pressure they feel.
2. They Likely Also Struggle with Anxiety
It’s unfortunate, but many people who struggle with one mental health concern will likely deal with other ones at the same time. This is no exception when it comes to women. Women, in general, are more likely to deal with anxiety and depression at the same time. The relationship between these two struggles is a complicated one. Chronic anxiety can cause someone to struggle with depression, and depression is closely linked to causing feelings of anxiety.
3. Hormones Play a Big Role
Hormones play a massive role in influencing our moods in one way or the other. Women, especially, are prone to depression due to their hormone levels frequently fluctuating. The frequent rise and fall of hormones unique to women, such as estrogen, can cause a woman’s body and brain chemistry to become out of sync with each other. Most frequently, women are more likely to experience depression symptoms during pregnancy, menopause, or close to the time of their cycle.
Known as postpartum depression, this subset of major depressive disorder impacts woman both during and after their pregnancy. Adding in the rise and fall of the feel-good endorphins such as serotonin and dopamine, with the stress hormones cortisol and dopamine, can certainly add to depression being prevalent in a woman’s life.
4. Self-Esteem Issues
Honestly, both males and females can deal with self-esteem issues. Women, especially from an early age, are taught to look, act, and behave a certain way to be deemed beautiful by society. They often face intense pressure from doctors, the media, and their peers to maintain a certain body weight or look a certain way. Unfortunately, this isn’t attainable for many women. There is nothing wrong with being built differently or not fitting the mold of what society expects.
All the same, many women struggle with self-esteem issues and are more likely to struggle with an eating disorder. In turn, when they don’t fit the mold of what society expects them to be, they can often feel hopeless and discouraged with themselves.
If you are a woman who is struggling with depression, don’t hesitate to reach out for support. While depression therapy can seem new and scary, it can be an invaluable tool to help you out of the darkness.
