Depression is Quite Common Among Women
Depression is a medical condition that affects 19 million Americans
each year. Of those affected by depression, experts estimate that
women experience depression twice as often as men. In fact, over the
course of a lifetime, nearly 1 in 4 women will experience a major
depressive episode. And yet, only 1 in 5 women suffering from depression
will get the medical treatment they need. It appears that the chances
of a woman becoming depressed may be greatest during peak childbearing
years, roughly ages 25 to 44, but depression can strike a woman at
any age.
Remember, if you are a woman with depression, you are not alone.
Help is available.
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What Depression is
Everyone gets sad sometimes—a brief blue mood, disappointments,
grief after losing a loved one. Depression, though, is different.
Depression is not just a case of the blues; it is a serious medical
illness often caused by an imbalance of chemicals in the brain. Much
like diabetes, asthma, or heart disease, depression is a disease that
requires medical treatment. Otherwise, if left untreated, depression
can last months or, in some cases, years.
Compared with depressed men, depressed women are more likely to experience:
- Guilt
- Weight gain
- Anxiety
- Eating disorders
- Increased appetite
- Increased sleep
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Some Signs and Symptoms of Depression
There are several signs and symptoms that can help a healthcare
provider determine if a woman has depression. If you (or a woman you
know) have had at least five of the following symptoms for most of
the day, nearly every day for more than two weeks, professional help
should be sought:
- Feelings of sadness, depressed mood, and/or irritability
- Loss of interest or pleasure in activities, such as hobbies or
spending time with family/friends
- Changes in weight or appetite
- Changes in sleeping pattern—sleeping too much or not being
able to sleep at all
- Feelings of guilt, hopelessness, or worthlessness
- Inability to concentrate, remember things, or make decisions
- Constant fatigue or loss of energy
- Restlessness or decreased activity
- Recurrent thoughts of suicide or death
Important Note: If you or someone you know has thoughts
of suicide, seek professional help immediately through your healthcare
provider, or call 411 to get the phone number for the nearest local
suicide hotline.
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What Depression is Not
Depression is not something to be ashamed of, nor is it a sign of
a weak personality. People with depression cannot "just snap
out of it"—no more than it would be possible for a person
with diabetes or some other medical illness to "just snap out
of it."
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Some Risk Factors for Depression in Men
- Family history of mood disorders
- Abuse of drugs and/or alcohol
- Personal history of mood disorders in early reproductive years
- Reproductive issues; for example, infertility, miscarriages,
menopause, postpartum depression
- Loss of social support system (such as family, friends, or assisted-living
services) or threat of such a loss
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Good News: With Proper Treatment, More Than 80% of People
with Depression Can Improve
There are two main treatments for depression —counseling,
also called psychotherapy, and medication. For some women, either
treatment alone may be sufficient. For others, the most effective
therapy is a combination of the two.
Counseling, or psychotherapy, is often called "talk" therapy,
and it comes in many forms. Basically, psychotherapy is aimed at helping
a person develop new ways to cope with problems and to identify and
understand more about depression and how to avoid it in the future.
Psychotherapy may take place in individual, group, or family sessions.
The therapy sessions may take some time before a person notices an
improvement.
Antidepressant medication works by helping to correct the imbalance
of certain chemicals in the brain. These medications may take several
weeks to be effective, but they work well and are generally safe.
There are three main groups of antidepressants: selective serotonin
reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), tricyclics (TCAs), and monoamine oxidase
inhibitors (MAOIs). SSRIs are the newest class of antidepressants.
They help to relieve the symptoms of depression by increasing the
available supply of serotonin, a substance in the brain believed to
influence mood.
Fortunately, the side effects from many antidepressant medications
are generally mild and often go away over time. For more information
about side effects, talk with your healthcare provider.
In addition to therapy and medication, there are other things you
can do that may help you start feeling better, including: exercising,
improving your diet, establishing a normal full-night sleeping schedule,
and reducing or eliminating caffeine and alcohol. For additional suggestions
about what you can do, talk with your healthcare provider.
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If Your Healthcare Provider Does Prescribe an Antidepressant
for You
Be sure to tell him or her if you are taking any other medications,
including those obtained over the counter.
Follow all of your healthcare provider's instructions about how and
when you should take your antidepressant medication. If you experience
side effects at any point while you are taking a medication prescribed
by your healthcare professional, contact him or her as soon as possible
to share this information.
It is important to take your medication as long as your healthcare
provider instructs, even if you start feeling better, because otherwise
your depression could return or worsen. And remember, studies show
most antidepressants are not addictive, particularly the newer classes
of antidepressants such as SSRIs.
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