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Guide for Women

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Depression is Quite Common Among Women

Depression is a medical condition that affects 19 million Americans.1 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 5 of the following symptoms for most of the day, nearly every day for more than 2 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 Women

  • 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 medications work 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. For 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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Reference: 1. Kessler RC, Chui W, Demler O, Walters E. Prevalence, Severity, and Comorbidity of 12-Month of DSM-IV disorders in the National Comorbidity Survey Replication. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2005; 62:617-627.

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