Depression affects nearly 18 million people each year. Sadly, nearly two out of three depression sufferers is a woman. She can experience a wide collection of symptoms that range from mild to severe, even life threatening. A mood disorder anywhere on the spectrum can greatly diminish the quality of a woman’s life. Researchers continue to diligently explore potential causes and contributing factors that influence and contribute to the increased risk of depressive disorders in women.
According to the National Institute of Mental Health there is an assortment of elements that we must consider when recognizing the prevalence of depression in women. Female hormones go through many fluctuations over the course of a woman’s life. From adolescence, the onset of monthly menstrual cycles, pregnancy, childbirth, perimenopause to menopause, a woman’s body is continuously cycling through hormonal changes. Hormones influence brain chemistry which in turn impacts emotions and mood. Stress from the complexity of women’s roles in modern culture also play a part in the prevalence of depression.
While there have been tremendous advances made in the roles and expectations of women, often a woman juggles a career and a home life. The stress from the multiple roles can be overwhelming. Evidence suggests that women respond differently than men to the stresses of life, thus contributing to depressive episodes. Susan Nolen-Hoeksema in Women Who Think Too Much theorizes about the role of rumination, or over- thinking, in mood disorders in women. This type of thinking and tendency to brood is associated with longer and more entrenched depressive periods. It’s no surprise to hear that a woman often feels under siege from her body and moods over the course of her life.
Understandably, because so many women experience depression there is a bit less stigma for women facing a mood disorder. A woman is more likely than a man to seek out the help and support she needs to feel better. In addition, women are typically very in tune with the rhythm of their bodies. The awareness of hormonal fluctuations also makes it easier for a woman to understand the impact hormonal cycles have on her moods.
Current research suggests there are complex and reciprocal interactions between the genetic, biological, psychological and social and economic factors that contribute to the widespread experience of depression in women. There is so much more we need to learn about women, moods and hormones, but the good news is that depression responds well to therapy. There are effective and helpful treatments for the many women who struggle with depression.
