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8. Depression in Women: What can be done to prevent it?
There is no doubt that depression is one of the most common mental illnesses. A depressive disorder or a major depressive disorder is characterized by persistent low moods, loss of interest in activities, and can also cause significant impairments to daily functioning.
Studies have shown that women have a greater risk of experiencing depression than men.
Depression can be caused by many factors, such as family history, certain illnesses, health issues, substance abuse, or one’s personality, but women can be prone to depression due to other factors as well.
In addition to biological factors, inherited traits, as well as personal lives and circumstances, here are other factors that contribute to depression in women:
Phases in Women’s life: (Depression in Women)
PUBBERTY:
Hormones fluctuate during puberty, which can cause mood swings related to the fluctuating hormone levels. These mood swings are normal and cannot alone cause depression. It is also possible that other experiences around puberty, such as emerging sexuality and identity issues, conflict with parents, or increased pressure to succeed, contribute to depression.
PREMENSTRUAL PROBLEMS:
PMS or premenstrual syndrome is mostly found in women before their menstrual cycle, but a very small percentage of women have severe symptoms and tend to disrupt their daily activities. It also turns out to be premenstrual dysphoric disorder, a type of depression that generally requires treatment. However, the exact interaction between depression and PMS remains unclear.
PREGNANCY:
During pregnancy, hormones can change dramatically which affect mood drastically. A woman may also develop depression during a pregnancy or while trying to become pregnant due to miscarriage, infertility, lack of support, relationship difficulties, or ongoing mental health issues.
POST PARTUM DEPRESSION:
Ten to fifteen percent of new mothers suffer from postpartum depression. It is an extremely serious medical condition that requires immediate medical attention. It takes about two weeks for some moms to recover from the symptoms that include crying spells, difficulty caring for their newborn, thoughts of harming the baby, and difficulty sleeping.
MENOPAUSE and PRE-MENOPAUSE:
At this stage of women’s lives, depression is unlikely to occur, but the symptoms women experience as a result of fluctuating hormonal levels may promote depression. Women may also be more susceptible to depression due to other life circumstances and cultural differences. Other factors include unequal power and status, more workload, underpayment, physical and sexual abuse.
Role to prevent depression in Women:
Depression cannot be prevented in one way or another.
We, as a society, must help women find ways to handle stress and improve on self-esteem.
- Find ways to be a strong support system to women as family and friends.
- Bring in more and more awareness and non-judgmental communication to with all these areas of life for women.
- Keeping a check on their mental health as a preventive measure will help in early intervention.
- Look for any signs and symptoms of self-harm if there has been any traumatic event that has occurred.
- Supporting them to come out of any kind of abuse.
- educate them more about self-care as it is an effective prevention method.
Self care to prevent depression in Women:
Self-care is when we take care of our mental, physical, and emotional health through conscious effort.
Few tips you can use for self-care:
Physical health:
- Drinking plenty of water and eating a well-balanced diet.
- Get enough sleep every night (7-8 hours).
- Take part in any form of exercise that keeps your body active.
- Take short breaks to stretch your muscles.
- Avoid all forms of substance use, which increases the risk of depression or mental illness.
- Make sure you spend time outdoors, go to a park or socialize often with friends, or take small, affordable trips.
Mental health:
- To achieve consistency, it is essential to follow a routine.
- Rather than focusing on what you cannot control, consider what you can.
- You can boost your self-esteem and enhance your emotional health by helping others in the community.
- Make sure you keep in touch with your loved ones.
- Engage in activities that reduce stress, such as reading and listening to music.
- Try mindfulness and express gratitude for what you have that day by writing or saying it.
- Show your appreciation and acknowledgement to those around you.
Also read: Women’s Mental Health during Menstruation (https://kenison.com.np/womens-mental-health/)
For consultation for Mental health issues, you can contact our Psychiatrist.
For more information:
MBBS. MD (Psychiatry)
NMC 12934
For appointments:
015553097, 9861508888
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