Photo: Kamaji Ogino

Which gender tends more depressed?

About twice as many women as men experience depression. Several factors may increase a woman's risk of depression. Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression.

mayoclinic.org - Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap - Mayo Clinic

What are the 12 signs of narcissism?

12 signs of narcissism Superiority and entitlement. The world of the narcissist is all about good-bad, superior-inferior, and right-wrong. ......

Last updated Nov 24, 2021

Is it possible to fall in love with someone you barely know?

You don't need to know someone to fall in love with him or her. In fact, we all fall in love with people who are basically complete strangers....

Last updated Aug 29, 2022

Do you really know who the “One” is? Your true Soulmate?

Promotion

Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap About twice as many women as men experience depression. Several factors may increase a woman's risk of depression. By Mayo Clinic Staff Women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression. Depression can occur at any age. Some mood changes and depressed feelings occur with normal hormonal changes. But hormonal changes alone don't cause depression. Other biological factors, inherited traits, and personal life circumstances and experiences are associated with a higher risk of depression. Here's what contributes to depression in women.

Puberty

Hormone changes during puberty may increase some girls' risk of developing depression. However, temporary mood swings related to fluctuating hormones during puberty are normal — these changes alone don't cause depression. Puberty is often associated with other experiences that can play a role in depression, such as:

Emerging sexuality and identity issues

Conflicts with parents

Increasing pressure to achieve in school, sports or other areas of life

After puberty, depression rates are higher in females than in males. Because girls typically reach puberty before boys do, they're more likely to develop depression at an earlier age than boys are. There is evidence to suggest that this depression gender gap may continue throughout the lifespan.

Premenstrual problems

For most females with premenstrual syndrome (PMS), symptoms such as abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, headache, anxiety, irritability and experiencing the blues are minor and short-lived. But a small number of females have severe and disabling symptoms that disrupt their studies, jobs, relationships or other areas of their lives. At that point, PMS may cross the line into premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) — a type of depression that generally requires treatment. The exact interaction between depression and PMS remains unclear. It's possible that cyclical changes in estrogen, progesterone and other hormones can disrupt the function of brain chemicals such as serotonin that control mood. Inherited traits, life experiences and other factors appear to play a role.

Pregnancy

Dramatic hormonal changes occur during pregnancy, and these can affect mood. Other issues also may increase the risk of developing depression during pregnancy or during attempts to become pregnant, such as:

Lifestyle or work changes or other life stressors

Relationship problems

Lack of social support

Unintended or unwanted pregnancy

Miscarriage

Infertility

Stopping use of antidepressant medications

Postpartum depression

Many new mothers find themselves sad, angry and irritable, and experience crying spells soon after giving birth. These feelings — sometimes called the baby blues — are normal and generally subside within a week or two. But more-serious or long-lasting depressed feelings may indicate postpartum depression, particularly if signs and symptoms include:

Crying more often than usual

Low self-esteem or feeling like you're a bad mom

Anxiety or feeling numb

Trouble sleeping, even when your baby is sleeping

Problems with daily functioning

Inability to care for your baby

What is the last stage of life called?

active dying The final phase of the dying process is known as active dying. This follows the early and middle stages of dying and marks the...

Last updated Apr 7, 2019

Is it OK to have BFF?

Good friends are good for your health. Friends can help you celebrate good times and provide support during bad times. Friends prevent isolation...

Last updated Nov 14, 2022

Promotion

Thoughts of harming your baby

Thoughts of suicide

Postpartum depression is a serious medical condition requiring prompt treatment. It occurs in about 10 to 15 percent of women. It's thought to be associated with:

Major hormonal fluctuations that influence mood

The responsibility of caring for a newborn

Predisposition to mood and anxiety disorders

Pregnancy and birth complications

Breast-feeding problems

Infant complications or special needs

Poor social support

Perimenopause and menopause

Risk of depression may increase during the transition to menopause, a stage called perimenopause, when hormone levels may fluctuate erratically. Depression risk may also rise during early menopause or after menopause — both times when estrogen levels are significantly reduced. Most women who experience bothersome menopausal symptoms don't develop depression. But these factors may increase the risk:

Interrupted or poor sleep

Anxiety or a history of depression

Stressful life events

Weight gain or a higher body mass index (BMI)

Menopause at a younger age

Menopause caused by surgical removal of the ovaries

Life circumstances and culture

The higher rate of depression in women isn't due to biology alone. Life circumstances and cultural stressors can play a role, too. Although these stressors also occur in men, it's usually at a lower rate. Factors that may increase the risk of depression in women include: Unequal power and status. Women are much more likely than men to live in poverty, causing concerns such as uncertainty about the future and decreased access to community and health care resources. These issues can cause feelings of negativity, low self-esteem and lack of control over life. Women are much more likely than men to live in poverty, causing concerns such as uncertainty about the future and decreased access to community and health care resources. These issues can cause feelings of negativity, low self-esteem and lack of control over life. Work overload. Often women work outside the home and still handle home responsibilities. Many women deal with the challenges of single parenthood, such as working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Also, women may be caring for their children while also caring for sick or older family members. Often women work outside the home and still handle home responsibilities. Many women deal with the challenges of single parenthood, such as working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Also, women may be caring for their children while also caring for sick or older family members. Sexual or physical abuse. Women who were emotionally, physically or sexually abused as children or adults are more likely to experience depression at some point in their lives than those who weren't abused. Women are more likely than men to experience sexual abuse.

Other conditions that occur with depression

Women with depression often have other mental health conditions that need treatment as well, such as:

Anxiety. Anxiety commonly occurs along with depression in women.

Did Adam and Eve go to heaven?

After all, they disobeyed God's command to not eat of the fruit of the tree of knowledge. God is the One who decides who does or does not enter...

Last updated Feb 25, 2018

What makes people attracted to each other?

According to professor Claire Hart, who teaches a module on the psychology of attraction at University of Southampton, there are five main...

Last updated Jul 4, 2020

Promotion

Anxiety commonly occurs along with depression in women. Eating disorders. There's a strong link between depression in women and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. There's a strong link between depression in women and eating disorders such as anorexia and bulimia. Drug or alcohol misuse. Some women with depression also have some form of unhealthy substance use or dependence. Substance misuse can worsen depression and make it harder to treat.

Recognizing depression and seeking treatment

Although depression might seem overwhelming, there's effective treatment. Even severe depression often can be successfully treated. Seek help if you have any signs and symptoms of depression, such as:

Ongoing feelings of sadness, guilt or hopelessness

Loss of interest in things you once enjoyed

Significant changes in your sleep pattern, such as trouble falling or staying asleep or sleeping too much

Fatigue or unexplained pain or other physical symptoms without an apparent cause

Problems concentrating or remembering things

Changes in appetite leading to significant weight loss or weight gain

Physical aches and pains

Feeling as though life isn't worth living, or having thoughts of suicide

Not sure how to get treatment? Consider turning to your primary care provider first — for example, your family doctor, internist, nurse practitioner, obstetrician or gynecologist. If needed, your primary care provider can refer you to a mental health professional who specializes in diagnosing and treating depression. Remember, depression is both common and treatable. If you think you're depressed, don't hesitate to seek help. There is a problem with information submitted for this request. Review/update the information highlighted below and resubmit the form. From Mayo Clinic to your inbox Sign up for free, and stay up to date on research advancements, health tips and current health topics, like COVID-19, plus expertise on managing health. Email ErrorEmail field is required ErrorInclude a valid email address Learn more about Mayo Clinic’s use of data. To provide you with the most relevant and helpful information, and understand which information is beneficial, we may combine your email and website usage information with other information we have about you. If you are a Mayo Clinic patient, this could include protected health information. If we combine this information with your protected health information, we will treat all of that information as protected health information and will only use or disclose that information as set forth in our notice of privacy practices. You may opt-out of email communications at any time by clicking on the unsubscribe link in the e-mail. Subscribe! Thank you for subscribing! You'll soon start receiving the latest Mayo Clinic health information you requested in your inbox. Sorry something went wrong with your subscription Please, try again in a couple of minutes Retry

mayoclinic.org - Depression in women: Understanding the gender gap - Mayo Clinic

Which Rashi is very strong?

The 5 most powerful zodiac signs are Taurus, Leo, Scorpio, Sagittarius and Capricorn. Aug 31, 2021

Last updated May 8, 2018

Who is the zodiac God?

Aion Aion (Greek: Αἰών) is a Hellenistic deity associated with time, the orb or circle encompassing the universe, and the zodiac.

Last updated Feb 3, 2021

Promotion

Why do couples seek a third?

A third partner can also serve as a buffer or mediator when scuffles come up between the other two, Spector adds. All that could make for a much...

Last updated Feb 23, 2021

Promotion

Is it OK for my boyfriend to drink my breastmilk?

Generally speaking, breastfeeding your husband or partner is OK. It's not perverted or wrong if you want the person you are intimate with to...

Last updated Nov 13, 2021