Depression in Women:

padmaiyangar · Aug 3, 2007

Depression in Women:

The causes of female depression and even the pattern of symptoms are often different from .men Many factors contribute to the unique picture of depression in women-from reproductive hormones to social pressures to the female response to stress. Learning about these factors can help to minimize the risk of depression . If you’re feeling sad, guilty, tired, and just generally “down in the dumps,” you may be suffering from major depression. But the good news is that depression is treatable, and the more you understand about depression’s particular implications for and impact on women, the more equipped you will be to tackle the condition head on.
What are the causes of depression in women?

Premenstrual problems

Pregnancy and infertility

peri menopause and Menopause

Role of strain : Women often suffer from role strain over conflicting and overwhelming responsibilities in their life The more roles a woman is expected to play (mother, wife, working woman), the more vulnerable she is to role strain and subsequent stress and depression. Depression is more common in women who receive little help with housework and child care` Single mothers are particularly at risk. Research indicates that single mothers are three times more likely than married mothers to experience an episode of major depression

. Unequal power and status : Women’s relative lack of power and status in our society may lead to feelings of helplessness. This sense of helplessness puts women at greater risk for depression. These feelings may be provoked by discrimination in the workplace leading to underemployment or unemployment. Low socioeconomic status is a risk factor for major depression. Another contributing factor is society’s emphasis on youth, beauty, and thinness in women, traits which to a large extent are out of their control
7. Unequal power and status and sexual , physical abuse ,
8. Relation ship and dissatisfaction
9. Poverty
What are the symptoms of depression in women?

The symptoms of depression in women are the same as those for major depression. Common complaints include:

Depressed mood

Loss of interest or pleasure in activities you used to enjoy

Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and worthlessness

Suicidal thoughts or recurrent thoughts of death

Sleep disturbance (sleeping more or sleeping less)

Appetite and weight changes

Difficulty concentrating Lack of energy and fatigue

puni88 · Aug 3, 2007

Hi Padma,
100% true.
We know all these information by bits, but you have compiled all the information very well and presented, which makes lot sense and more informative.
Thanks for sharing,
Punitha

piu · Aug 4, 2007

Padma
you r right.Actually we women r depressed over society.

rajmiarun · Aug 4, 2007

How to overcome depression

Dear all women,
Dont ever feel bad if you have depression or if you have had depression earlier. It is quite natural to get depressed. But dont let the depression take you for a six. But instead if atlest a few of these steps given by Reader's Digest's Change One is followed we could defeat the stress.

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=382 border=0><TR vAlign=top>10 Easy Solutions to Stress<TR vAlign=top><TD class=content>From Looking After Your Body<TR vAlign=top>1. Lean on other people. Studies of both animals and humans show that social contact can help tone down the body's physical response to stress. It can even boost immunity. So cultivate a network of people you can turn to. Share what's bothering you with a friend and ask for some helpful advice. Avoid people who always need something without giving back or who are constantly moody or depressed.

2. De-clutter your world. Stop hoarding old magazines, and throw away those old receipts and tax returns you no longer need. Clutter-free surroundings will help prevent the frustration of not being able to find something you need, and give you the reassuring knowledge that everything's in its place.

3. Eliminate last-minute rushes. Leave the house 15 minutes early for appointments, set up a system for paying your bills (ask your bank about automatic bill paying), refill your prescriptions a week ahead of time, and stock up on birthday cards whenever you see ones you like. A little advance planning can spare you a lot of headaches.

4. Keep your journal. Reflect on your day, your emotions, and your personal goals. Include everything that stresses you, so you can start to recognize patterns and take appropriate action. Writing is also a great way to relax and put things into perspective.

5. Get organized. Set aside a place for bills, paperwork, letters. Store items you use most often in accessible places. Spend five minutes straightening your office or main living area at the end of the day. Keep a long-range calendar and a short-range to-do list. Check off items as you finish them.

6. Get a massage. Massage not only relaxes tense muscles, it decreases the level of stress hormones in the bloodstream and stimulates the release of serotonin, a brain chemical associated with relaxation and a feeling of well-being. Studies show that massage can even lower your heart rate and blood pressure.

7. Chop your to-do list in half. Most of us set the bar too high. After you've written your to-do list, decide what's most important to you in the long run, then cut the list in half. If you can't eliminate certain tasks, try to have someone else do them. For instance, hire a neighborhood teenager to do the yard work, or skip cooking and order in.

8. Carve time for yourself. Give higher priority to your "relax and renewal" time. Include it in your schedule at least every other day. If you have to cut out an activity to make time for your hobby -- or a warm bath -- then do it. Or spend some time alone reading or listening to music you love.

9. Avoid crowds. Schedule your commute to avoid traffic, go for lunch 15 minutes before the usual rush, make Thursday, not Saturday, your night out, shop for groceries on a weeknight, and order your clothes and prescription drugs through the mail.

10. Laugh a little. When you laugh, you send chemicals called endorphins to your brain that ease pain and enhance your feeling of well-being. Laughter also stimulates the heart, lungs, and muscles and boosts your resistance to infection. If you laugh for 20 seconds, your body gets the same amount of beneficial oxygen -- good for stress relief -- as it does in three minutes of aerobic exercise. Plus, it's nearly impossible to stay tense while you're laughing. Find cartoons, videos, TV shows, writers, and comics that make you laugh. Share jokes with friends over email.

padmaiyangar · Aug 4, 2007

Re: How to overcome depression

rajmiarun said: ↑

Dear all women,
Dont ever feel bad if you have depression or if you have had depression earlier. It is quite natural to get depressed. But dont let the depression take you for a six. But instead if atlest a few of these steps given by Reader's Digest's Change One is followed we could defeat the stress.

thanks for the post which is very good and if we follow we can overcome with depresssion to some extent. I am searching all these days for something like this.
once again many thanks

with warm affection
Click to expand...

sunil087 · Jun 24, 2013

Its a good thread on "how to's"

vidhyalakshmid · Jun 25, 2013

Very good information. One tip from my end -
Focus on breathing, try to do breathing exercises, simply blow the breathe
out several times for temporary stress relief.

Meditation helps a lot to release stress. Still we have to take the life as it is.
I remember a quote - LIVE LIFE AS LIFE LIVES ITSELF.

mimur9 · Jun 25, 2013

Like to add few more points to this discussion :-

lighting a lamp in a dark room and concentrating on that also helps reduce depression. Spiritual discourses and conversations also helps to come over this.

Hobbies : One must cultivate some hobby which will distracting the mind and gives relaxation.