Depression Treatment For Women
Women have many different roles - wife, mother, professional, friend and caregiver - that can cause lots of stress. This, along with hormonal changes, can cause depression in women.
The signs of depression in women can include mood swings irregular menstrual cycles and sleep problems. Other symptoms include perimenopausal depression, pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) and bipolar disorder.
Causes
Many factors can trigger depression in women. This can be caused by hormonal changes at various stages of life (pregnancy and menstrual cycles, perimenopausal) as well as physical ailments like low iron or anemia and the side effects of certain medications, including birth hormone therapy and control pills. Other causes are a woman's response to hormone fluctuations, stress and social pressures.
Depression is more prevalent among women than men. Women are estimated to be twice more likely than men to be diagnosed with depression. This is partly due to the distinct symptoms that women present. Women are more likely than men to report emotions like sadness, loss of interest, or enjoyment. They may be feeling guilty and unimportant.
Women are more likely to suffer depression earlier, for longer, and with greater frequency than men. Additionally, certain symptoms of depression, such as suicide are more likely to be reported by women than men. This is partly because women are more socially expected to express their feelings and because of the pressures from family and culture to be strong.
Women often have many tasks - they're mothers wives, work colleagues as well as caregivers for family members and loved one. This can cause emotional peaks and valleys. These emotional peaks and valleys can be more severe and are more frequent for women than men. They can also cause problems with daily activities and relationships.
Depression in women is usually caused by hormonal changes. For example, the time before menopause (perimenopause) can be a roller-coaster ride of emotional and physical ups and downs because of the hormonal shifts that happen during this time. Other causes of depression in women are premenstrual dysphoric disorder which is a more severe version of the "baby blues" that some new mothers suffer from; and postpartum or postnatal depression that occurs after the birth.
Depression treatment for women can include medication, counselling or a combination of the two. Women who decide to take medication should be aware that some antidepressants are more efficient than others. Taking the time to find the right medication and dosage is essential to achieve success. Women must also make healthy lifestyle changes such as getting enough rest and eating a balanced diet. Self-help techniques like meditation or yoga, journaling, or a healthy exercise routine can aid in relieving depression symptoms.
Symptoms
Females and females are at a higher risk of depression because of unique social, hormonal and biological issues. These include hormonal changes that occur during puberty and menstruation as well as pregnancy and childbirth.
These mood changes can cause a woman's feelings to change. She may feel lonely, sad or overwhelmed. These feelings can be challenging to manage for women particularly if they start interfering in their relationships and daily lives. Other signs of depression include trouble sleeping or sleeping, a decrease in interest in activities that used to be enjoyable and feeling exhausted and sluggish most of the day, and a persistently low mood. Anyone suffering from severe depression that is accompanied by active suicidal thoughts or plans should be treated with therapy, medication or both.
Many people experience ups and downs throughout the day, or even week. However these moods shouldn't affect the woman's daily life and should not last more than several days before returning to normal. Women with symptoms of depression that hinder their daily routine and do not improve visit a physician or mental health professional.
Encourage your family member or friend to seek treatment if they are concerned. You can also offer support by learning more about the causes and symptoms of depression. You can also offer emotional support by being with them and helping them with their daily obligations.
You could, for instance, offer to take their baby for a couple of hours if they have trouble sleeping. You could also assist them by helping with meals or other household chores. You can also support them by taking them to a doctor to discuss a plan of treatment or by inviting them to attend psychotherapy sessions together.
During therapy, a person can learn healthy coping skills and get better at managing their symptoms. Some women can manage using only psychotherapy, whereas others may need antidepressant medications. Both treatments are highly efficient when administered by the right person. For breastfeeding mothers, a psychiatrist can prescribe medication that is safe for both mother and baby.
Treatment
Women have a higher chance of developing depression due to hormonal fluctuations and changes in their bodies. These include the menstrual cycles as well as miscarriage, pregnancy postpartum depression, perimenopausal depression and menopausal. Women can also be affected by stressors such as relationship issues, financial difficulties and caring for young children or aging parents.
Treatment and self-care can relieve depression symptoms. Talk therapy (also called psychotherapy or counselling) and antidepressant medication and their combination are often successful in reducing the symptoms of depression. Psychotherapy is focused on learning strategies for coping and building healthier relationships to help people deal with stressful life events. It can also be used to recognize and combat negative thinking by teaching people how to respond better to situations. Antidepressants control moods by making hormones more stable and increasing serotonin in the brain.
Depression is a serious mental illness that affects the thoughts, emotions and behaviour of a person. Depression can make it hard to focus and sleep well, or to be able to accomplish daily tasks. Depression is treated by a psychiatrist or psychologist, a social worker, or a counsellor. You can get a referral from your GP or locate one using the Healthdirect Service Finder. Medicare will reimburse you for up to twenty sessions every year with an accredited mental health professional.
Women aren't always willing to seek help if they're suffering from depression, either because they are embarrassed or because they believe the depression isn't a serious issue. However, talking to a friend or family member, a support group, a trusted health professional, or an assistance line like beyondblue can all be effective ways to get the help you need. You can also boost your mood by focusing on mindfulness, exercising in a regular manner, sleeping well and eating healthy food, as well as expose yourself to bright, artificial or natural light. You can also boost your mood by taking care of yourself and getting involved in your community. For finding the right depression treatment on how to deal with depression, call the beyondblue Helpline at 1800 22 4636 or go to healthdirect's Service Finder.
The following is a list with preventions.
Depression is a serious disease however, it is able to be treated. If you know someone who may be depressed Encourage her to visit an expert in health and stick with the treatment plan. For example, help her to remember to take her medication and make sure she has transportation available or has access to appointments with a therapist. Remind her that she's not the only one and that her mood will improve with time and treatment.
Depression can be caused by a variety of things. Depression can be caused by physical illnesses such as respiratory or diabetes. It can also be caused by unhealthy lifestyle factors like poor nutrition and lack of exercise and a harmful consumption of alcohol. Women with an history of depression or having a family history of depression are at a higher chance of developing depression themselves. Several studies have shown that certain prevention programs can reduce the risk of depression among women. For example, one programme called ROSE (Reach Out Stay Strong, Stay Strong, Essentials for mothers of newborns) has been proven to cut the rate of postpartum depression among low-income women by half in a number of research studies.
Women should seek assistance when they experience symptoms of depression. Ask your health care provider to refer you to a psychiatrist. A woman who is depressed and having difficulty caring for her baby or herself needs immediate help from a medical professional. She could ask a family member or family member to look after the baby for a couple of hours, or she can join an organization that helps mothers who are new.
Beyond blue offers information and support for women, and includes a video-call service with child nurse mothers. Healthdirect also has a Service Locator to find the psychiatrist or a GP and create an appropriate treatment plan.