5 Reasons Why Women are More Prone to Depression

Depression can change the course of your days, preventing you from making the most of life. It can also interfere with your success at work, in social settings, and within your family or relationships. 

Finding a great mental health professional is a key component to finding relief from depression. For many residents of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Grace Muthami, PMHNP-BC, and the team at Brightmind Wellness are an outstanding resource. The practice also offers telehealth services to Pennsylvania residents including those in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. 

Women are especially prone to developing depression, and there are some clear reasons why. 

Hormonal factors during puberty

Hormones guide virtually every function within the human body. Both women and men produce the hormones they need to thrive, and those production levels spike during puberty. 

Women create estrogen and progesterone at higher levels than men. These hormones drive your reproductive life, enabling your menstrual cycle and fertility. But they also have an impact on your neuroendocrine, neurotransmitter, and circadian systems. 

When hormone production ramps up during puberty, your body’s mood regulation can also be a bit off-kilter. Depression is a real risk, especially if you’ve experienced a bout of depression in the past or face other life challenges.

Pregnancy and motherhood

Here’s another area where hormones reign supreme. Pregnancy can be a roller-coaster ride of ups and downs, and many women report being unable to control their emotions effectively during this time. 

Becoming a parent brings on a whole new experience of stress as you adjust to the idea that you’re responsible for the health, safety, and happiness of a tiny human being. Postpartum depression is a specific mental health condition that can arise in the weeks and months after giving birth and can be harmful to both mother and child. 

Menopause

This time of transition is also filled with hormonal fluctuation. As your body naturally produces less estrogen when you near the end of your reproductive years, your overall hormonal balance can suffer. 

Women in menopause or in the perimenopause stage leading up to menopause often experience mood changes. The normal lows of life can feel even lower, and it isn’t always easy to shake off the symptoms of depression when your body is also struggling to adapt to changing hormone levels. 

Lingering social norms

Although women have come a long way, there are still many different social norms that present challenges to women of all ages. Women continue to be undervalued in the workforce and still face the  lion’s share of responsibilities at home, even when they also hold down jobs. 

Many mothers who work outside the home experience feelings of guilt and worry that they might not be meeting the needs of their children. Some feel anxiety and stress about limited opportunities for advancement or feel that the gains they’ve earned over time might be lost if they take time off to expand their family. 

Americans also continue to socialize girls and boys differently. Many girls are raised to be nurturing and to identify and acknowledge their own emotions and those of others. This is one area that might actually be beneficial to women, as research shows that women are more likely than men to seek help with their depression. 

Life’s challenges

Researchers find that women are more likely than men to experience depression in the wake of a stressful life event. The loss of a loved one, the end of a marriage, financial problems, or stress over caring for teenagers or aging parents can all bring on high stress levels. 

Here again, social factors come into play. Women are often the ones tasked with handling most of the parental duties and also take on the role of caregiver to aging parents more frequently than men. 

When it comes to divorce, women on average suffer greater financial problems after a split. The workforce can be an unwelcoming place, especially if you’ve taken time off to raise a family. 

Help is available to women experiencing depression

Every woman is unique, and if you experience depression, your journey will also be unlike that of any other person. But what remains the same is the importance of seeking professional help for severe or lingering mood changes. 

Brightmind Wellness offers a path away from the symptoms and limitations of depression. The practice is dedicated to making psychiatric care more easily accessible to everyone through private, confidential telehealth visits. 

Take that first step today by calling to schedule a visit, or make an appointment through our online booking page.