From time to time, everyone feels a little “low.” A sad event, ongoing stress, or failure to achieve one’s goals can all cause temporary feelings of unhappiness. But for many women, these feelings never seem to go away. Although depression can affect anyone, it happens twice as often to women as to men.
Depression of any kind can be successfully treated. Read on...
Depression is an unpleasant and often incapacitating condition that affects over 700,000 Canadian women each year.
Although the diagnostic criteria for depression are the same for both sexes, women with depression more frequently experience guilt, anxiety, increased appetite (and associated weight gain), and an increase in the desire to sleep.
Women also experience depression in association with their hormonal status, for example postpartum depression and depression associated with menopause.
What are the Symptoms?
Depression is not always easy to recognize, and therefore seek help for. People suffering from the condition will often experience a variety of mental and physical symptoms. These include:
Mental symptoms:
- Feeling low, sad, or “down in the dumps” most of the time
- Feelings of guilt, hopelessness and/or unworthiness
- Loss or reduction of interest in previously enjoyable activities
- Suicidal thoughts
Physical symptoms:
- Sleep disturbances (inability to sleep or sleeping excessively)
- Appetite/weight changes
- Attention/concentration difficulties
- Decreased energy or unexplained fatigue
Although chemical imbalances in the brain are largely responsible for depression, many people continue to believe that chronic depression signifies a personality or character flaw. This makes it difficult for the depressed person to seek help.
Types of Depression Affecting Women
Although a woman can experience depressive episodes at any stage of her life, she is particularly likely to suffer from mood disorders at menopause or following the birth of a baby.
Menopausal depression
Many women experience ongoing feelings of sadness and “uselessness” during and/or following menopause. For some, the sense of loss experienced as their baby-producing years come to an end, can be overwhelming.
Other women experience no such loss, but nevertheless feel low and anxious due to plummeting hormone levels.
If you are experiencing depression and you are menopausal, you should discuss your feelings with your doctor or other health care provider. Many therapies are available to help you including counselling and use of prescription drugs (hormone replacement therapy or antidepressants), and natural remedies.
Postpartum depression
Postpartum depression is often called the "baby blues" - although psychologists now prefer to differentiate the two terms. Most new mothers experience a feeling of sadness or let-down following the euphoria that precedes the birth of a child. Just after birth, a woman's hormonal levels change. Combined with the intense demands of caring for a newborn, mood-swings and episodes of crying often result.
If these perfectly normal symptoms persist, or you feel you want to harm yourself or your baby, you should seek medical help as soon as possible. Postpartum depression is usually successfully treated through counselling and/or participation in support groups, and through use of antidepressants.
All About SAD
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that is triggered by a decrease in sunlight. Those affected by SAD usually become depressed in the fall and winter and feel better during the spring and summer.
SAD is caused by an increase in the brain’s output of melatonin. This sleep-related hormone is produced at night, when the eyes and brain respond to darkness. Increased melatonin levels are believed to cause symptoms of depression including excessive sleeping, eating and sadness. A craving for sugary and starchy foods often accompanies these symptoms.
Symptoms of SAD usually begin in October or November and subside in March or April. Women (particularly younger women in their 20s and 30s), are most likely to experience SAD.
How is SAD Treated?
Bright light therapy (BLT) is often used to treat the symptoms of SAD. BLT involves sitting in front of special broad spectrum bright lights for one quarter to one full hour a day, usually in the morning. If symptoms do not respond to BLT, antidepressants may be prescribed. Many people find they can avoid full-blown SAD by:
- staying physically active. Physical activity causes the release of endorphins (“feel good” chemicals) in the brain.
- planning enjoyable events in advance of the fall and winter months.
- getting as much exposure to light as possible. If it is not bright outside, turning on the house lights will help elevate the mood.