Women and Depression, Stress and Suicide

Women are generally more in touch with emotional responses than are men, and while enjoying the emotional positives of life perhaps more, women are far more vulnerable to depression.

Depression distorts your viewpoint, so you see only problems and negatives, and cannot see positives or solutions. In reality, depression, and relationship problems, will inevitably come to an end, and you would never advise a friend to die because of a temporary illness, or because of a relationship problem, so tell yourself what you would tell a friend. Please also keep in mind that medical research has repeatedly shown that if you die from suicide, you markedly increase the risk of suicide in family members, especially your children.

Women and Depression

In many countries in the western world, it is estimated that 20% of women (and 10% of men) will have at least one episode of depression. Very often, you will not notice this illness creeping up on you, as it makes you very tired, stops you enjoying things, turns off your sexual interest, and makes it difficult for you to think clearly or to read.

If you have trouble making decisions, or cannot read and remember as well as you could 12 months ago, it strongly suggests you have depression or a similar psychological illness, which is distorting your thinking. Do not make decisions about your life, or any other major issue, when your thinking and judgment are distorted by an illness that is allowing you to see only negatives, and is magnifying those negatives.

Depression in Women – Menopause

There can be varied reasons for depression and in women. Hormonal and emotional changes experienced during menopause can be a trigger for depression.Evidence suggests that menopausal depression is both psychological and physiological in nature.

Depression in Women – PostPartum

Childbirth is an emotional experience for every woman, but a certain percentage of women suffer ongoing emotional stress, known as postpartum depression. This disease can be exhibited in various ways; often difficulty bonding with the new baby, urratability and mood swings beyond the ‘baby blues, insomnia, anxiety and difficulty concentrating. It is the length of time that these symptoms go on for which identifies it as being postapartum depression.