Women and Depression

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Does this sound familiar?

• "Even though I was always tired, I kept waking up early in the morning. I completely lost my appetite. Everyone irritated me: people at work, my husband and my kids."
  
  
• "For weeks, I was always on the verge of tears. I thought I had fallen into a black hole I couldn't get out of. Was I going to feel this way forever?"
  
  
• "My family and friends noticed that I just wasn't myself anymore. I didn't enjoy the things I used to - playing golf, going out, even having sex. It became so difficult to concentrate at work that I felt worthless, like I couldn't do anything well."

Approximately one in four women can expect to experience depression in their lifetime. Regardless of age, race or income, depression can occur in any woman. Depression robs women of the pleasure found in daily life.  Untreated, it can worsen existing illness and lead to feelings of giving up on life.

Signs & Symptoms of Depression

• Persistent sad, anxious or "empty" feelings
• Feelings of hopelessness and/or pessimism
• Irritability, restlessness, anxiety
• Feelings of guilt, worthlessness and/or helplessness
• Loss of interest in activities or hobbies once pleasurable, including sex
• Fatigue and decreased energy
• Difficulty concentrating, remembering details and making decisions
• Insomnia, waking up during the night, or excessive sleeping
• Overeating, or appetite loss
• Thoughts of suicide, suicide attempts
• Persistent aches or pains, headaches, cramps or digestive problems that do not ease even with treatment

Take a Mental Health Screening now.

Types of Depression

Causes of Depression

• Genetic and biological factors - For some people, depression seems to run in their families, making them vulnerable to depression as well. For those individuals, all the factors listed below are even more likely to cause depression.
• Birth of a child - Between 10 and 20 percent of women develop a form of depression called post-partum depression, for up to a year following the birth of a child. Single moms, women with less supportive husbands and women with multiple children are at risk for post-partum depression.
• Difficult life events - Histories of abuse and trauma, divorce, financial problems, moving, death of loved one and job loss - all can trigger depression. Experiences of harassment and discrimination also play a role. But sometimes even events that should be positive, like having a child, getting a job or getting married, can result in depression.
• Daily life hassles and stress - It is not just the big events but the accumulation of lots of little stressors and hassles can also cause depression. For many depressed women, nothing big happened, but their lives are filled with the stress and the hassles that comes from always taking care of everyone else and never themselves.
• Presence of other illnesses and medications - Hormonal disorders, cancer, diabetes, stroke, heart disease, Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease can increase the likelihood of developing depression. Some medications can produce a depressed mood. Check with your health care provider regarding medications (prescriptions and over-the-counter) you may be taking and their possible interactions.
• Other mental illness - such as anxiety and eating disorders, can make it more likely someone will fall into clinical depression.
• Abuse of alcohol or drugs - Some people attempt to "self-medicate" to stop the emotional pain caused by depression by using alcohol and/or drugs but, unfortunately, this will worsen depression.

Regardless of the factors involved clinical depression is real. Chemical changes in your brain occur when you are depressed. Your brain and body simply stop working properly.  It is not simply a sign of being weak, lazy or unmotivated. It is not simply "trying to get attention." It is a real disease, and it is serious.

Getting Help

• Mental Health Professionals
  • Click here, to search for a Therapist in Southeastern Wisconsin.
  • Click here, for a list of Wisconsin certified mental health and substance abuse treatment providers by city and county.
• Types of Mental Health Professionals

• Your health plan or employee assistance program (EAP)
• Community mental health centers
• Social service agencies
• Private clinics
• Local Support Groups
  • Click here for a list of support groups in the Milwaukee Area
• Religious or Spiritual settings

Resources for Friends and Family Members

Getting Help: Helping a Friend

Additional Resources

Past Topics