Depression in women: causes, solutions and helpful addresses

Every fourth woman and every sixth man go through the tunnel of sadness, reluctance and despair once in a lifetime. But the light in the end is palpable. Because there are now many ways to overcome a depressive phase. Helpful information and tips for those affected and their relatives.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the number of people affected by depression is increasing dramatically. People from industrialized countries in particular are increasingly caught up in depressive phases. And among them, it is primarily women who represent a well-known and increased risk group.

Because women are almost twice as likely to suffer from the mental illness that comes with sadness, reluctance, guilt and fear.

Women accept depression more easily

Statically speaking, women are more often depressed. This fact seems to be clear and sounds scary at first. But, as the saying goes, a recognized enemy is only half an enemy and insight, the first way to get better.

And this is exactly where there is often a glimmer of hope, especially for women. The female gender often recognizes depressive moods much earlier and, unlike the majority of men, is much more willing to treat them. This is good because without treatment, depression can last for many months, even years.

Men tend to close their eyes. Because often the symptoms of depression in the eyes of men – as well as women – are attached to the label of personal weakness. Depression, like all other mental illnesses, is often perceived as self-inflicted, in contrast to visible physical illnesses.

And because men tend not to want to be seen as weak much more than women, the signs and symptoms are less often recognized, recorded and often not treated. To against one depression To fight successfully, it is therefore important to allow yourself to be weak and to accept the disease.

Female depression: hormones are to blame

Science got to the bottom of the phenomenon of female depression and researched what many women actually always knew: the female hormonal balance is like a roller coaster.

Above all, it is the estrogen values ​​that have a significant impact on female mental life and are one of the symptoms of depression. Many women notice these changes again every month: premenstrual syndrome (PMS) causes irritability, depression, moodiness and sometimes even depressive moods in the days before the days.

But even in the further female life cycle, extreme hormonal situations are not long in coming: The birth of a child is associated with significant hormone fluctuations. The drop in hormonal balance after birth can trigger postpartum depression. Later it is the menopause that triggers low estrogen levels and often even deeper moods can.

Hormonal changes are by no means the only triggers for the development of depression. Blows of fate or difficult living conditions can also be causes and signs of depression.

Related Links:

  • Information on the clinical picture of depression and depressive episode.
  • Sexual differences in the clinical picture of depression.
  • Medical facts and tips for depression.

Female hormones can also help

The female hormones have a woman’s emotional balance firmly in hand. However, this does not only mean that they have negative consequences. On the contrary: Studies have shown that female hormones also have a benefit when it comes to depression.

It is believed that most antidepressants can only achieve optimal effects if the body has a sufficient level of female hormones. The more female hormones, the better the medication works.

Test: Are you depressed?

You can ask yourself the following questions to find out if you are really depressed. If you can answer yes to many of the points listed, these are strong signs. However, a discussion of the results with a doctor is essential!

  • Your mood has been going on for more than two weeks?
  • There were also happy moments in between?
  • Do not give pleasure to things that you otherwise enjoyed?
  • Do you feel tired and listless?
  • It is difficult for you to concentrate?
  • Do you have (unfounded) feelings of guilt?
  • Do you feel physically weak or somehow sick?
  • Are you suddenly afraid of things that have not previously frightened you for no apparent reason?

Upset or depressed: the differences

Fluctuations in the hormonal balance are something natural in women. Soul highs and lows as well. How to distinguish bad mood symptoms from those of one depression?

Experts say that it is the duration and intensity of the disagreement that make the difference. Depression is often accompanied by feelings of guilt, decision-making difficulties and physical complaints such as tiredness or loss of appetite as a symptom.

When it comes to detecting depression, women can and should play out their natural advantage: they are sensitive, respect, think highly of on emotional changes and seek help from others. The latter is particularly important: Depression can only be clearly identified and remedied in a conversation with an expert.

A doctor or psychologist is the right address for this: Because depression is a serious illness and not a weakness. The disease ideally requires treatment or therapy. The sooner you visit an expert, the sooner recovery can begin.

Help yourself: tips to prevent depression

The realization that you cannot cure your disease on your own, but that you need medical help, is the first step to recovery. But not the only one: There are also ways in which those affected can additionally help themselves. Home remedies alone are not the ultimate treatment, but are still a good step for improvement and prevention.

The following are the best tips for counteracting depression on your own.

1 Movement makes you happy

It has long been known that sport brightens the mood. The extent to which mood-doping can help has been proven by researcher James Blumenthal: he treated 156 people with moderate to severe depression with three different methods:

A test group received antidepressants, another group had to do regular endurance sports and a third group was prescribed both medication and sports.

The result is astonishing: At the end of the treatment period, all subjects came to the same result values. This means that exercising is just as effective in the fight against depression as taking medication.

And it gets even better: four to six months after the trial, the group of athletes who continued their training and exercised a lot in everyday life had a lower relapse rate than their comparison group who took the medication.

2 Light creates a mood

According to the WHO, around two to five percent of people suffer from SAD, the seasonal depressive disorder that is often called autumn or winter depression. The reason for this is the reduced serotonin concentration in the brain in autumn and winter, which in turn is due to the reduced supply of daylight.

A dark mood is not uncommon in the dark season, but also not inevitable. What many do not know is that even through a cloudy sky up to 20 Percent of Light rays can penetrate. So get out: every minute in the open air demonstrably increases well-being and is a great therapy.

3 Happiness is edible

The body works like a car. Only when he gets the right fuel will he go at full speed. The impact on nutrition is often underestimated. However, scientists agree that especially iron (in pertersilie and coriander), magnesium (whole grains) and vitamin B (in nuts and legumes) are positive sources of strength for depressed people and partly provide a natural treatment.

4 Change or stop taking the pill

Taking the contraceptive pill has a major influence on the female hormonal balance and thus also on the mood of the woman. Sometimes, therefore, switching to a differently dosed pill can have a positive effect on the soul’s salvation. Ask your doctor about his assessment and possible optinemes.

By the way: The advice mentioned is not only good for the salvation of those affected. Every body and mind is happy to be looked after – not only when they are depressed.

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Christina Cherry
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