Depression

DEPRESSION IN WOMAN

Depression is the most common mood disorder; it is more than just temporary feelings of sadness. Then how come women are more prone to depression than men? Depression affects women emotionally, physically, and mentally in every aspect of their lives. Clinical depression does not only just cause suffering to individuals who are depressed, but it brings problems for their families and friends who seldom do not know how to help them. Experts say depression is a disorder that is colour blind and affects women in spite of race, ethnic backgrounds, or socio-economic standing. Women are said to be two to three times more prone than men to suffer from depression. Why is this the case? Is it because of the stress caused by society’s expectations of women? The following essay will provide a brief overview explaining why women are more prone to depression than men.

There are emotional risk factors that make women especially are vulnerable from. Women who are unhappily married, divorced, or separated, have higher risks. They tend to undergo more stress, anger, frustration, and cause problems among her family. Nobody is predetermined to develop a mood disorder. Nevertheless, women who tend to be under more stress than normal and often have to handle a variety of conflicting roles in society may be susceptible to depression. Women who are biologically vulnerable to depression are more likely to develop the disease when they’re under chronic stress.

Depression can cause mothers to be inconsistent with the way they care for their children. They may be loving one minute and withdrawn the next. They may not respond at all to their children’s behaviour or they may respond in a negative way. Babies who do not develop a secure attachment may have trouble interacting with their mother (they may not want to be with their mother, or may be upset when with them), causing them to develop skills later than other babies. Toddlers and preschoolers whose mothers are depressed may be less independent, less likely to interact with other people, have more trouble accepting discipline, be more aggressive and destructive or not do as well in school. School-age children may have behavioural problems, have learning difficulties, have a higher risk of attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder, and not do as well in school. Adolescents whose mothers suffer from depression are at high risk for a number of problems including major depression, anxiety disorder, conduct disorder, substance abuse, attention deficit, and learning difficulties. Depending on how old children are, they will be affected by their mother’s depression in different ways. Women in a motherly role are likely to suffer from a mood disorder because of the expectations as a mother, this can cause her to be more emotionally distressed.

Research indicates that women experiencing depression have imbalances in daily physical activities. Women are obliged to care for children and aging parents in addition to work. She may become unable to perform such tasks because she is restrained to being in bed and therefore cannot participate in her usual functions. She starts to deteriorate physically, for example lose of weight and have low energy. Member around her or living with her may start to experience role changes. For example her husband may be unable to handle the situation and may become an alcoholic or abusive towards her, or the children. As a result, their children may start to engage in gang activities or violence as a way of dealing with the situation and lack of socialization. These distressing events will cause corruption and problems to here family’s unity. Therefore, the physical family structure slowly starts to segregate from each other.

Another example of depression affecting a women physically is during pregnancy. Awomen with depression tend to have receive less prenatal care, do not eat as well, and do not get enough rest. They are at risk of having a miscarriage, delivering their baby before their due date (preterm) or having a baby who is too small (low birth weight). If depression is not treated during pregnancy, it can lead to postpartum depression. Postpartum depression is a serious condition that can last for months after giving birth and can affect the way a mother bonds with her baby. Nonetheless, women are affected constantly during their life suffering from depression caused by physical pain.

A woman may suffer severely mentally when she is depressed. A painful experience for example death in the family, natural disaster, or loss of ones job can trigger an extreme case. These events can cause her to lose contact with friends and family because her mentality is at a different state. Which will lead, to her, isolating herself from her family because she does not have the mental ability to care, or show love towards her spouse and children.