Depression In Women
If you’re experiencing signs of depression in women and you’re having trouble seeing where to go next, then you might find value in this quick article.
Have you felt sad, depressed, and lonely for awhile?
Maybe this has gone on for years, and even though you’ve put in time and effort, things keep going to places you don’t want to go? And you’re wondering how to find outside help?
Your experience with depression is different from men because it is:
1) more affected by seasonal changes,
2) more likely to come back, and
3) more likely tied to “stressful life events,” like trauma.
Once you get to a certain point, what do you do?
You need to be more compassionate towards yourself because you’re “1 in 8 women [who] experience depression in their lifetime” and this is at “twice the rate of men.”
You have “worth” and for all you’ve given to life, you deserve to give yourself a chance to find comfort and healing.
You Deserve A Great Deal Of Compassion
I understand it may be hard to imagine yourself feeling better. I also know that may be extra-true when it comes to how you see the future.
But I thin k the fact you made it this far after what you’re likely to have been through is amazing. I believe you deserve to get healing and compassion in any and all ways you can, and you’re in no way beyond hope.
Quite the contrary!
So please don’t allow your fear and doubt to hold you back—even if the outside world looks confusing. Your life is precious and deserves for you to find hope and healing in depression treatment.
Just remember something important: thinking about getting help and actually going to get help are not the same thing! Please reach out soon.
Different Stages Of A Woman’s Life
Guilt is one of the common symptoms of depression in women, so there’s some research I’d like to tell you about.
Here’s the thing:
You may feel depressed because of biology, so it’s OK if you have depression “switched on.”
How come?
Because when explaining the signs of depression in women, the National Institute of Mental Health says the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, postpartum period, and perimenopause may all be linked to depression.
This means when a woman feels sad or lost, it can be intimately related to her biology. This isn’t under her personal control and it changes developmentally from stage to stage.
If you’re a woman experiencing this, it’s no mystery why you might blame yourself, or why you might imagine everything going wrong—and why you might consider getting help from a depression therapist like me.
Here’s One Thing Seldom Talked About…
If there’s anything the research shows us about the interaction between human biology and the environment, it’s this:
The more your world around you isn’t what you want, and the longer this goes on, the more depressed you might feel as time passes. The more you’ll see what’s coming as what’s always been. And the more likely your body or the seasons or life will all come together, and push the cycle back to depression.
Because if you combine this with, for example, shutting down your personal needs and wants to grow and maintain your relationships, then the entire challenge is doubled.
Meanwhile, what you probably really want is for your relationships to see you and hear you for who you are, and live in balance. So this overall situation can leave you feeling like something vital is missing.
Fortunately, you can work with a depression therapist on how to stop shutting down your needs so you can maybe start getting those needs met instead.
Are You Feeling Anxious?
Let me ask an important question:
How much anxiety are you feeling?
Anxiety usually comes with depression in women. To heal your depression, first you heal any anxiety you’re feeling and then you address any unmet needs. Otherwise, untreated anxiety can combine with untreated depression.
Of course, to heal means you open up to be vulnerable.
Vulnerable to hope without being scared. Vulnerable to explore what you want changed, and what you really need. Vulnerable enough to imagine a better future for yourself.
Are you ready to work with a depression therapist on how to manage symptoms and create a better future?
Let Me Help You Heal From Depression And Move Forward
You have 2 big options at this point:
You can keep struggling with the symptoms of depression in women, and try different ways to avoid what’s bothering you.
Or you can work with a compassionate depression therapist on what’s happening in your life and talk about what it is you really want—even if that seems out of reach from your current vantage point.
Keep in mind: you can’t deny, ignore, or wish depression away, but you can definitely treat and manage it.
If you give therapy for depression a chance, and you let your personal healing become top priority of why you’re helping yourself, then you can start to move forward.
And if you’d like to work on therapy for depression with me, please reach out.
Find out more about Depression Treatment.
About The Author
John Younes, JD, MA, LPCC, NCC is a trained counselor who owns a private practice in Denver, CO. In general, he specializes in depression treatment and anxiety treatment using existential and cognitive therapy practices.
If you’re thinking about suicide and are in immediate danger, please call your local emergency number… so for Denver, Colorado, call 1-844-493-8255 or text TALK to 38255. You can also call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.