Depression is manifested when we lose our ability to find pleasure in activities once considered enjoyable. In addition, it can affect a person’s ability to work, sleep, and eat in normal and effective manners and usually negatively impacts interpersonal and social relationships. With Major Depression, also known as Major Depressive Disorder, your depressed state may persist for an extended period of time and is often accompanied with low self-esteem. Persistent Depressive Disorder is considered a milder form of depression, this is an extended depressed mood that lasts for two years or more. Major depressive episodes (i.e., more severe forms of depression) may still occur during persistent depressive disorder.
Depression is almost twice as likely to affect women than men and tends to have different contributing causes in women than it does in men. Contributing factors include reproductive hormones, a differing female response to stress, and social pressures that are unique to a woman’s life experiences. Some of the distinguishing factors in how depression differs between women vs. men include:
- Women feel anxious and scared; men feel guarded
- Women blame themselves for the depression; men blame others
- Women commonly feel sad, worthless, and apathetic when depressed; men tend to feel irritable and angry
- Women are more likely to avoid conflicts when depressed; men are more likely to create conflicts
- Women turn to food and friends to self-medicate; men turn to alcohol, TV, sex, or sports to self-medicate
- Women feel lethargic and nervous; men feel agitated and restless
- Women easily talk about their feelings of self-doubt and despair; men hide feelings of self-doubt and despair-considering it a sign of weakness
If you are experiencing symptoms of depression or other mood challenges, please reach out to us. We help many patients manage anxiety, depression, and mood disorders with safe & natural remedies.