Stress and Depression in Women

Stress and depression are personal experiences and vary with each individual, more so between genders. It is also generally believed that women are more prone to experience depression than men. In addition, it has also been observed that the causes and pattern of symptoms of depression in women is quite different from men.

One interesting study of emotional and alcohol-craving responses to stress revealed that women respond differently to stress. They are more likely to experience stress related depression and anxiety disorders than men. Men, on the other hand, were more prone to suffer from stress related alcohol-use disorders.

Women also tend to read more into an adverse situation and focus on possibilities of negative outcomes. They are also more prone to reflect deeply and think over and over again about their negative emotional state. In short, a woman’s increased vulnerability to stress and depression is mostly due to a greater deliberation of possible negative outcomes. This is considered to be the major reason behind why women are considered to be at a higher risk of developing depression or anxiety disorders.

Besides female response to stress there are also other factors that contribute to depression in women. The reproductive hormones and social pressures play an important role in female depression.

• Premenstrual issues – Stress and anxiety are common symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, which is also referred to as premenstrual tension.
• Pregnancy – Changes that occur during pregnancy enhance the risk of depression, especially in women who are already in high risk category. Miscarriage, unwanted pregnancy and infertility are also major contributors to female depression.
• Postpartum depression – This is commonly known as ‘baby blues,’ a common but temporary reaction. Some women, however, experience long lasting clinical depression after childbirth and is normally associated with hormonal changes.
• Social and cultural issues – The role that women play in society, unequal power and status, sexual abuse, poverty are some of the social issues that place women at a higher risk than men.

The signs and symptoms of stress related depression is almost the same for both men and women. Women, however, tend to experience some symptoms more often. For example, women are more likely to show symptoms of seasonal affective disorder or depression in winter months due to low sunlight. In all likelihood, women are more prone to experience atypical depression.

Atypical depression is marked by symptoms that are opposite to what are normally associated with depression. Hence, it is not uncommon to see women suffering from depression to eat and sleep more rather than the other way round.

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