Everything You Need to Know About Depression in Women
About 12 percent of US women experience depression symptoms in their lifetime, and although everyone experiences depression differently, there are ways that women vary from men in how they experience depression.
Women tend to eat more and sleep more, and they're at a greater risk for seasonal depression than men. There's also a certain depression that is only attributed to females.
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum depression occurs after giving birth, and this is just more than the baby blues or sadness that happens after giving birth due to a hormonal imbalance.
You want to make sure that you're communicating with your OB/GYN and your partner because postpartum depression can impact your relationship if it's not addressed ahead of time.
Perimenopause or Menopause Depression
This occurs before and during menopause, and this can impact you if you're getting poor sleep, which is hard to get if you're having night sweats or hot flashes, and also you're transitioning from one period of womanhood to another which can come with some emotional hurt.
So you'll want to make sure you're addressing that with your doctor or even a therapist.
Pre-Menstrual Syndrome
Pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS) occurs before menstruation or your period happens.
I know that myself, I experience this. I'll just start crying in the shower out of nowhere and have a bunch of mood swings. Then I'm like, "What's going on Elodie?" Then I check the calendar, and I realize, "Oh my period's occurring in a couple of days."
You'll want to make sure that you're tracking your period, and as well implementing a self-care routine, doing things that alleviate stress so you can deal better.
Those are some of the ways or types of depression that are attributed to females. It's important to know that women also tend to blame themselves more and tend to talk about it more, which that can be a very positive thing.
So, make sure that you're adjusting your lifestyle accordingly and removing any stressors or triggers if possible.