Depression is a widespread mental illness that is affecting many people worldwide. While it is affecting women of all ages, I’m going to focus on women in their 30s and 40s. Women between the ages of 25 and 44 are the ones dealing with the condition more frequently, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. How are they being impacted by this condition? Are there any treatments or solutions to their inner pain? We are going to find out the answers to these questions in this post.
First of all, depression affects people in different ways. One person may show signs of it by constantly overeating. While a different person may show depression signs by constantly starving oneself. Regardless, each sign is outside the norm of what a person’s behavior should be. When we see our loved ones exhibiting these behaviors, we must take the time to get that person the help they need.
According to the mhanational.org website, more women experience depression than men. While the reasons for this are still unclear, they may include the hormonal changes women go through during menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth and menopause. Other reasons could be stress caused by the multiple responsibilities that women have. The website states that approximately 12 million women in the United States experience clinical depression each year.
But with every dark cloud comes a silver lining and the condition is treatable with proper medication and psychotherapy. The choice of treatment depends on the pattern, severity, persistence of depressive symptoms and the history of the illness. As with many illnesses, early treatment is more effective and helps prevent the likelihood of serious recurrences.
I recently came across an article that we put in our mouths can have an impact. According to the article, “Changing Your Diet Can Help Tamp Down Depression, Boost Mood” on www.npr.org, there is evidence that eating a healthier diet of fruits and veggies can help reduce symptoms of depression. So don’t underestimate what you’re putting in your body.
Depression is painful and is affecting many women in their 30s and 40s. But there is hope in overcoming this disease. Utilize the information about depression on www.mhanational.org and www.thekennedyforum.org.
