Why Women Experience More Depression Than Men

It is fairly well known that women tend to experience depression at a higher rate than men to. Unfortunately, the reasons for this aren't fully understood. Most theories point to a biological reason for increases in depression among women. Other factors that are often considered also include hormonal differences and social aspects of being a woman that may affect the psychology of women differently. Hormonal explanations for differences in depression have some validity as hormones directly influence the chemistry of the brain. Hormonal changes for women are especially noticeable during the times of major hormonal changes including pregnancy, childbirth, and monthly fluctuations. Another factor that may increase a woman's susceptibility to experiencing depression after childbirth includes stress over increasing her responsibilities. Now she must care for the newborn, and this can be an overwhelming feeling even when someone prepares for it. We have a lot of expectations for mothers - many of them conflicting. It is only natural that a new mom may feel mildly depressed after going through childbirth. Sometimes, however, the depression doesn't stop there and continues to grow. When this type of depression continues, it is known as postpartum depression. Without diagnosing and treating postpartum depression, the mother will most likely continue to decline.

At its worst, postpartum depression can lead to a type of psychosis that is extremely dangerous to both the mother and her children. Occasionally mothers in this state deteriorate so bad that they may take their own lives or the lives of their children - and sometimes even both. Diagnosing the depression and starting treatment before it gets to this stage is the best course of action. Most women who experience post partum depression have experienced at least one bout of depression during their lives, but this is not always an accurate indicator. Some women also experience a form of cyclic depression that occurs with the hormonal changes of their monthly menstrual cycles. While not a formal depression diagnosis, professionals sometimes refer to this condition as premenstrual dysphoric disorder.

Other times of increased risk of depression for women include going through perimenopause or menopause. Hormone replacement therapies haven't always been successful in and of themselves in treating these bouts of depression. While scientists can correlate changes in estrogen levels of an individual with some periods of depression in that woman's life, they don't fully understand how these normal body processes affect the rate of depression in women. While many women will experience depression as a result of these hormonal changes, many others will not.

Continuing research in this area is necessary to understand more fully the implications on women's mental health as well as to continue developing more effective treatments. No matter what the causes of depression, in all its forms it is highly treatable. Without treatment, depression has the potential to become a life-threatening illness.

The ability to overcome depression is not based on willpower or strength of character. Getting help and proper treatment from a mental health professional is vital to speeding recovery and living a life free from the constraints of depression.