Depression & Anxiety in Women
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Transcript Depression & Anxiety in Women
Women more prone to depression and anxiety than men
Cause of depression in women are different
Pattern of symptoms often different
A serious condition
Has multiple impacts
Treatable
1/8 women will develop depression at some point in
their lifetime
Nearly twice as likely than men (2:1)
Most common in women between the ages of 40-59
Multiple impacts: work, relationships, social life worth
Causes: reproductive hormones, social
pressure, female response to stress
Women have higher prevalence rates than men
Overlap between depression and anxiety
Often under-recognized and under-treated
Panic disorder (2:1)
Social phobia (2:1)
Agoraphobia (3:1)
PTSD (10%-14% of women to 5%-6% of men)
Generalized anxiety disorder (6.6% of women – 3.6% men)
Major Depression
Postpartum Depression
Manic depression or bipolar disorder
Dysthymic Disorder
Adjustment Disorders
Psychotic depression
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
Feelings of sadness, emptiness or unhappiness
Angry outburts, irritability or frustration
Loss of interest or pleasure in normal activities
Suicidal thoughts
Sleep disturbances
Appetite and weight changes
Difficulty concentrating
Lack of energy
Feelings of guilt or worthlessness
Fixating on past failures
Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements
Unexplained physical problems
Women tend to:
Feel sad, apathetic, and worthless
Blame themselves
Feel anxious and scared
Avoid conflicts at all costs
Find it easy to talk about self-doubt and despair
Use food, friends, and “love” to self-medicate
Feel slowed down and nervous
Men tend to:
Feel angry and irritable
Blame others
Create conflicts
Feel restless and agitated
Use alcohol, TV, sports, and sex to self-medicate
Find it weak to admit self-doubt and despair
Need to feel in control at all costs
Across racial, ethnic, and economic divides
Biological and hormonal causes
Psychological causes
Social causes
Women produce more stress hormones than men
Progesterone prevents the stress hormone system
from turning itself off
Estrogen interacts with serotonin which regulates
mood, sleep and appetite
Premenstrual problems (PMS/PMDD)
Pregnancy and infertility
Postpartum depression (baby blues to severe
depression to psychotic depression)
Perimenopause and menopause
Health problems (chronic illness, injury,
disabilities)
Focusing on and rehashing negative feelings
Includes crying, ruminating, and talking to others
Overwhelming stress at work, school or home
Body image issues
Adolescents and girls: body dissatisfaction
Marital or relationship problems
Balancing career and home life
Family responsibilities (children, spouse, ageing
parents)
Work stress (discrimination, losing, or changing
jobs)
Persistent money problems
Death of a loved one
Any other stressful life event
Is your depression connected to your menstrual
period and is a possible side effect of PMS?
Are you pregnant and have complications and
concerns?
Are you struggling with “baby blues” after giving
birth?
Are you approaching menopause and dealing
with hormonal and emotional fluctuations?
Bloating
1/10 women
Moodiness
Severe depression
Fatigue
Irritability/mood swings
Uncomfortable
Food craving or binge eating
by not disabling
Physical symptoms
Exercise
Diet modifications
Lower intake of caffeine, alcohol, salt, and fatty food
Nutritional supplements (vitamine B6, calcium,
magnesium, vitamin E, and tryptophan)
Herbal remedies (primrose oil, chaste tree berry, maca)
Stress reduction
Exercise: a brisk 30 minute walk makes a difference!
Meditate & yoga: lowers heart rate, blood pressure,
espiratory rate, and oxygen consumption
Socialize
Find purpose
Antidepressants don’t cure rather reduce symptoms
Different types of anti-depressants affect different
neurotransmitters in slightly different ways
Choice of medication based on your particular
symptoms
SSRI’s
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors
Zoloft, Paxil, Celexa
SNRI’s
Serotonin and norepinephine reuptake inhibitors
Effexor XR, Pristiq, Cymbalta
Atypical
Wellbutrin
Few sexual side effects, may lower appetite, may
help with quitting smoking
Tricyclic
Elavil, Aventy, Tofranil
MAOs
Monoamine oxidase inhibitors
Nardil, Parnate
Be patient
See if side effects improve
If it doesn’t work, try something else
Take it consistently and at the correct dose
Don’t stop taking it before talking to your doctor first
Add psychotherapy
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS)
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT)
SAD lamp
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) for milder depression
Combination for moderate to severe depression
Be there (just listen, hold hands)
Try a small gesture (a card, a text, cook a meal)
Don’t judge or criticize
Avoid the tough love approach
Don’t minimize their pain
Avoid offering advice
Avoid making comparisons
Learn as much as you can about depression
Be patient