Women and Depression

Key findings in the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) Data Brief issued on Feb. 13 show that more than 8% of adults older than 20 years old reported having depression during a given two-week period. Women (10.4%) were almost twice as likely as were men (5.5%) to have had depression. Every day, women face many different stressors in both their personal and professional lives. Feeling sad, lonely and scared are normal reactions, however, for individuals who are diagnosed with depression, these feelings tend to be more severe as they persist. It is proven that, depression can affect women differently than men. Women are 2-3 times more likely than men to develop depression.¹

Signs and Symptoms of Depression
Types of Depression
Treatment
ADAA Resources
Other Resources
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Signs and Symptoms of Depression

Feelings of emptiness and hopelessness
Irritability, anxiousness, and guilt
Feelings of exhaustion, severe tiredness
Feelings of tension
Loss of interest and energy
Inability to concentrate or remember details
Suicidal thoughts or attempts of suicide
Changes in appetite – eating too much or too little
Physical symptoms – aches and pains, cramps, headaches, digestive issues, breast tenderness, bloating
Mood swings
Panic attacks
Sleep disturbances; sleeping too much or too little, insomnia

If you or someone you know express one or more of the following symptoms, please seek professional help.

Read more about the symptoms of depression in women at Healthline.com.

Types of Depression

Major Depressive Disorder is the most commonly diagnosed form of depression. Around 16.1 million adults aged 18 years or older in the U.S. had experienced at least one major depressive episode in the last year, which represented 6.7 percent of all American adults. Depression is the leading cause of disability in the United States among people ages 15-44.

Postpartum Depression, or PPD, is depression in women associated with pregnancy. 13% of women may experience PPD between a week and a month after delivery.

Learn more about postpartum disorders:

Treatment

Treatment options and resources are usually the same for women as men, with the exception of women who are pregnant or may become pregnant. Depression can worsen, improve, or stay the same during pregnancy, and that may affect treatment. Learn about medication use during pregnancy here.