Many
millions of women worldwide experience clinical depression each year. It is widely believed that about one in eight women
are likely to suffer from clinical depression at some point in their lives.
Postpartum mood disorder
One mood disorder is quite common following the birth of a child. If you have recently given birth you may now be
feeling physically and emotionally drained. Apart from being exhausted, anxious, depressed, under the weather or simply not
yourself. You may also be experiencing feelings of anger and inadequacy. Not just tearfulness, loss of interest in pleasurable
activities, change in appetite, energy and sleep. Don’t worry if you are—this situation is apparently much more
common than we would like to believe. With this horrible truth in mind, it is
important for you to recognize that you really are not alone. A great many new mothers (and even those who have previously
given birth) are totally unprepared for the emotional turmoil which they could find themselves experiencing following the
birth of a baby. These feelings are said to vary in both intensity and frequency and when they are all grouped together are
called postpartum mood disorders.
A woman suffering from a severe form of post natal
depression killed herself just hours after being told by a NHS psychiatrist “Your doing fine”. Angela Harrison
jumped off an 18 metre (60ft) cliff four months after giving birth, her husband, Anthony said yesterday. The 31 year old,
from New Quay, Cornwall, had been diagnosed with post natal psychosis. An inquest into her death is yet to be set.
Metro Date: 13.10.05
Expert opinion informs us that these 'symptoms' are both temporary and treatable with
skilled professional care and social support. Care and support are important factors in returning to feeling
like yourself again. But the first step in your recovery must involve knowing exactly what the problem is. After all you can't
fix a problem until you know exactly what the problem is.
We
are informed that depression occurs most frequently in women aged 25 to 44.
Many
factors in women may contribute to depression, such as developmental, reproductive, hormonal, genetic and other biological
differences (e.g. premenstrual syndrome, childbirth, infertility and menopause).
Social factors are also identified as being an area which contributes to higher rates of
clinical depression among women. Domestic problems. Family pressures and responsibilities. Work and career related stress.
General expectations of women. Financial worries. The increased rates of sexual abuse. Poverty
Gender Differences
It is commonly believed that women suffer from depression at approximately twice the rate that men do. Whilst
girls aged 14 - 18 have higher rates of depression than boys of the same age.
PMS/PMDD
- Twenty
to forty percent of women may experience premenstrual syndrome and an estimated 3 to 5 percent have symptoms severe enough
to be classified as Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder (PMDD).
Marriage/Childbirth
- Married
people have a lower rate of depression than those living alone. However, unhappily married people have the highest rates
of depression; happily married men have the lowest rates.
- Approximately
10%-15% of all new mothers get Postpartum depression which most frequently occurs within the first year after the death of a child. Co-occurring
Illnesses
- Research
shows a strong relationship between eating disorders (anorexia and bulimia nervosa) and depression in women. About 90-95%
of cases of anorexia occur in young females.9 Reported rates of bulimia nervosa vary
from one to three out of 100 people.6
- Research
shows that one out of three depressed people also suffers from some form of substance abuse or dependence.
Suicide
- Although
men are more likely than women to die by suicide, women report attempting suicide approximately twice as often
as men.
- An estimated
15 percent of people hospitalized for depression eventually take their own lives.
Treatment
- Depression
in women is misdiagnosed approximately 30 to 50 percent of the time.
- Fewer
than half of the women who experience clinical depression will ever seek care.
Fortunately, clinical depression is a very treatable illness. More than 80 percent of people with depression
can be treated successfully with medication, psychotherapy or a combination of both.
Women’s
Attitudes Toward Depression:
According
to a National Mental Health Association survey on public attitudes and beliefs about clinical depression:
- More
than one-half of women believe it is “normal” for a woman to be depressed during menopause and that treatment
is not necessary.
- More
than one-half of women believe depression is a “normal part of aging.”
- More
than one-half believe it is normal for a mother to feel depressed for at least two weeks after giving birth.
- More
than one-half of women cited denial as a barrier to treatment while 41% of women surveyed cited embarrassment or shame as
barriers to treatment.
- In general,
over one-half of the women said they think they “know” more about depression than men do.
