sealshorts88 – https://www.iampsychiatry.com/depression-treatment

Depression Treatment For WomenWomen play many different roles – wife, mother, professional, friend and caregiver that can add up to stress levels. This, along with hormonal changes, can lead to depression in women.Symptoms of depression in women can include mood swings irregular periods and sleep issues. Other symptoms include pre-menstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD), and bipolar disorder.CausesMany things can cause depression in women. This includes hormonal changes at various times in life (pregnancy, menstrual cycle, perimenopause), physical problems like anemia and low iron levels, or the side effects of certain drugs like birth control pills and hormone replacement therapy. Other causes include women’s response to hormone fluctuations, stress and social pressures.Depression is more common among women than men. depression treatment guidelines are estimated to be twice more likely than men to be diagnosed with depression. This is due to the distinct symptoms women exhibit. Women are more likely than men to experience feelings such as sadness, lack of interest, or enjoyment. They might feel depressed and guilty.Additionally the onset of depression in women is usually earlier, lasts longer, and is more frequent than men. Women are more likely than men to suffer some symptoms of depression like suicide. Women are more likely to report depression-related symptoms like suicide than men.Women have a lot on their plate as wives, mothers, employees, friends and caregivers to loved ones can result in emotional turmoil and downs. These emotional downs and ups can be more severe and last longer for women than for men. They can also interfere with daily activities and relationships.Women’s depression is often caused by hormonal changes. For instance, the period prior to menopausal (perimenopause) can be a rollercoaster ride of physical and emotional fluctuations due to the hormonal shifts that happen during this period. Premenstrual dysphoric disorders are which is a more severe form of the “baby-blues” that new moms may experience, as well as postpartum depression or perinatal depressive disorder can cause depression in women.Women can treat depression using medication, counseling or a combination. Women who decide to use medication should be aware that certain antidepressants are more efficient than others. Making the effort to find the appropriate dosage and medication is essential to achieve success. Women should also consider making healthy lifestyle changes, such as getting enough sleep and eating a balanced diet. Self-help techniques like yoga or meditation, journaling, or a healthy workout routine can aid in easing depression symptoms.Signs and symptomsFemales and females face distinct hormonal, biological, and social challenges that increase their chances of developing depression. These include hormonal changes during puberty menstrual cycle, pregnancy and childbirth, and menopausal and perimenopausal changes.Mood changes during these times can cause a woman to become sad, lonely or overwhelmed. These feelings can be challenging for women to manage, especially if the feelings begin to affect their relationships and daily lives. Other symptoms of depression in women are difficulties sleeping, a lack of interest or pleasure from things that were once pleasurable or enjoyable, feeling tired and sluggish most of the time and a perpetually low mood. People who suffer from severe depression, accompanied by active suicidal thoughts or plans should be treated with medication, psychotherapy or both.It is normal for people to have mood swings and lows in their emotions throughout the day or week. These moods shouldn’t impact women’s daily functioning and shouldn’t last longer than two weeks before returning to normal. Women who experience depression symptoms that affect their daily life and don’t improve, should consult a GP or mental healthcare professional.If you are concerned about a family member, help them to seek treatment. You can also offer support by learning more about causes and symptoms of depression. You can also provide emotional support by providing them with support and helping them with their everyday responsibilities.You could, for instance you could offer to take your baby for a few hours if they are having trouble sleeping. You can support them by helping with household chores or meals. You can also support them by bringing them to a doctor to discuss a plan of treatment or offering to go to psychotherapy sessions together.In therapy, a person can learn healthy coping methods and increase their ability to manage symptoms. For certain women, psychotherapy is enough on its own, but for others, medication to treat depression is essential. Both treatments have high success rates in the right patient. A psychiatrist can prescribe medication that is safe for mother as well as baby to women who are nursing.TreatmentWomen are at a greater than average risk of depression due to hormonal fluctuations and changes in their bodies. These include the menstrual cycles as well as miscarriage, pregnancy postpartum depression, perimenopausal symptoms and menopause. Women can also be stressed by relationship problems, financial difficulties, and caring of children who are young or elderly parents.Self-care and treatment can help relieve depression symptoms. Talk therapy (also known as counselling or psychotherapy) as well as antidepressant medications and their combination are often effective in reducing symptoms of depression. Psychotherapy is focused on learning ways to cope and building stronger relationships to help people deal with stressful life events. It can also be used to identify and confront negative thoughts and help people learn to more effectively respond to challenges. Antidepressants can help regulate moods by making hormones more stable and increasing serotonin levels in the brain.Everyone feels down or sad at times Depression is a serious mental health condition that impacts a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Depression can make it difficult to concentrate, sleep well or get the energy required to perform daily tasks. Fortunately depression can be treated by psychiatrist, psychologist, social worker or counsellor. You can seek a referral from your GP or find one through the HealthDirect Service Finder. You can claim the rebate offered by Medicare for up 20 sessions per year with a licensed mental health professional.Women aren’t always willing to seek help when they’re depressed, either because they feel guilty or they think their depression isn’t serious. Talking to someone in your family or a an acquaintance or a support group or a trusted health care professional is a great method of getting the help you need. You can also try mindfulness, exercise, adequate nutrition, adequate sleep and exposure to sunlight or bright artificial light to boost your mood. Being mindful of your health and being involved in your community can also help. Call the Beyondblue Helpline at 1800 22 4636 to get more information on coping with depression or visit Healthdirect’s Service Finder.PreventionDepression is a serious illness however it can be treated. Encourage a woman you know who might be suffering from depression to seek professional help and stick to the treatment plan. Make sure she remembers to take her medication and make sure she is able to get transportation to her therapy appointments. Remind her that she’s not alone, and remind her that with time and treatment the mood will improve.Many things can cause depression. It can be triggered by physical ailments like heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses. It can also be caused by lifestyle issues like poor nutrition and lack of exercise and harmful alcohol consumption. Women who have a history or a family background of depression are more likely to develop it themselves. Numerous studies have demonstrated that certain prevention programs can reduce the risk for depression in women. For instance, a program known as ROSE (Reach Out Stay Strong, Stay Strong, Essentials for mothers of newborns) has been shown to reduce the risk of postpartum depression among low-income women by half in a number of research studies.It is essential for women to seek out help if they have depression symptoms. Consult your health care provider to refer you to a mental health professional. If the woman is having difficulty taking care of her baby or herself because of depression, she must seek help from a health care provider immediately. She can ask a friend or family member to look after the baby for a couple of hours or join a support group for new mothers.Women can reach Beyond Blue for information and support as well as a video-call service with maternal child health professionals. They can also use healthdirect’s Service Locator to locate the GP or mental health professional and create an appropriate treatment plan.