Dealing with Depression Tip #2

Women and Depression

Did you know that women experience depression about twice as often as men? In fact, research shows that one in three women may become clinically depressed at some point in their lives. Hormonal and social factors all may contribute to the increased rate of depression in women. If you are feeling depressed, you may have some of these common symptoms nearly all day, every day for 2 weeks or longer: 

• feeling sad or crying a lot
• losing pleasure in things you used to enjoy
• feeling very tired
• thinking about death or suicide
• feeling hopeless or guilty
• losing or gaining weight
• having difficulty falling and staying asleep
• experiencing aches and pains that don’t get better with treatment
• having difficulty paying attention and making decisions. 

Remember, depression is an illness. Untreated it will worsen. Under treated it will return. Don’t just accept being depressed.  If you think you may be depressed, call your doctor to talk about whether counseling, medication, or both may be right for you.

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Helping Your Loved Ones Cope with Depression

Visit our online Health Encyclopedia for helpful information about Depression.

Posted: February 21, 2007