10 Common Causes of Depression in Women

An estimated twelve million women suffer from depression in the United States annually. Although most patients range from ages twenty-five to forty-four, women going through the menopausal transition in their fifties can also develop depression due to decreased hormones.

The causes of depression in women are numerous, but one thing is clear: depression should be treated as soon as possible.

Causes of depression in women

Women, including teenage girls between the ages of fourteen and eighteen, suffer from depression more than males the same age. In people aged twenty-five to forty-four, women develop depression at a rate of 2:1 more than men. In addition, fluctuating hormones contribute to many cases of depression in the U.S. each year, including Postpartum Depression, Premenstrual Dysphoric Depression, and depression brought on by menopause.

But the causes of depression don’t stop at hormones. Factors like environment, family history, and life events play a role. When these factors compound, your likelihood of developing depression increases. Once you know what to expect, you can consult your physician about your increased risk.

The following is a list of common causes of depression in women.

Hormonal issues.

Hormonal changes, such as too much or too little estrogen or progesterone, can increase your risk for depression. This is due to these hormones helping to regulate serotonin and other neurotransmitters that leave you feeling happy.

Often the causes of depression can be traced to a hormonal imbalance. First, your physician can run bloodwork to determine if there is a hormone issue. Then, the doctor may prescribe hormonal supplementation if needed. Changes in hormones can also create other emotional problems that may require counseling.

Grief.

Grief is a process, a journey through stages that include denial (shock), anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. However, grief is rarely linear. You can experience the various stages multiple times or cycle back through. It is common to become stuck in a particular stage, notably depression.

Complicated grief and depression can last weeks, months, or even years. This type of depression makes it difficult to imagine life without your loved one. If your grief stems from a different kind of loss, like losing a business or eviction from a home, seeing anything beyond that hurt and disappointment may be challenging. Depression stemming from grief requires professional help to cut through the pain.

Divorce.

A divorce is a life-changing event. Whether you were the spouse that initiated the divorce or not, the emotional and mental turmoil you can experience is real. You may have concerns about how to financially cover everything on one income or how to be a single parent or co-parent.

Loneliness can also bring about depression. You may have been used to having a full house, and now your children spend every other weekend with their other parent. Adjusting to a new normal is challenging, but you do not have to go through it alone.

Relationship problems.

Family and marital disputes are bound to happen. Drama, estrangement, and relationship issues can become a source of stress and depression. For example, you and your spouse may feel you are no longer on the same page.

Or you are dealing with teens who feel misunderstood or unheard. Your younger children might be having academic or behavioral trouble in school. All these scenarios can lead to anxiety, stress, and depression.

Communication skills, conflict resolution, and counseling can resolve many relationship problems. Ask your therapist how Christian counseling can help you with relationships and depression.

Family issues.

Similarly to relationship issues, family drama and crises can lead you to withdraw and bring about depressive symptoms. For example, if you are the only person who can care for aging parents while also tending to your children, you may feel like there is no time left for you. Burning the candle at both ends will stress you out, increase your anxiety, and cause you emotional distress.

Family counseling could be the answer to your depression. Speak to your therapist about family counseling sessions. The therapist works as a mediator as well as a mentor who can make suggestions and teach you psychologically-backed techniques to dissolve disputes.

Work stress.

Too much stress at work with overwhelming projects, short-staffed, demanding bosses, and workplace burnout can lead to depression. Workplace burnout mimics depression symptoms making it difficult to get out of bed in the morning for work. You may also experience mood swings and irritability.

Some companies offer in-house counselors to help employees avoid burnout and depression. Depending on your insurance, your company may assist in covering workplace therapy. Your Human Resources Department might also be a great resource if a conflict with your supervisor or another coworker is causing you stress.

Financial woes.

Financial issues mean different things to different people. For example, your financial worries might indicate that you cannot make your house payment this month, but to your best friend, the real struggle has come after losing their job and being unable to purchase groceries. For someone else, a financial downturn may mean losing their business or nest egg.

Although the Bible warns us about the love of money (greed), money is a tool that can provide us with more opportunities and choices. But scarcity makes it challenging to move beyond what we see and the fear of losing something (a home, utilities, car, job, etc.).

If you grew up in a house with tight finances, you might try to overcompensate by working long hours and earning more money at the expense of your relationships and physical and mental health.

Recent childbirth.

Pregnancy hormones protect us from depression, although the emotional ups and downs and crying jags are a normal part of the process. However, the higher hormone levels begin to drop after the baby is born. Most women start to feel this shift from a few hours after birth to a few weeks. As a result, the baby blues leave you temporarily feeling down.

Postpartum depression is more severe and may not start for a few weeks after the baby’s birth and can last months. This depression is severe and requires help from a licensed therapist. If you feel you suffer from postpartum depression and are thinking of harming yourself or your baby, reach out for help immediately.

Chronic illness.

Being unable to do things you once did can leave you feeling down. Combine this with the inability to do your favorite things because of a chronic illness, and depression will soon follow.

Our bodies are temporary vessels for the Holy Spirit; they are flesh and bone made for the Creator. We do our best to care for the body God gave us, but sickness and disease are a part of this fallen world.

When we cannot physically care for ourselves, we become depressed, angry, and bitter. Sometimes these feelings are aimed at God, the world, or ourselves. Adding counseling as part of your overall treatment plan may be beneficial to help you manage your emotions.

Family history.

Sometimes depression is less about what has happened to us and more about genetics and family history. For example, do you have an immediate family member with a history of depression? Did a parent, grandparent, or sibling struggle with depression? If so, your likelihood of developing the mental condition increases.

The best way to overcome depression is to be aware of the risk and keep an eye out for the symptoms of depression. Depression may not have been a problem for you in the past, but something considered minor by many might be enough to push you over the edge.

Is depression getting you down?

Depression can feel like a vice. When the causes of depression compound, it can increase the risk of developing the mental condition and raise the severity of the symptoms. If depression is getting you down, contact our office today to schedule a session with a therapist.