Depression is a common mental health issue that impacts men and women equally. It doesn't discriminate against age, gender, ethnicity, or sexuality. A caveat to that, however, is that certain groups or demographics may be more likely to experience depression.
What causes clinical depression, or major depressive disorder, is a complex question to try and answer. Many factors can contribute to depression being present in a person's life. Any of the following can cause depression:
Life events
Past trauma
Stress/burnout
Situational/environment
Genetics
Brain chemistry/imbalances
Hormones can impact depression in women, as well. By understanding how hormones play a role in your mental health, you can become better equipped to deal with it.
How Hormones Affect Depression in Women
Estrogen
Estrogen is a key hormone only naturally produced by a biological woman's body. During the years that estrogen is produced, estrogen levels will often fluctuate and change over time. These fluctuations can cause issues such as anxiety, depression, and mood swings. While post-menopausal women will experience these problems as their estrogen level lowers, it is often more severe prior to this period.
During pregnancy, a woman's body produces more estrogen than normal. After she gives birth, estrogen levels, among other hormones, drop and fluctuate pretty rapidly. This can be a contributing factor to postpartum depression.
Hormonal Imbalances
Hormones, regardless of gender, play a vital role in our mental and physical health. When they become out of balance, this can cause your body to become out of whack, increasing your chances of depression developing as well as lasting.
But what causes hormonal balances? Many things can affect hormones, including menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and menopause. Additionally, poor sleep, a poor diet, and not exercising can impact hormones.
Unfortunately, if a woman is already dealing with other mental health issues, such as anxiety, it puts her at a higher risk of developing depression down the road.
Cortisol
Cortisol is not a hormone unique to women. However, it plays a major role in mental health. Cortisol is a stress hormone responsible for helping the body respond to stress. When cortisol levels are high, it can contribute to mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Cortisol increases blood sugar levels and energy production, which can lead to other problems.
How To Cope With Depression
Depression is complex because pinpointing a singular cause isn't easy. Even though hormones can play a large role in depression symptoms, it isn't often the only cause.
The first way to deal with depression is to talk to a medical professional. Before you change your diet or start taking something over-the-counter, you should consider having your hormone levels checked, especially estrogen. Low estrogen, which contributes to depression, may be caused by a different underlying medical condition.
Once that is taken care of, you can try several methods to help balance your hormones in holistic ways.
Holistic Ways to Deal With Depression
Eat protein with each meal. Eating meals higher in protein, low in carbohydrates, and starchy foods ensures that you are fueling your body with what it needs. Protein can also help you to stay full for longer, which helps you resist eating junk food.
Aim for a total of 30 minutes of physical activity each day, such as walking, yoga, or pilates. Exercising helps release feel-good endorphins like serotonin, reducing stress hormones such as cortisol.
Aim for 6-8 hours of sleep each night to help your body and brain function more steadily.
Implementing natural methods to help reduce depression symptoms is important. However, counseling for women can help you even more by understanding what is happening in your life and body that is contributing to your symptoms. Don't hesitate to reach out to learn more.
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