Women and Common Mental Health Issues

Women experience a wide range of mental health problems. When it comes to mental health issues, there is a BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL MODEL of the causation of these disorders.

Bio means the biological factors that are different in women than men and contribute to mental health issues. Various hormonal changes such as during menstruation, pregnancy, and pregnancy-related complications like miscarriage, infertility, and menopause can cause or increase chances of mental health issues such as PMDD, depression, etc.

Psycho - as in psychological aspects of one's mind, thinking patterns, personality, etc. which add to stress and hence mental health issues such as depression, OCD, and anxiety.

Social - sociological factors such as family dynamics, environment, culture, gender-based discrimination, Trauma, and sexual, physical, or psychological from intimate partners can lead to depression, anxiety, and PTSD.

The following mental health issues are commonly seen in women.

1. Depression: It is a mood disorder characterized by persistent low mood, lack of interest in previously enjoyable activities, sadness, lack of focus, feelings of hopelessness, worthlessness, helplessness, and guilt. It can also lead to passive death wishes or suicidality. Women are more prone to suffering from depression than men.
2. Anxiety: Characterized by excessive worry, fear, nervousness, and many other symptoms can be of different types like Generalized anxiety, phobias, and panic disorder.
3. Eating disorders: for example, anorexia or bulimia nervosa, binge eating are more common in women.
4. A borderline personality disorder characterized by unstable emotions, self-image, and relationships, is more commonly diagnosed in women.
5. Dissociative identity disorders, earlier known as multiple personality disorder, are more common in women.
6. PMDD Premenstrual dysphoric disorder or PMS is fluctuation in mood and irritability around periods.
7. Perinatal and postpartum depression is diagnosed in men as well but prevalence in females is much larger.
8. Psychosomatic illnesses due to long-standing stress are more common in females. It is seen as chronic headaches, and back pain which have no biological findings.

It is important to be aware and seek help as soon as one feels that they are suffering from a mental health disorder.

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