Difficulties and stressors can be found in every aspect of a woman’s life. From their professional life to their personal life, feelings of scaredness, inadequacy, and loneliness can all be normal responses to the turmoil that is raging around. While this sadness can be a common reaction to the trials and tribulations of life, all-encompassing and persistent unhappiness can be an indicator that an individual is dealing with a more severe matter – depression.
Many women may not even realize they are struggling with these issues, but it is important to recognize the signs and seek help if it is needed. Women’s counseling can offer the support that is needed to help women get through this difficult time in their lives and offer hope and peace. In order to help differentiate between normal feelings of sadness and a more severe issue of depression, there are signs to watch out for that can give an indication that you, or a loved one, is struggling with this disorder.
Loss of Interest or Isolation
Depression can numb the pleasure sensors in an individual’s brain which can cause them to lose interest in activities that they once loved. Feeling drained of energy and not wanting to participate are symptoms of the overall challenge of depression. Isolation and loss of interests can typically be one of the first indicators of this disorder.
Change in Appetite
Symptoms of depression can range from mild, to moderate, to severe and will vary from person to person. Feelings of inadequacy can manifest itself in your relationship with food. A sign of depression in women can be a drastic change of appetite. That could look like not having any appetite at all and eating very little. On the opposite end of the spectrum, however, this symptom could also look like eating excessive amounts.
Feelings of Emptiness or Hopelessness
A major symptom of depression is prolonged and consuming feelings of hopelessness that leave you feeling empty, guilty, or worthless. These symptoms could also include a lack of self-confidence and excessively blaming yourself for things going wrong. This bleak outlook can lead to start impacting other areas of your life and produce more prominent signs that you, or someone you know, is struggling with depression.
Suicidal Thoughts or Actions
One of the most severe signs of serious depression is that of having suicidal thoughts and potentially acting on them. When an individual is so weighed down in despair and hopelessness, it may lead to some extreme thoughts or actions. These thoughts and actions can be caused by the treatable mental health problem of depression.
Finding Your Way Through These Challenges
Women face so many challenges and stressors everyday due to family life, professional obligations, and societal pressures. These constant demands can lead to bouts of depression that can be difficult for women to get out of alone. Depression counseling can be a transformative tool to help those who struggle with depression get through their difficulties and truly find themselves again.
Whatever the reason is that a woman is struggling with their mental health, it is important to be able to identify the signs of depression so as to be able to get help for others, or to be able to start the process to get help for yourself.
