The so-called mental disorders tend to affect thousands of people every year. But what can end up causing them? Well, there are several factors that can lead to the development of a mental disorder, such as genetic predisposition, stress levels, changes in how your brain works, or even factors that influence your emotions like disappointments that result in a state of ongoing sadness.

As you can see, in some cases, it is possible to predict and prevent the development of a mental disorder, but there are also cases where it is unavoidable that one might affect you. Some situations and certain disorders are more common in women, for example.

How to Differentiate Mental Disorder from Mental Illness

It is necessary to distinguish between a mental disorder and a mental illness. These are two things that are often confused, understandably so, since at first glance they may seem the same, but when looked at more closely, we notice the key differences.

While disease has a biological origin, disorder has a psychological origin, which means there is a significant difference in how they are treated. However, some disorders can be manifestations of diseases, such as depression, for example.

When it comes to women’s health, it immediately brings to mind some illnesses that are specific, or that affect women more than men. This is true—for example, depression, which affects many more women than men.

There are several reasons why these disorders occur more frequently in female bodies, but there are also treatments that enable you to manage them all and live a full and peaceful life.

Main Disorders Among Women

Among the most common mental disorders in women are:

  • Depression
  • Anxiety disorder
  • Premenstrual dysphoric disorder
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder

Depression

Depression is the most common disorder in the world and affects up to three times more women than men. The main symptoms of depression are:

Symptoms of Depression

  • Anxiety
  • Mood changes
  • Sleep problems
  • Excessive fatigue or hunger
  • Lack of concentration
  • Suicidal thoughts

The main reasons this disorder occurs are mostly hormonal dysfunctions, which are more common in women due to the constant changes in their bodies throughout life related to the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, and even menopause.

What is the treatment?

Treatment for depression is generally based on medication such as antidepressants and, in some cases, with the help of anxiolytics, since excessive anxiety can be one of the consequences of depression. Psychological support is essential for the treatment to be fully effective.

Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety is one of the most common mental disorders in humans, especially among women. It may be an offshoot of depression, but often it also appears on its own and can cause complications in the lives of those who develop this type of disorder.

About two thirds of people who develop this type of disorder are women, and once again hormonal factors contribute significantly to these high numbers.

Anxiety is not always a disorder; all of us experience it to some degree. It is usually considered harmful when it begins to impact an individual’s life and prevents them from carrying out common everyday activities.

IMPORTANT: Since this type of disorder is very difficult to diagnose, always see a doctor to be sure you are really developing an anxiety disorder and not just going through a stressful period.

What is the treatment?

The treatment for anxiety disorder is very similar to that of depression. The use of anxiolytics combined with the proper supervision of a psychologist is most recommended and usually alleviates the symptoms of anxiety disorder without major issues.

Premenstrual Dysphoric Disorder

The name might make it sound like we’re talking about premenstrual syndrome, the famous PMS, but PMDD is something stronger and more serious. It can affect up to 10% of women and has symptoms that may be similar to regular PMS, but much more intense. Some of them are:

Symptoms

  • Anxiety
  • Severe breast pain
  • Fluid retention
  • Irritability
  • Appetite and sleep disturbances

Causes

The main cause of premenstrual dysphoric disorder is changes in the transmission of neurotransmitters, which are responsible for communication among various parts of the nervous system. Among neurotransmitters, the most affected is serotonin, which, when altered, stops inhibiting the symptoms that cause the disorder.

What is the treatment?

Although it occurs frequently, this disorder can be managed with painkillers, vitamins, minerals, and in more severe cases, the use of anxiolytics and antidepressants can also help treatment.

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder

This type of disorder can affect both women and men, but it affects many women for various reasons. In this particular disorder, besides hormonal factors, there is also a social factor.

Domestic Violence

Women are the main victims of domestic violence and rape, which means the number of women with this type of disorder is higher than the number of men. The main symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder are:

  • Agitation and aggression
  • Panic attacks
  • Insomnia or constant nightmares
  • Acute stress
  • Suicidal thoughts
  • Extreme tension

Although the social factor is extremely relevant to the number of women who develop this disorder, many people also do not know that some women develop post-traumatic stress disorder after a painful or traumatic childbirth, which can even affect a future pregnancy.

What is the treatment?

Treatment for this type of disorder is, in most cases, strict psychological support that can help relieve the woman’s thoughts and traumas. Sometimes, medication such as anxiolytics is also necessary, but each case should be evaluated individually to determine the best diagnosis.

As we can see, women in general are much more likely to develop mental disorders and, most of the time, much more than men. This does not mean in any way that a woman’s life will necessarily be affected by some disorder that will prevent her from living a normal life.

Fortunately, almost all disorders have manageable treatments, which, although they involve medication and psychological support, show results and provide significant improvements in the lives of those who receive them.

Seeing a doctor is the first thing you should do if you suspect you may be developing any of these disorders or if you experience these symptoms frequently. Never diagnose yourself, and under no circumstances take medication on your own. This kind of behavior can worsen and aggravate mental disorders and could harm your health in other ways as well.

See Also: Childhood Depression – Diagnosis and Treatment

Photo: dima_goroziya