Understanding depression and anxiety in women

Depression and anxiety in women are more common than ever. Learn about signs of depression, anxiety symptoms and what you can do to get support for them.

In this article:

• Why are depression and anxiety more common in women?
• What is sadness and grief?
• What is chronic stress and anxiety?
• What is depression?

How can you tell if whether you are dealing with an anxiety disorder or clinical depression? Only a medical professional can diagnose these conditions, but here’s how to understand your symptoms, what triggers them and when to seek help. 

Why are depression and anxiety more common in women?

Women suffer from anxiety and depression much more frequently than men. The good news: Getting the right diagnosis can help lead to relief.

During the pandemic, global cases of major depressive disorder increased 27.6 percent and anxiety disorders increased 25.6 percent, largely due to social isolation. Added to this is the fact that women are nearly twice as likely as men to be diagnosed with depression.

Biology — hormones specifically — can figure into the equation for women. “Hormonal shifts may be causing you irritability and sadness,” says San Francisco based psychologist Juli Fraga, PsyD, who recommends keeping a mood journal and talking with your health care provider to rule out hormonal underpinnings.

But cultural and lifestyle factors are real drivers, too. One reality, according to the Mayo Clinic, is that many women who work outside the home are also primary caretakers of children and handle the main share of domestic responsibilities — especially if they are single parents. Many more women than men have limited financial resources. And women are more likely than men to face physical and sexual partner violence. All of these can result in feelings of powerlessness, low self-esteem and a lack of control over one’s destiny, all of which may trigger symptoms of depression.

What is sadness and grief?

Life being what it is, with its challenges and losses, sadness is a normal human response — and can even lead to emotional growth. Whether you’re passed over for a promotion at work, going through a divorce or have recently lost a loved one, grief is normal.

“We simply cannot be happy all the time, especially when we experience loss in our lives,” says Baton Rouge, Louisiana based psychologist Lynn Schechter, PhD. “However, sad feelings certainly shouldn’t incapacitate you to the point where you can’t sleep, eat or do what you need to do every day.”

With sadness, after a short time you will likely get through it, see things in a more hopeful way or find a lesson in your experience. “For example, you might concede that even though you lost one job, you will surely find a new and maybe better one,” says Schechter.   

What you can do: Label your sad feelings, acknowledge them and allow yourself to experience them. Cry and grieve. Take time to self-soothe: try a warm bath with lavender oil; spend time with your most sympathetic friend, or take a nature walk in your favorite park.

What is chronic stress and anxiety?

Chronic stress is when you feel consistently overwhelmed or pressured and is often situational. Your plate may be overflowing with work and caring for others, or you may have a personal relationship filled with challenges. You may experience low energy, feel emotionally withdrawn or have trouble turning off your brain at bedtime.

Anxiety disorders can include generalized anxiety (a condition of excessive worry about everyday things), a panic disorder, separation anxiety and phobias (uncontrollable, irrational fear of objects, situations or activities, like flying or eating in public).

“Generalized anxiety can persist throughout one’s lifetime,” says Dr. Schechter. “Of all of the conditions we treat, anxiety is one of the more challenging ones because our brains are wired to look out for potential dangers to keep us safe. Unfortunately, sometimes our brains learn to exaggerate everyday things and translate them into an anxiety response.” 

What you can do: Chronic stress and anxiety can be corrosive — but they don’t have to be tolerated in silence. There are tools you can use if you’re experiencing stress or anxiety symptoms. For stress, do your best to get enough sleep, eat healthy, practice mindfulness, learn time management techniques and make time for leisure activities, like playing a game or reading a book by your favorite writer. Exercise can also be a powerful method for those suffering from stress and anxiety, according to John J. Ratey, MD, an associate clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and an internationally recognized expert in neuropsychiatry. A therapist can also help you sort out how to take some stressors off your plate.

For anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is one of the most common forms of psychotherapy and can help you reframe negative thought patterns that can become deeply ingrained. If you can’t get to a mental health professional’s office, know that virtual therapy has been shown to be an effective alternative to in-person therapy for anxiety and depression. Your health care provider may discuss with you several medications that might also be helpful in reducing some of the symptoms.

What is depression?

There are many types of depression. Seasonal affective disorder comes on around the same time every year, generally starting in the dark days of fall and winter and going away in spring. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). And major depressive disorder, also known as clinical depression, is the more severe form of depression; people with clinical depression typically don’t enjoy the things that used to give them pleasure, and they may even struggle to get out of bed.

“People with clinical depression often have excessive feelings of guilt, they feel overly responsible for all of their failings — even if they are not at fault — and they often have extreme pessimism, which can get them spiraling to the point that they aren’t able to pull themselves out of it,” says Dr. Schechter. People with severe depression may also have thoughts of suicide.

What you can do: Many of the tools that can help with stress and anxiety can also help alleviate the symptoms of depression. According to the American Psychological Association, there’s evidence that psychotherapy combined with medication may be a more effective treatment than either one or the other.

Give yourself permission to call your mental health provider, your primary physician, a close friend or relative or someone in your faith community if you have one. Don’t hesitate to ask for assistance with checking your benefits or making an appointment — you don’t have to do this alone.

If you are having thoughts of suicide, call or text the National Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988, a three-digit dialing code now active everywhere in the United States.

It’s also important to keep in mind that depression is a medical condition — and not an indication that a person isn’t working hard enough at being happy. “Anxiety and depression are not your fault,” says Fraga, “and getting help is the first step towards feeling better.” 

*This content is for informational purposes only and is not medical advice. Consult with your health care provider before taking any vitamins or supplements and prior to beginning or changing any health care practices.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.