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 people can do to get support for them.

In this article:

Why are depression and anxiety more common in women?

Women suffer from anxiety and depression much more frequently than men. (For the purposes of this article, "man" and "woman" refer to individuals' biological sex as opposed to their gender identity.) 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, which was potentially impacted by social isolation. Additionally, 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 someone irritability and sadness,” says San Francisco based psychologist Juli Fraga, PsyD, who recommends keeping a mood journal and talking with a health care provider to rule out hormonal underpinnings.

But cultural and lifestyle factors are real drivers, too. One reality 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 intimate partner violence. All these factors 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 someone is passed over for a promotion at work, going through a divorce or 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 someone to the point where they can’t sleep, eat or do what they need to do every day.”

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

Anyone experiencing symptoms of grief and sadness can speak to a health care provider. They can label their sad feelings, acknowledge them and allow themselves to experience them; cry and grieve; take time to self-soothe (try a warm bath with lavender oil); spend time with a sympathetic friend; or take a nature walk in their favorite park.

What is chronic stress and anxiety?

Chronic stress is when someone feels consistently overwhelmed or pressured, and it is often situational. Their plate may be overflowing with work and caring for others, or they may have a personal relationship filled with challenges. They may experience low energy, feel emotionally withdrawn or have trouble turning off their brain at bedtime.

Anxiety disorders can include generalized anxiety (a condition of excessive worry about everyday things), a panic disorder, social anxiety disorder 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 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.”

Someone experiencing symptoms of chronic stress and anxiety can speak to a health care provider. Chronic stress and anxiety can be corrosive, but they don’t have to be tolerated in silence. There are tools to try if someone is experiencing stress or anxiety symptoms.

For stress, individuals should do their best to get enough sleep, eat healthy, practice mindfulness, spend time outdoors and make time for leisure activities, like playing a game or reading a book by their favorite writer. 

Exercise can also be a powerful tool for managing 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 sort out how to take some stressors off their plate.

For anxiety disorders, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most common forms of psychotherapy and can help reframe negative thought patterns that can become deeply ingrained.

If someone can’t get to a mental health professional’s office, they should know that virtual therapy has been shown to be an effective alternative to in-person therapy for anxiety and depression. A health care provider may discuss several medications that might also be helpful in reducing some symptoms.

What is depression?

There are many types of depression. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) comes on around the same time every year, generally starting in the dark days of fall and winter, then going away in spring. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe form of premenstrual syndrome (PMS).

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.

Someone experiencing symptoms of depression can speak to a health care provider. Many of the tools that can help with stress and anxiety can also help alleviate the symptoms of depression. According to the American Psychiatric Association, there’s evidence that psychotherapy combined with medication may be a more effective treatment than either one alone.

People who are feeling depressed should give themselves permission to call a mental health provider, a primary physician, a close friend or relative, or someone in their faith community if they have one. They should not hesitate to ask for assistance with checking their benefits or making an appointment. They don’t have to do this alone.

If someone is having thoughts of suicide, they can 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 someone’s fault,” says Fraga, “and getting help is the first step toward feeling better.”