Women suffer from depression twice as often as men but not all seek help. Many of the causes of depression are same as those in men but certain gender-related and biologic factors make women more vulnerable to the effects of depression. Depression is a significant risk factor for suicide. Counseling and medication can be effective in treating depression.
Mood variations and feeling sad on occasions are normal phenomenon but when low mood becomes persistent without moments of happiness and the person loses the ability to feel pleasure under any circumstances, depression should be suspected. It is often accompanied by feelings of guilt, inadequacy, low self-esteem, sleeping difficulty, change in appetite, along with thoughts of self-harm or suicide. Women are more likely than men to suffer from feelings of inappropriate guilt, excessive self-blame, low self-esteem, and worthlessness.
