March is Women’s History Month! This month is about taking time to reflect on the impact women have had and continue to have on the world. It’s also important to shine a light on the mental health struggles women have faced throughout history and into today. Women make up the majority of people suffering from mental health conditions. As of 2021, 57.8 million adults in the US suffer from a mental mental condition, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. Women have a higher prevalence than men, 27.2% compared to 18.1% of men. Even when we compare the prevalence of serious mental illnesses, women are still higher than men.
Women have a lot of different things impacting our mental health, ranging from biological factors, societal pressures, and stigmatization of mental health concerns. Here are just some of the common mental health issues that women experience.
Depression and Anxiety
Depression and anxiety disorders are among the most prevalent mental health issues affecting women. Societal pressures, gender-based discrimination, and hormonal fluctuations can exacerbate these conditions. Women are also more likely to experience anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder, compared to men. While depression and anxiety are some of the most common mental illnesses, it doesn’t make it any easier to live with them. Like all mental illnesses, they influence every aspect of daily functioning and often get in the way of doing the things that you want to do.
Trauma and PTSD
Women are disproportionately affected by trauma, ranging from sexual assault, intimate partner violence, and childhood abuse. How people respond to traumatic events varies from person to person; two people can experience the same event and be affected in different ways. These traumatic experiences can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), characterized by intrusive memories, hypervigilance, emotional numbing, and more. Trauma affects every aspect of your life and often changes your worldview. Many people who have survived trauma experience shame, anger, guilt, and fear. If you would like to know more about how shame and trauma are connected, check out this blog post!
Eating Disorders
Women are more likely to be diagnosed with eating disorders or experience disordered eating than men. Common eating disorders include anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge eating disorder. Societal pressures to conform to unrealistic beauty standards, as well as underlying psychological factors, contribute to the development of these disorders.
Biological Factors
Menstruation, pregnancy, and postpartum cause hormones to fluctuate and change. Pregnancy and the postpartum period are vulnerable times for women’s mental health. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders, such as postpartum depression and postpartum anxiety, can have profound implications for maternal and child well-being if left untreated. Pregnancy and childbirth can be incredibly exciting and happy occasions and they can also trigger mental health challenges such as postpartum depression. Hormonal changes, sleep deprivation, and the stress of caring for a newborn can cause and exacerbate sadness, anxiety, stress, and feeling overwhelmed in new mothers.
Pre-menstruation hormone changes can also exacerbate mental health conditions. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) can cause sadness, anxiety, difficulty concentrating, amongst other symptoms. If you want to know more about PMDD, check out this blog post!
Women are different than men and mental illness symptoms can look different in women then they do in men. This often leads to women being dismissed as hormonal. Don’t get me wrong, hormones have such a huge impact on our mental health. When our hormones are off, it can cause our mental health to worsen.
Celebrating Resilience and Strength
As we honor and celebrate Women’s History Month, it’s important to celebrate the resilience and strength of women who have navigated mental health challenges throughout history. From trailblazing leaders to everyday heroes, women have shown remarkable courage in confronting their struggles and seeking support. By sharing stories, fostering empathy, and promoting self-care; we can continue to uplift and empower women on their mental health journeys.
About the Author
Robyn Williams (she/her), M.A., LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in dialectical behavior therapy. She works with teens and adults in a compassionate judgment-free manner to meet clients where they are in life. Robyn helps her clients develop the tools they need in order to live their life worth living, and find what means most to them. Robyn believes that while therapy can be intimidating at times, it can be a conduit for personal growth. Click here to learn more about Robyn’s experience and therapeutic approach.