Hormones and Depression
For a long time now, a variety of studies have been completed to analyze the root causes of depression, including how they are different in men and women. One of the earliest accounts of such would be from Charles Dickens, as published in his journal called Household Words. His findings are based on St. Luke’s Hospital for the Insane and he notes that gender has a role in depression and a variety of other mental problems. In recent years, more research has been conducted and has proven that depression is not a universal case and that each person, specifically based on gender, has varying ways to deal with such. Among other things, it is the hormones that are responsible for depression and its treatment.
Differences in Depression based on Gender
In a nutshell, the following are some of the most noticeable differences when it comes to depression in men and women, asserting that the hormones are the ones responsible for such:
- Men blame themselves when they are depressed while women blame others.
- Men, when suffering from depression, are ego inflated, angry, and irritable. Women, on the other hand, are apathetic, worthless, and sad.
- Depressed men are guarded and suspicious. Depressed women are scared and anxious.
- The creation of conflict is common in depressed men while women avoid conflicts when they are depressed.
- Men tend to cope with depression through sex, alcohol, and sports. Meanwhile, women cope with depression through friends, food, and love.
The Role of Hormones
As it has been mentioned, one of the main reasons for the differences between a depressed man and a depressed woman would be their hormones. In the case of women, there are generally three hormones responsible for such. One would be estrogen, which is responsible for being able to boost serotonin. The latter plays an important role in emotions. When the level of serotonin is high, the level of estrogen is also high and this results in more positive emotion. On the other hand, when such is on a low level, there is a greater likelihood of being depressed. When a woman is pregnant, the level of estrogen is high and this improves mood. On the other hand, after giving birth, estrogen suddenly drops, and this is one of the most logical explanations for why they commonly experience post-partum depression. More so, during pre-menstruation, the estrogen level is also low, which leads to mood disorders.
Progesterone is also another hormone that assumes a critical role in depression amongst women. It helps to keep the estrogen balance, which, in turn, will promote better sleep to avoid being stressed and depressed. This hormone also increases libido amongst women, which has been touted as an effective neutralizer of depression. When the level of progesterone is unfavorable, insomnia is most likely to happen, which can trigger feelings of depression.
Lastly, cortisol is another female hormone that can affect depression. If the level of this hormone is way above or below the average, depression is most likely to happen. When it is high, aside from depression, cravings for sugar and weight gain, specifically on the belly, can be apparent. On the other hand, when it is minimal, fatigue, lack of sex drive, and stress can be experienced.
Depression During Menopause
When women enter the menopausal stage, depression becomes a bigger problem. Several studies have claimed that the symptoms of depression are at their most severe in about three years before menstruation ceased. This is a period that is known as menopausal transition, which is again because of hormonal imbalances. Nonetheless, while changes in hormones can be considered as the main culprit for depression experienced during this point in one’s life, it is not all that is to be blamed. This can also be triggered by sadness brought about by the fact that children are already having their own lives and can also be enhanced by medical conditions, such as in the case of thyroid dysfunction.
Any woman who experiences feelings of depression, which can be worse when accompanied by suicidal thoughts, should seek medical help. This can be instrumental in the provision of various treatment options to correct hormonal imbalance, and in the end, positively affect mood.
