Clinical depression is a very common mood disorder that can affect anyone, yet women are twice as likely to develop depression as men. Contributing factors include reproductive hormones, a differing female response to stress, and social pressures that are unique to a woman’s life experiences.
Depression causes feelings of sadness, helplessness, and worthlessness. Women with depression are likely to lose interest or pleasure in normal activities and may have difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions. Depression can be mild to moderate with symptoms of apathy, little appetite, difficulty sleeping, low self-esteem, and decreased energy or fatigue. Or symptoms can be more severe.