The one thing to add is level of hormones due to taking birth control. Those tend to contribute to developing cases of depression.

I think woman have more stress due to hormonal changes but also because they are required to carry the load, Take care of it all! Work andn take care of children -take care of a home and be the DO ALL! Make everyone happy- Society does not make it easier for woman as a whole, we have more to do then men and we are made to be responsible for EVERYTHING by ourselves and our families, Men have stress but they are a different make up and do not take things the way woman do. Society has never given woman a break who work and child rear- Most companies are not flexible enough to help woman to de-stress so they do not get depression! It is a tough go around and woman need more outlets! I agree that depression is related to hormones but it is alot more then just that.

I agree, in a sexist world, you have to consider environmental as well as genetic/hormonal factors for women’s higher rate of depression.
Still not sure it’s double the rate for men, though. Men experience depression differently, trying to tough it out — and often don’t report it. Terrence Real’s work should be a real eye-opener on that score.

Men and women are simply wired differently. Listen to a typical teenage girl conversation then a typical teenage guy conversation.
The girls will talk about this friend or that who dissed them or didn’t diss them and who treated who the right way or the wrong way, and how ugly so and so is, and how cute this outfit was or that outfit is and “I hate my (insert body feature), etc.
The guys basically talk about sports, computer games or which girls are cute.
In other words, guys don’t agonize over relationships.

I wonder if we don’t do our men a disservice in reporting these type of statistics. Since men are less likely to seek help or discuss but more likely to be successful in their suicide attempts, I am concerned that statistics that link depression with women and childbearing only further emasculates those men who have depression and reinforces the stereotype that depression is ‘a woman’s issue’ or glorified hysterics.
At the same time, I know that I am definitely effected by hormonal changes and this type of information is helpful in understanding and recognizing patterns in my abilities to manage my symptoms.
Thanks, Therese.

How about the fact that doctors don’t want women who have the possibility of becoming pregnant to take ANY kind of drug- for the potential baby’s sake. So a woman still open to the idea of having more while in her childbearing years puts off what she knows she needs, and suffers and makes due any way she can… but it goes untreated sometimes for years and years. I’m waiting till menopause to be normal and happy.

Hather: I don’t want to rain on your parade, but as a post-menopausal woman I feel the need to warn you that “normal and happy are not adjectives I would apply to this time in my life.
Everyone: I think part of men’s “lower susptibility(?) to dpression may also be related to the “real men don’t cry” mentality that our socieety embraces. Many if not most boys have that drummed ito them once they’ve passed the toddler stage. They’re bombarded with messages from all sides that leave them vulnerable to believing that emotionalism is a female only space and their manhood is questioned if they try to buck the system. How many times have we all heard the “He cries like a woman disparagement voiced by people who observe any of them expressing melancholy or emotional pain. IMO we do a great disservice to our malesat thesame time “crying in our beer” because finding a sensitive mate who can andwill relate n a deeply emotional level is so difficult to do. We can’t have it both way, folks, but it doesn’t stop us from trying, now, does it? Hmmmmm

Personally, I think depression in men is grossly under-reported. Men don’t, won’t, can’t talk about it – even with their spouses, let alone their doctors. Even though I’m male, I sought out treatment because mine, and my family’s quality of life were suffering.
Still, the percentage in women would probably be higher than in men even if the reporting was perfect

so what is that tell me .i love for the next see yous .for times comming loves yous for ever eternity.

I have been in a terrible depression from my teen years right up until recently.I have a bad habit of letting my childhood come into play and I try to stay on a rebound to anyone and everyone that comes into my life. I automatically think that is going to happen to me again. I am now on something for anxiety. I recently lost a loving and caring relationship to my mood swings and when upset constantly blurting out things without thinking. My depression now is losing the most wonderful man I have ever had knowing I will never get him back in my life the way I want. I turned to God and self conceling myself knowing it isn’t my fault and not everyone was like my mother was.Nor the bad physical relationships I have had in the past. God walks beside me always and I learned he never gives me more than I can deal with. I now learn from the experience of my past, Learned how to forgive my mother and Ask God to forgive her and help me in my heart forgive her. And it worked. Karen from Massachusetts

Having suffered from depression on and off most of my life time, I think there are several reasons women suffer more from depression than men. Women’s brains are different than men in that we are more social and concerned about relationships and loves, where as men are more competitive and concerned mainly with status. Women are raised to be more passive, than assertive, and/or aggressive as men are. Women are raised with less self esteem than men. It is more acceptable in our society for men
to display their anger than a women to express her feelings. So there are many, many factors why women
are more depressed than men. Women’s self esteem and feelings about themselves are based so much on their friendships/relationships. When those relationships falter, so does her self esteem and it is easier for her to fall into depression, Men are not concerned as much about relationships as they are about sports, cars, careers, etc.. So men are more likely to suffer from anxiety, while women suffer from depression.

This is actually very true. Not only that but hormones contribute to many more things in women than just depression too. I just finished reading a book entitled “The Female Brain” by Louann Brizendine, M.D., and was fascinated to learn how much hormones play a role in every aspect of a women’s lives and how it differs from men too. Anyone who sometimes feel like they may be going crazy (like me) should definitely read this book!

i’ve suffered w/ depression most of my life, been on many medications in the past. but they all seem to carry side affects that sometimes worse than the depression itself. so as of now i’m on no treatments for my depression. i sometimes feel i will be this way the rest of my life.

I too feel that I will be this way the rest of my life. I used to think that somehow I would conquer this either by therapy, medication and/or things changing in my life. I no longer think that because I am on medication and it does help to be able to function most of the time. I cannot afford therapy although when I did go, I didn’t feel that it helped. And life only gets harder. Yes most women care so much about relationships and I have found that getting a divorce which I wanted, I cannot get over. I cannot forgive myself for hurting my ex or for hurting my children even though they are grown. They all say that they just want me to be happy but I can’t. I try not to, but I am hurt by my grown children and their spouses and wish that we had better relationships. Men just don’t seem to care. My ex thinks I obcess over these things that I cannot change and he doesn’t worry about any of it, at least according to him. I don’t understand why he doesn’t want things to be better with his children. I do wonder how much hormones has played a role in my depression. I am completely miserable.

I feel bad for all of those who cannot find relief of their depression. I too have suffered from it for most of my adult life, however I do feel better on medication, and realize that I should never go off of it. It has helped me tremendously, as well as therapy. Somehow talking about it just helps, and having support from someone who understands and gives you hope that things can get better is so helpful. If you cannot afford therapy, try to find help from churches, social workers etc. I do believe that women suffer so much more from depression, and I DO believe that hormones play a big factor. I suffered post-partum depression and then had some good years. But as menopause approaches, I’ve been having bouts of it and went back on anti-depressants and thank God I am seeing the light at the end of a dark tunnel. Depression is so real and people who have never experienced clinical depression cannot understand the pain it causes. For anyone out there feeling this way, please know that there are things that can help you.

I also suffer with depression for many years. I am on medication and I
don’t feel any better. I did therapy and I found that it did not do much, but cost alot. Has anyone heard of EFT for depression?

I have also had bouts of depression since my teenage years. It got worse after having my first daughter and after I left her father I seemed to get so much better. Now, after my second daughter I’ve had more bouts with depression. It seems to last months and relent for a month or two only to come back stronger than ever. It’s such a horrible feeling, makes you feel so worthless and that nothing you can think of will ever make it better. Even now that I’m on medication it only helps sometimes. It makes me angry because I want to enjoy every minute I have with my girls. I wish there was a real solution to make it go away for good.

you think you are depressed now well wait until you are 60+ your body betrays you and you fear about retiring because you don’t have enough money to do so – option, work until you are dying………then hope it happens fast so you don’t lose your home you spent so many years protecting WITHOUT ANOTHER TO HELP YOU BECAUSE THEY BETRAYED YOU

I’m 71 and have never or hardly ever remember of having suffered of depresion; but lately, these passed 2 years I fall in it easily. I sometimes think it is not depression but what I feel it’s awful. I don’t want to go out, rarely fix my face like I did before, I work here in my house, but if I have to go out I look out for whatever excuse I can get, even lies, that harm no one but me.
I cry, and remember bad things all the time, like I chat with myself inventing stories about bad feelings,it’s awful, and the worst part it that I used to use the computer to pray, and send messages, and read about all these things, but I have abandoned it.

Every woman, man and child’s story of suffering from depression makes me ache. It doesn’t matter when it hits you, at what age, it can take you down.
I do feel for women in their child-bearing years. Society doesn’t offer a lot of help, as much of women are still defined by our children, our men, our families, but I do see hope for women. Especially during their 30′s, and 40′s, many women have a greater sense of who they are; apart from family and friends. Their ego comes into its own, and they discover, and fight, for their rights to be who and what they want to be.
Yet I don’t see women fighting for each other. Too often I see women betray friends to hold onto a flimsy social standing. Seeing women cut off women to gain favor with men, or groups with more social acceptance, or financial standing, always hurts; no matter your age.
Where do women go who have run out of chances in a society that favors men, money, beauty, and fleeting popularity? What if family and children have never materialized, or they’ve all disappeared – for whatever reasons that happen? Beauty is gone and careers are over, or no longer progressing. What of them?

Why do men actually succeed in comitting suicide at a rate three times higher than women is a better question.

Why do men actually succeed in comitting suicide at a rate three times higher than women is a better question.
– Women probably think about how suicide would effect their loved ones more than men would; they would be more inclined to not end their depression in a selfish way.