Mental Health
Women worldwide undergo a multiplicity of mental health challenges
throughout their lifetime, be it in third- or first-world countries. Some mental health conditions are inherent, biomedical whilst some are caused or exacerbated by a nexus of factors such as socio-economic and environmental issues. During adolescence when hormones are raging at the beginning of pubescence mental challenges such as depression, eating disorders, anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and other conditions are more likely to appear. . From puberty to adulthood when women are now more concentrated on building their careers, businesses, education, and starting or taking care of families more mental conditions, , like thunder in the night slowly start to creep into their lives, some fueled by stress, hormonal changes, and other factors.
Depression / (Melancholia)
Depression is a mental illness characterized by symptoms such as hopelessness, sleep deprivation, lack of concentration, and loss of pleasure and interest in activities. The hectic schedules and wide range of responsibilities that women take on may exacerbate a lack of sleep, increase stress, and add to feelings of depression. Medication may be of help, as well as counseling or therapy. On that note, while pregnancy is a natural phenomenon experienced by most women, various psychological changes happen such as labor anxiety, and sudden hormonal swings can trigger depressive moods. These symptoms can continue after giving birth and are termed postpartum depression and can even be accompanied by psychosis. Symptoms of peripartum and postpartum depression go beyond what is considered the “baby blues” and include insomnia, loss of appetite, intense irritability, and difficulty bonding with the baby.
Additionally, clinical depression also known as major depressive disorder is a more severe and chronic form of depression it is life-threatening and it often requires a combination of treatment methods such as medication, psychotherapy, and lifestyle changes as part of long-term treatment.
All the above is just a glimpse of how depression affects women. According to the World Health Organization, depression is more common among women than men. Hence, for women, this can be havoc affecting family relationships, work productivity, studies, and general mental wellbeing and flourishing.
Eating disorders
Classically, eating disorders are usually diagnosed in young women and includes bulimia nervosa and anorexia nervosa. With the advent of social media, one can easily search and see seemingly skinny young women who have struggled with this condition or young women who struggle with their body image to the extent of extreme dieting. These mental disorders are common challenges in almost all societies in the world whereby most women suffer with this condition silently and undiagnosed for years until it reaches a critical extent. Many reasons have been ascribed to such behaviors most of being psycho-social. Societal standards of slimness have been found to trigger eating disorders.
Substance addiction and Overdoses
Drug addiction can disrupt brain areas that link to mental disorders such as impulse control, schizophrenia, and anxiety. Women can become easily addicted to narcotics and drugs via association, social media influence, or as a numbing factor to even deeper psychological problems such as post-traumatic depression due to past abusive or traumatic events. A drug overdose occurs when a level of drug toxicity is reached within the substance user’s body and causes a variety of dangerous physical responses, which may include death. Both fatal and non-fatal overdoses amongst women are on the rise worldwide.
Amidst women’s mental challenges mentioned above, it is of the utmost importance that strategies and mechanisms are put in place to improve the mental health and well-being of women. most effective strategies are self-driven for an increased sustainable overall mental health well-being.
Mindfulness techniques
Mindfulness is a way of paying attention to the present moment, using techniques like meditation, breathing, and yoga. It assists in being more aware and awakening our thoughts and feelings so that instead of being overwhelmed by them, we’re better able to manage them. For instance, various styles of yoga combine physical postures, breathing techniques, and meditation. Have you ever wondered why some traditional cultures who practice yoga as a daily dose have low levels of stress and anxiety? Perhaps it is that they have mastered and in-cooperated the techniques of mindfulness in their way of life.
Therapy
Embracing therapy as a leeway to mental stability is not only beneficial to women’s mental well-being but the benefits can impact the socio-economic and physical well-being of women and the society at large. Normalizing going to therapy or seeking professional psychological evaluation to treat other underlying mental illnesses caused by biomedical explanation is also vital. Women and society need to demystify mental health issues and encourage openness to healing and coping mechanisms.
Self-Care
Self-care is a concept that has been taught widely and afar in the workspaces to maintain productivity and banish toxic working environments, regular gym and exercise are also considered as self-care. Women must realize that self-care is not a luxury but a necessity. It is a vital practice that involves consciously engaging in activities to promote physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional health. As a woman should never feel guilty about taking that much-needed nap or sleep, doing a relaxing activity such as a morning walk(s), nurturing social relationships, or taking that soothing bath whilst listening to a favorite podcast. These practices can help build resilience toward life stressors.
In summation, mental illnesses such as eating disorders, substance overdose, depression, anxiety, and post-partum depression are common among women in the world including many not mention above. A holistic approach to prevention, treatment and better prognosis is required from a micro to macro levels. Importantly, there are techniques that can be applied by women across all life to maintain a healthy mental wellbeing that include; mindfulness techniques, therapeutic sessions and self-care routines.
Author of Opinion Piece
Name: Angeline Makore
EVAW/G Specialist (Masters in Counseling Psychology Student at Great Zimbabwe University)
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