What is it Like to Be a Woman with Depression?

Depression is one of the most common mental health disorders in the world, but it’s often hard to understand what it means to live with depression.  It can be difficult for people who don’t suffer from this debilitating disorder to empathize, or even fully comprehend how their loved ones are feeling.

The symptoms of depression can vary from person to person, but for many women, they are often the same: feelings of sadness and emptiness that last for weeks or months at a time. Women are also prone to anxiety and obsessive thoughts about things like their appearance or relationships. Combined with hormonal changes during menstruation, pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and menopause, it’s no wonder almost half of all women experience some form of mental illness in their lives. And yet only one-third seek treatment due to stigma associated with mental health issues–and even fewer reach out when they’re experiencing perimenopause or postpartum depression.

It’s important to know that you’re not alone if you are struggling with mental health. One in every two people will experience a diagnosable mental illness during their lifetime, and it can affect anyone regardless of gender or race. Knowing the signs that your loved one is suffering from