Due to hormonal changes and underlying comorbidities like hypertension, diabetes & hypothyroidism, females are prone to depression and anxiety. But worst is when patient is carried away with psychiatric symptomatology which mimics physical problems and visit to the wrong specialist instead of a Psychiatrist. That's the reason we Psychiatrists see such patients in moderate or in severe illness. 

Apart from this the reluctance of patients to seek treatment for mental health disorders disproportionately affects women in large part because women are more susceptible than men to many common mental health conditions.While all segments of the world’s population are impacted by mental illness, health professionals are discovering that treating women requires a different approach than is used to treat men with the same illnesses. For example, while the incidence of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder is the same for men and women, the symptoms women experience often differ from those present in men.

In addition to feeling too ashamed to seek help for a mental disorder, many women simply aren’t aware that their symptoms constitute an illness that can be treated. A big step toward improving the diagnosis and treatment of mental health conditions in women rests in education providing information about the prevalence of mental illness, the negative effects it has on women and their families, and the many resources available to help them receive the treatment they need to return to health.

 • Women are twice as likely as men to be affected by unipolar depression, which is forecast to be the second most common source of “global disability burden.

 • Women are more likely to experience post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and they wait much longer than men after symptoms arise to seek diagnosis and treatment.

 • Women are almost 10 times more likely than men to be affected by an eating disorder.

 • Women may be less likely than men to seek treatment after experiencing symptoms of mental illness. This is due to “internalized or self-stigma” that results from their self-image being formed by how others perceive them.

Mental health and physical health are similar, but distinct. For example, we know that there is a connection between the mind and the gastrointestinal system, and many psychological conditions manifest as physical ailments. While physical health deals more with the longevity of one’s life, mental health is associated with both longevity and quality of a person’s life. 

Mental health poses unique challenges for women. Throughout her life, a woman’s body is constantly changing, putting pressure on her to adapt to new purposes and perceptions.

Puberty, pregnancy and childbirth, menopause — they all force women to reckon with new bodies and new ways they fit into the world around them. Some of these physical changes can trigger mental conditions specific to women.Mental disorders can affect women and men differently. Some disorders are more common in women such as depression and anxiety. There are also certain types of disorders that are unique to women. For example, some women may experience symptoms of mental disorders at times of hormone change, such as perinatal depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and perimenopause-related depression.

Common depressive symptoms 

a. Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, worthlessness, or emptiness.

b. Crying frequently.

c. Anhedoina (No longer enjoying favorite activities).

d. Loss of energy.

e. Inability to focus, remember, or decide.

f. Insomnia ,Hypersomnia , sleeping too much, or struggling to get out of bed.

g. Anoroxia ( Loss of appetite), weight loss, or overeating in an attempt to “feel better”.

h. Thoughts of self-harm, death, or suicide.

i. Persistent headaches, nausea, or other physical pain that doesn’t improve with other treatment.

j. Becoming easily annoyed or angered.

The genetic differences in men and women who are affected by depression. The hope is that by determining the different causes of the disease in men and women, researchers will be able to create improved diagnostic tests and treatments based on gender.

Anxiety

General Anxiety Disorder (GAD) as experiencing “excessive anxiety or worry” for most days over a period of six months. Other anxiety disorders include panic disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, social anxiety disorder (or social phobia), separation anxiety disorder, and phobia-related disorders (such as fear of flying, fear of heights, or fear of specific objects). While 19% of all adults in the U.S. report having experienced anxiety disorder in the past year, the percentage is much higher for women than for men (23.4% vs. 14.3%).

Symptoms of anxiety disorder 

 • Chronic irritability or nervousness.

 • Feelings of impending doom or disaster.

 • Racing heartbeat, hyperventilating, sweating, or trembling.

 • Weakness or tiredness.

 • Inability to concentrate.

 • Sleeplessness.

 • Stomach aches or other digestive problems.

Perinatal depression

WHO estimates that worldwide, 10% of pregnant women and 13% of women who have just given birth experience a mental disorder, primarily depression. Perinatal depression, which encompasses both categories of women, impairs a woman’s ability to function and also hinders the development of the child. While pregnant women everywhere are susceptible to perinatal depression and other mental illnesses, the problem is greatest in developing countries, estimates that 20% of mothers experience postpartum depression.

Perinatal depression is exacerbated by poverty, migration, stress, and exposure to violence, according to research compiled by WHO. The organization emphasizes the need to integrate maternal mental health with general health guidelines, along with educating women about children’s health and reproductive health.

Eating disorders

Twice as many women are affected by eating disorders as men: 20 million vs. 10 million. The causes of the illnesses remain a mystery for the most part, but researchers believe biology, psychology, and culture are all involved.

Among the risk factors for developing an eating disorder are the following:

 • Being closely related to someone who has an eating disorder or other mental illness.

 • Chronic dieting.

 • Burning more calories than are ingested (negative energy balance).

 • Being diagnosed with Type-1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes, which can cause death.

 • Poor body image.

 • Being diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.

 • Being the victim of bullying or body-shaming due to weight.

 • Having a tendency toward perfectionism or behavioral inflexibility.

Postpartum depression

This subset of perinatal depression affects some women within one year of giving birth. It is characterized by feelings of extreme sadness, anxiety, and tiredness that impact the woman’s ability to care for herself and her baby. The condition does not originate with any action on the mother’s part, but rather occurs as a result of a combination of physical and emotional factors that include: hormonal changes during pregnancy and after delivering, a lack of sleep in the weeks and months after the baby’s arrival, and the physical exhaustion and pain related to pregnancy and giving birth.

Diagnosing postpartum depression is challenging because the symptoms vary from woman to woman, and many of the symptoms are easy to attribute to some other cause. In particular, postpartum depression may be interpreted as the “baby blues,” which many new mothers feel as a result of the worry, exhaustion, or sadness that commonly accompany a baby’s birth. Women should consult with their health care provider right away if they experience any of the symptoms listed under “Depression” above.

Body dysmorphic disorder

People with body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) constantly seek reassurances about their appearance and may consider themselves “ugly” to the point where they seek a remedy. This remedy may include plastic surgery to remove whatever is considered a physical imperfection.

While the disorder occurs with equal frequency in men and women, societal pressures about physical beauty may make the condition more difficult for women to overcome. The obsession with their appearance can impair the ability of people with BDD to function at work, at home, and in their social lives. The most common physical attributes of concern to sufferers of BDD involve blemishes and other skin problems,hair anywhere on the body (or the lack of it), and the shape and size of specific facial features.

Bipolar disorder

This condition, which was previously referred to as “manic-depressive illness,” is characterized by wide mood swings that are much more extreme than the ups and downs people normally experience in their day-to-day lives. The drastic changes in mood and energy level can seriously hinder the person’s ability to function, particularly for people affected by “bipolar I” (pronounced “bipolar one”), in which the mood swings are more severe than in “bipolar II.”Bipolar I occurs less frequently and impacts men and women equally. In bipolar II, which is diagnosed in women much more frequently than in men, the mood “highs,” or manic episodes, and the “lows,” or depressive episodes, are less severe (referred to ashypomania”). However, women with bipolar II tend to experience more depressive episodes than manic episodes. Bipolar II is usually treatable without requiring hospitalization.

Borderline personality disorder

Is characterized by changeable moods, continually varying self-image, and inconsistent behavior over an extended period of time. BPD is a “serious mental illness” that causes instability in a person’s mood, behavior, relationships, and self-image on a daily basis. While 2% of adults are affected by the disorder, it strikes young women more than any other demographic.

Along with erratic changes in mood, behavior, and values, symptoms of BPD include: quickly entering into and ending physical and emotional relationships;extreme swings in feelings toward people and activities; an unrealistic, skewed sense of oneself; and acting in impulsive and dangerous ways. Factors that increase a person’s risk of BPD are a family history of the disorder, childhood traumatic events, and brain trauma.

Substance abuse

Research shows that women can become addicted to a drug faster than men, even though women generally take smaller amounts of drugs and use them over a shorter period of time. In addition, sex hormones may cause women to be more susceptible to the effects of drugs, and they may experience more cravings once addicted, which can lead to more frequent relapses.

When a woman abuses drugs while pregnant or nursing a baby, both the woman and her child are at greater risk. Opioids, stimulants, and other drugs can damage the baby’s health and cause pregnant women to miscarry. Pregnant women who smoke tobacco or cannabis, ingest prescription pain medication, or use illegal drugs increase their risk of a stillbirth by a factor of two to three.

Recovering from a substance abuse disorder is also different for women than for men. For example, treatment programs for women that incorporate child care, parenting classes, job training, and similar services have a higher success rate than recovery programs that do not offer such support.

When to seek professional help

Even with everyday battles, seeking out talk therapy with a trained professional is often a good idea. If you’re feeling detached from others, extremely negative about yourself or not physically caring for yourself, these are signals to seek professional help. If you’re struggling with hopelessness, helplessness, worthlessness, suicidal thoughts or addiction to legal or illegal substances, a medical professional can guide you down the right path to wellness.

If you want to live a fulfilling life, be in the present with your friends and family, and make a positive contribution to society and upcoming generations, neuropsychological health has a tremendous value.

Some important tips

Before sharing some mental health tips to follow, i insist/advice to female folk to seek a professional help always in terms of mental health issues.

• Improve your mood by exercising regularly: Exercise releases endorphins, which are chemicals that help alleviate stress and promote calmness. Regular physical exercise also helps improve sleep habits and quality, and may also reduce the symptoms of anxiety and depression.

• Eat a balanced diet: Consuming healthy foods has been found to improve people’s mood in addition to improving their physical health. In particular, avoid sugary foods, which can lead to tiredness and irritability when blood sugar levels drop. Also, certain vitamins and minerals—such as selenium, omega-3 fatty acids, folate, vitamin B12, calcium, iron, and zinc—appear to alleviate the symptoms of depression.

• Get enough sleep: Depression can make it hard to get enough shut-eye, and too little sleep can make depression worse.

• Talk about your feelings: Talking about your feelings can help you stay in good mental health and deal with times when you feel troubled.

 • Ask for help: If things are getting too much for you and you feel you can’t cope, ask help from family or friends.

 • Take a break: A change of scene or a change of pace is good for your mental health.

 •  Do something you’re good at: What do you love doing? What activities can you lose yourself in? What did you love doing in the past? Enjoying yourself can help beat stress. Doing an activity you enjoy probably means you’re good at it, and achieving something boosts your self-esteem.

 • Accept who you are: We’re all different. It’s much healthier to accept that you’re unique than to wish you were more like someone else. Feeling good about yourself boosts your confidence and self-esteem which helps you cope when life takes a difficult turn.

• Get in a routine: Depression can strip away the structure from your life. One day melts into the next. Setting a gentle daily schedule can help you get back on track.

 • Get at least 15 minutes of sunshine per day, which is shown to boost vitamin D and elevate your mood.

 • Spend half an hour in nature whenever you can. Whether in ur lawn or some river side , nature boosts well-being.

• Take a short trip, exploring what’s in your local area. Experiencing a change of scenery can provide much-needed stimulation and reduce anxiety.

• Unplug from devices: Turning off and/or leaving behind your smartphone, tablet and laptop halts the constant flow and interruption of messages, and can bring relaxation and real-life reconnection. 

 • As we all are going through COVID 19 pandemics , females who had underlying anxiety or depression had exaggeration in thier symptoms . Thanks to Telepsychiatry which was available for patients  24x7, but patients who couldn't avail such facilities , some tips for them :

Limit the amount of news you watch

Of course, it’s important to stay informed, but sometimes the constant streaming news stories can be too much. After a while, they can be extremely upsetting, and watching the 24-hour news cycle can create a lot of anxiety.

Instead, schedule time to watch something fun. Maybe there’s a movie you aways wanted to see on Netflix or DVD.

The important thing is to make sure you don’t suffer from information overload. Give your mind a break and let it have a chance to “have fun” through more uplifting entertainment.

Talk to other people

Social distancing has transformed your social life, but that doesn’t mean you can’t stay in touch with those important to you. Phone calls help, but sometimes you need to see a face. Utilize video chat programs such as WhatsApp, Skype and Zoom to keep the lines of communication open.

Talk to psychiatrist

There are several qualified mental health counselors available to help you. If their offices are closed during COVID, many offer virtual appointments.

Remember that not everyone responds to stress in the same manner, this is why it will help to make a list of things you’d like to talk to your Psychiatrist. 

Use social media carefully

Of course, what better way to stay in touch with people than through Facebook or Instagram? There are several great benefits of social media, but it also has some drawbacks.

Many well-meaning friends may spread information that is false or misleading. Just because you saw it on social media doesn’t mean it’s true.

Most importantly,the way female goes to a parlour to get herself groomed well . In the same way she should see a professional Psychiatrist while facing mental health issues in life.