Being a woman can be both a blessing and a curse. The society gives certain privileges to women especially with regard to activities involving physical strength. But then, this could also serve as our curse. There are medical conditions that occur most in women and generally, hormones are blamed for it. Major depression is a condition that happens more in women than men and studies have shown hormones to affect our brain chemistry which is involved in controlling our mood and emotions. Women with depression are also put at a disadvantage because they may give birth to babies with anomalies, as antidepressants have been associated with birth defects being one of the side effects. However, this doesnt mean that she has to immediately stop taking her medications as this may yield more unfavorable effects. The antidepressant
Zoloft can cause brain zaps when one cuts on it cold turkey.
Facts on Depression
A normal human being feels sad once in some days, but if the sadness occurs in frequent and long intervals while disturbing the individuals normal processes, the need to seek for medical help might arise. Major depression is a condition that needs medical intervention. According to studies, depression may be due to a lot of factors such as genetics, emotional, psychosocial, biological and environmental. This is considered as one of the brain disorders and theories on the imbalance of serotonin levels in the brain are believed to be the cause. The prevalence of women with depression are twice as that of men and the condition is believed to be the main cause of disability of women, however, it is alarming to note that only 1/5 of those with depression seek help.
Management of Depression
Major Depression needs to be properly diagnosed before a treatment plan can be laid out. Once a definite diagnosis has been done by a specialist, antidepressant medications are usually prescribed. Antidepressant medications are given to treat the symptoms as well as restore the patients normal processes. If the patient has experienced side effects from the medication she is taking, like Zoloft birth defects for instance, she must discuss her other medication options from her health care provider. Also, drug therapy can be in conjunction with alternative treatments like psychotherapy.
