Doctor: Depressed women should focus on self-care
May 21, 2018, 4:45 AM | Updated: 8:06 am
PHOENIX — In a time of crisis, a woman must focus on herself.
It sounds like selfish advice, to some … and yet, that’s precisely what doctors advocate women do if they have clinical depression.
Dr. Carol Olson is a psychiatrist with the Maricopa Integrated Health System. She said many women fulfill many roles, including wives and mothers.
“If one is severely depressed, it’s very difficult to fulfill those functions,” Olson said. “You need to do for yourself so that you’re in a condition to help other people.
“Over the course of their life, about 20% of women will have an episode of major depression. …only 13% of men will.”
May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. Olson said depression is not a character flaw or a weakness. However, it does need to be managed as best the patient can.
“Regular exercise is helpful,” she said. “[So is] practicing different types of relaxation like yoga or meditation…[and] having sufficient time off.”
On its website, the National Alliance on Mental Illness describes several warning signs of mental illness.
Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include the following:
– Excessive worrying or fear.
– Feeling excessively sad or low.
– Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning.
– Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria.
– Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger.
– Avoiding friends and social activities.
The Alliance said mental health conditions can also begin developing in young children.
“Because they’re still learning how to identify and talk about thoughts and emotions, their most obvious symptoms are behavioral,” the Alliance said.
Symptoms in children may include the following:
– Changes in school performance.
– Excessive worry or anxiety, for instance fighting to avoid bed or school.
– Hyperactive behavior.
– Frequent temper tantrums.
