Both men and women struggle with mental health issues, but some disorders are more common in females. In general, these include depression, anxiety, and eating disorders. If you’re a young woman between the ages of 18 and 30 who has developed one or more of these conditions, The Willows at Red Oak Recovery can help. Contact us today at 855.773.0614 to learn more.
1. Impact of Depression on Women’s Mental Health
Depression happens as a result of many things. Grief, trauma, genetics, or physical health conditions can each contribute to this mental health condition. Depression makes every day feel like a fight for survival. The symptoms of depression may include:
- Overwhelming feelings of sadness
- Hopelessness
- Extreme tiredness
- Loss of interest in everyday activities
- Self-neglect
Life events, such as having a baby or entering menopause, can affect women’s mental health, as well. These include postpartum depression that may linger after childbirth or depression brought on by hormonal changes during normal aging.
2. Women’s Mental Health and Generalized Anxiety
Generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, happens to men and women, but it’s more common in females. Symptoms of generalized anxiety include:
- Over-thinking
- Obsessive worrying
- Fear of making wrong decisions
- Feeling threatened by ordinary situations
- Indecisiveness
Generalized anxiety can debilitate women’s mental health to where it becomes difficult to perform simple tasks such as leaving the house, being in crowds, or engaging in conversations with coworkers. The worry and fear of embarrassment are too overwhelming and may leave you feeling frozen or numb. Alternatively, you may blow a situation up in your mind that’s very out-of-proportion to reality. As a result, you may feel intense fear or dread of what could happen.
3. How Eating Disorders Affect Women’s Mental Health
Eating disorders are other common mental health conditions that affect women than men. In short, if you have an eating disorder, you may binge eat, starve yourself, or eat and then purge. All are harmful to your body, and all begin with negative body images and feelings of having little or no control over your own life.
An eating disorder may cause you to gain or lose unhealthy amounts of weight. In addition, if you purge or vomit regularly, you may cause damage to the lining of your stomach or esophagus. Sometimes, women may use diuretics or laxatives in unhealthy ways to help them lose weight quickly. This action can also cause problems with your digestion and may cause you to become dangerously dehydrated.
In most instances, depression, anxiety, and eating disorders require medical treatment for healing. Ideally, residential care in a mental health treatment center, such as The Willows at Red Oak Recovery, can help you recover. Here, young women who struggle with body ideation and self-acceptance can find recovery for life.
The Willows at Red Oak Recovery
The Willows at Red Oak Recovery provides substance use disorder and mental health care for women ages 18 to 30. Located in North Carolina, we offer care to clients who struggle with addiction and mental wellness.
As a client at The Willows at Red Oak Recovery, you’ll recover via our 90-day residential treatment plan, benefiting from round-the-clock medical care. Through a variety of therapies that include a 12-step approach and recreational options such as equine therapy and art therapy, we’ll help you reframe negative thoughts and view the world more realistically. You’ll find relief from overwhelming sadness and crippling anxiety as you work through your treatment plan. Additionally, you’ll enjoy the support of others who are struggling to meet the same goals, and you’ll benefit from the instruction and advice of highly trained and experienced clinicians.
If you’re a young woman who needs help with mental wellness or substance use disorder, visit The Willows at Red Oak Recovery online today, or call us at 855.773.0614. We can help you change direction today for a brighter, happier tomorrow.
