For women, the most common forms of mental ill health are stress, tiredness,
and depression.
Women and Stress
When there is too much pressure on us, we become irritable
and physically tense. Pain in the neck, shoulders or lower back, headaches, dizziness
and tiredness are some of the signs of stress. We experience extra stress when
more than one important event or crisis takes place at the same time. A crisis
such as the death of someone close to you, losing your job or getting divorced
will cause a lot of stress. Various health disciplines give advice about how to
deal with stress. Most suggest a combination of exercise and healthy eating
with rest and relaxation. They all caution us against setting our standards too
high and trying to be perfect – or, as women so often do, trying to be
everything to everybody.
When you are experiencing stress, it is important to find
out exactly what is causing it. If you do not resolve the root problem, the
stress will continue. Discuss your problems with a trusted friend or in a
group. You might also consider using the services of mental health workers.
Women and Tiredness
Many women are overtired because they have to cope with so
much as the main caregivers of society. The double shift (working away from
home during the day and at home during evenings) also takes its toll. Too much
stress affects the body’s immune system, with the result that we feel tired all
the time and get sick often. Poor diet also contributes to high fatigue levels.
Tiredness is the body’s way of calling for help.
To address tiredness, it is important to try and find out
what causes it. Try to pinpoint what is bothering you in your personal life. At
the same time, you should eat, sleep, and rest well. Try to do interesting
things that make you feel good - join a support group or learn a new skill.
Women and ‘Nerves’
For centuries, women have complained of suffering from their
‘nerves’ – a term used to describe stress, tiredness, and depression. For some
people, ‘nerves’ include physical symptoms such as tiredness and weakness.
Others experience ‘nerves’ as an emotional state. ‘Nerves ‘mean different
things to different people, but the condition almost always goes together with
feelings of powerlessness and lack of control.
Sometimes people use the term ‘nerves’ to refer to serious
mental illness, but the vast majority of people who feel they suffer from their
‘nerves’ are not mentally ill. They are usually in situations, which almost
anyone would find difficult. If a woman says, ‘I am suffering from my nerves’; she
is talking about the difficulties she faces in a way that is socially
acceptable.
So in some ways, to suffer from ‘nerves’ may get you out of
difficult situations. ‘Nerves’ are an example of what an anthropologist has
called ‘the weapons of the weak’. The problem with using a weapon of the weak
is that it will not change your situation or resolve problems in the long run.
People tend to take those who say that they suffer from their ‘nerves’ less
seriously.
What is needed is for all people who suffer from ‘nerves’
who are stressed, worried, exhausted or upset, to be given support to talk about the real problems they face and
to gain more control over their lives.
Achieving this goal depends on the kinds of relationships and support we build
into our society.
Women and Depression
Most people experience difficulties in life: sometimes we
feel happy, at other times we are sad or dissatisfied with ourselves and with
life. It is quite natural to feel sad when something upsetting happens. However,
when you feel stressed and tired all the time, it is important to act. Visit a
health worker to get advice and check that you have not developed an illness.
When stress does not go away, you may become depressed .People who feel
powerless and trapped often experience depression. They feel sad and worried,
but also angry with themselves, with their loved ones and with their
circumstances. Sometimes they feel so frustrated and desperate that they
consider taking their own lives.
Many women lack confidence and self-esteem, and feel they
have no control over their lives. These feelings can contribute towards
depression, which is the most common mental health problem among women. Here
are some of the signs of depression:
·
You withdraw from people around you and from
things that you usually enjoy.
·
You are irritable and see things in a negative
light
·
You are constantly unhappy and cry easily
·
You feel guilty and blame yourself easily
·
You feel hopeless and despairing
·
Your work becomes less important
·
You no longer care about your appearance
·
You have little energy and are always tired - even
when you wake up in the morning
·
You find it difficult to concentrate – you start
things but rarely finish them
·
You sleep a lot less of more than usual
·
You eat very little or a lot more than usual
·
You lose interest in sex
Sometimes
depression can be dealt with by talking your problems through with a friend, in
a group or with a mental health worker. However, it sometimes becomes so severe
that you also need to take medicine so that you can start to function better.
Medication should be combined with counselling, where you share problems with a
mental health worker to find ways of getting extra support and dealing better
with your situation.
Depression
is often not understood. People with depression often feel judged and this
makes their recovery even more difficult. As one sufferer says, ‘People expect
you to snap out of it, but I couldn’t’. So people with depression are often
unwilling to admit they have a problem, or they use euphemisms such as ‘a
breakdown’ ‘or ‘nerves’. As in any other illness, eating well, exercise,
relaxation and rest are important. These together with expressing yourself and
talking your problems through form part of many therapies. Life- skills
training, which empowers us, helping us to express ourselves better and to
resolve conflict, is also helpful.
