Men and women both experience mental disorders; however, statistics point out that more women suffer from depression, anxiety, and other mood disorders In fact, across countries, one in five women suffer from mental disorders than one in eight for men. The explanation for the statistics mentioned above can be biological: women's genetic makeup may make them more vulnerable to mental disorders.
However, there are also cultural, societal, gender-based, and environmental factors responsible for these flabbergasting statistics.
In patriarchal societies, women are dominated by men in decision-making and other areas of life. For instance, women face domestic abuse consistently. World Health Organisation states that 35% of the women worldwide face "either physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime."
Women face more physical and sexual trauma when growing up. Consequently, women who abuse drugs and alcohol are more likely to attribute these actions to traumatic events like sexual abuse. Furthermore, they face income inequality, low social status, and socioeconomic disadvantages.
Opinions of women in a patricidal society hardly matter. The responsibilities on their shoulders are colossal. Imagine a mother who has to take care of two children, work and then run the house. This may be the societal norm or how the world has always been, but it has a significant impact on a woman's life. She has no time for her at all. More importantly, she has to live in constant stress, and as a consequence, her mental health gets compromised. Moreover, girls from nuclear families and women married at a very young age are at risk of suicide.
What compounds the already severe problem is how women process things. It is proven that women frequently ruminate, concentrating on their negative emotions instead of taking action-based steps to solve problems. Women are more likely to internalize negative emotions that can result in loneliness, depression, and more intensified emotional reactions.
Below are three simple strategies that you can use to cope with mental disorders.
1.Self Care: In today's distressing world, self-care is a necessity. Simply put, self-care is any action that people perform to take care of their physical, emotional, and mental health. It can be as simple as bathing oneself with bath salts to relax. Make a conscious effort to take care of yourself.
2. Talking to a Licensed Counselor: Counseling psychology has become a life savior for people in the last three decades. Talking to a licensed counselor can help you deal with uncomfortable feelings and thoughts. You and the psychologist may go deep in analyzing the problem and find solutions. Click on this link for a free consultation call with our experts.
3. Social Support: Studies have shown that isolation and loneliness can elevate mental health problems. On the contrary, social support can improve coping with stressful situations and promote good mental health.
The world is becoming a place full of stressors. Yes, the scientific revolution has taken the world by storm. Employment rates have gone up, poverty and mortality rates have gone down. However, mental disorders have skyrocketed. It has become more critical than ever to take care of your mental health. If you are mentally healthy, you can do anything you want. Click on this link for a free consultation call with our experts.