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Depression makes the world dark and dreary, removing every possibility of experiencing happiness and peace. Such a deep level of depression does not lead to a low mood that may come and go based on their accomplishments and disappointments throughout the day. Instead, it sends people into a permanent sadness, sometimes persisting for years.
Read Also About Depression In Teens
While depression can hit anyone, women are up to two times more likely than men to experience this psychiatric illness. The cause behind this disparity is unclear, and experts are constantly investigating different explanations. [1] Regardless of what makes women prone to depressive disorders, these illnesses can make them feel highly hopeless and devoid of happiness. Fortunately, help is available across the country in the form of a women’s depression treatment center. These centers are focused on helping the female gender overcome depression while focusing on their gender-specific issues and triggers. Trauma treatment for women offered in these gender-segregated centers can serve as a cornerstone for living a depression-free life full of hopes and happiness.
The Need for Women Depression Treatment Programs
As mentioned before, females are twice as likely as males to acquire depression. Many proposed theories are tied to factors exclusively experienced by the female gender. These include:
- Hormonal Fluctuations: Alteration in the hormone levels during various stages of a female’s life, such as during pregnancy, menstruation, and menopause, can cause significant mood changes. [2] In the long term, this may lead to depression.
- Multitasking Roles: Women in every part of the world are naturally expected to adopt multitasking roles, such as work commitments, family responsibilities, and issues in personal life. The burden of these jobs can put great pressure on them, making them vulnerable to depression and anxiety.
- Societal Expectations: The constant pressure to conform to societal roles and norms can add stress, causing depression.
A women’s depression treatment program can recognize these unique challenges exclusively faced by the female gender and tailor the care and support to address them effectively. This may not be possible in a mixed-gender program where the treatment approach is set in a gender-neutral way to accommodate everyone.
What to Expect at a Women’s Depression Treatment Center
While each rehab may work differently using a unique approach, the following are some common features available at a standard depression treatment center for women:
- Individualized treatment: Each girl and woman at a women’s depression center receives treatment according to their circumstances to include what’s best for them.
- Treatment environment: The overall environment at a depression center for women is for females only, and the programs it offers are designed to serve this gender best.
- Academic support: For young patients, many women’s depression treatment center provides educational services through academies and on-campus schools. The aim is to help them improve their mental health without compromising their academic life.
- Spirituality: Many treatment centers offer faith-based programs for females interested in incorporating Christian principles in their treatment. Moreover, many of them have a non-denominational chaplain on the campus and activities like yoga to connect to the inner spirituality.
- Continuing Care: Upon completion of treatment, each woman receives a detailed discharge plan to guide them in her post-rehab life. They also have an opportunity to participate in alumni activities to gain support all year round.
How to Choose a Women’s Depression Treatment Center? Finding the Right Fit
The best way for a depressed woman to begin their journey back to wellness is by paying a visit to their doctor. Following a comprehensive exam, doctors can determine if the issues faced by a woman are due to depression or another possible reason. If depression is likely, they can suggest programs or rehab centers to join where they can start their healing program.
While depression may not allow many women to feel keen or energetic enough to make good decisions, they must include themselves in the therapy selection process. Their preferences and opinions are crucial for crafting a successful program and can help them stay motivated.
Before choosing a specific women’s depression treatment center, a woman may consider raising the following questions with the administrators to ensure that she makes the right choice:
- How do you customize your programs to address the unique needs of women?
- Do you offer dual diagnosis programs that treat multiple mental issues simultaneously?
- Can you handle depression and addiction together?
- Do your treatment programs involve the use of medications?
- What other services are available in your rehab that may help me manage my depression?
Selecting a depression treatment rehab is a personal decision, and women must feel comfortable asking questions. Some programs provide patients with additional treatments, like animal-assisted therapy, art therapy, and acupuncture, which can be particularly important for certain women to stay motivated and compliant. At the same time, others may not find them so helpful and prefer programs with a stricter clinical feel. For this reason, finding out about a treatment program is imperative so that women can understand what type of help they are likely to obtain from a specific depression rehab.
How to Join a Women’s Depression Treatment Program?
The admissions process at a depression treatment center for women will vary from one rehab to another. However, most facilities try to keep it as simple as possible with the following basic steps:
- The process begins with a call to one of the admissions counselors. These team members are usually available 24/7, so clients can call them whenever convenient.
- Next, interested clients participate in a detailed assessment conducted over the phone. This assessment aims to identify patient needs and determine whether rehab is the right place for them.
- Following the assessment, a team member walks patients through various treatment steps and arranges a time and date to arrive at the rehab.
- Once a woman arrives at the facility, she is greeted by a staff member who helps her settle and familiarize herself with the facility and the rest of the team.
- The initial activities after joining the rehab include the completion of psychological and medical evaluations to help the supervising team design individualized depression treatment programs for each client.
Once a treatment plan is in place, women can start treatment. From the first call to the very last day of treatment, all women have the full support of the team members.
FAQs
When should I consider joining a women’s depression treatment center?
While depression can hit any gender, it is more common in women than men, mainly due to gender expectations, socioeconomic factors, and cultural norms. Despite the higher incidence, many women fail to receive timely help as the signs of depression are not always noticeable. In many cases, symptoms range from fatigue and low self-esteem to loss of appetite and apathy. Others may develop a low mood, feel hopeless and helpless, or struggle to sleep. Following are some common signs of depression in women that warrant seeking help from a depression treatment center:
- Changes in appetite
- Thoughts of suicide
- Difficultly carrying out simple everyday tasks
- Indecisiveness
- Physical symptoms not responding to treatment, such as chronic pain, digestive issues, and headaches
- Alcohol and drug addiction
What happens in a women’s depression treatment center?
Seeking help for depression management is the best and the most effective way to learn symptom control. However, many women find that seeking help in a gender-specific rehab is more comfortable and beneficial as they find relief from depression struggles and learn healthier emotional processes. In a typical women’s depression treatment center, patients can find various programs geared toward the unique treatment needs of the female gender. These programs focus on identifying and managing gender-specific triggers that may be fueling the underlying depression and help women understand how to keep them under control.
References
1 Cyranowski JM, Frank E, Young E, Shear MK. Adolescent onset of the gender difference in lifetime rates of major depression: a theoretical model. Archives of general psychiatry. 2000 Jan 1;57(1):21-7.
2 Albert PR. Why is depression more prevalent in women?. Journal of Psychiatry and Neuroscience. 2015 Jul 1;40(4):219-21.
