Mental Health Conditions in Women
Mental Health Conditions in Women
Mental Health Conditions in Women
If you’re a woman dealing with mental health issues, you’re not alone. The reality is that more than 20% of women struggle with mental health issues at some point.
Yet, all too often, women stay silent when it comes to their mental health. They may think it’s something they should “deal with” on their own.
At Carilion Clinic, our experts know what it’s like. Our Women’s Mental Health Clinic prevents, treats, and manages a wide range of women’s mental health conditions.
If you’re a woman dealing with mental health issues, you’re not alone. The reality is that more than 20% of women struggle with mental health issues at some point.
Yet, all too often, women stay silent when it comes to their mental health. They may think it’s something they should “deal with” on their own.
At Carilion Clinic, our experts know what it’s like. Our Women’s Mental Health Clinic prevents, treats, and manages a wide range of women’s mental health conditions.
Women face a higher risk than men of some common mental health disorders. These include anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Women also face a higher risk of intimate partner abuse, which can trigger PTSD.
Additionally, women go through many physical changes that can impact their mental health. These include hormone shifts, pregnancy, menstrual cycles, and menopause.
Women with a personal or family history of mental illness or social stressors, such as lack of support, may face an increased risk.
Menstruation
A woman’s period can trigger related mental health issues. These include:
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Physical and mental health symptoms right before your period starts. They include headache, tiredness, pain, and digestive issues. Mental health changes include anxiety, irritability, crying, and mood swings.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): A severe form of PMS. It causes extreme mood swings and debilitating physical symptoms. It requires medical treatment, such as medicine and therapy, to ease symptoms.
Pregnancy
Women can face mental health challenges before, during, and after pregnancy. These include:
- Baby blues: New moms may feel worried, sad, or overwhelmed caring for their newborn and healing from birth. You may cry or feel irritable. For most women, these “baby blues” only last a few days.
- Perinatal depression: Some women feel depressed during or after pregnancy. This is perinatal depression. It often requires treatment and close monitoring.
- Postpartum depression (PPD): Worse than the baby blues. PPD comes in the months after childbirth and lasts longer than 2 weeks.
- Postpartum psychosis: In extreme cases, PPD can trigger a break with reality called psychosis. It puts women at higher risk of harming themselves or their baby.
Menopause
Perimenopause is the time before you stop having your period for good. The hormonal shifts of menopause can cause mental health changes. These include:
- Mood changes: Some 40% of women have PMS-like shifts in mood during perimenopause. A woman’s risk of depression also rises as she nears menopause.
- Sleep problems: Perimenopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats can also get in the way of a good night’s sleep. Not getting enough sleep can worsen mental health.
Mental Health Conditions Specific to Women
Women face a higher risk than men of some common mental health disorders. These include anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. Women also face a higher risk of intimate partner abuse, which can trigger PTSD.
Additionally, women go through many physical changes that can impact their mental health. These include hormone shifts, pregnancy, menstrual cycles, and menopause.
Women with a personal or family history of mental illness or social stressors, such as lack of support, may face an increased risk.
Menstruation
A woman’s period can trigger related mental health issues. These include:
- Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): Physical and mental health symptoms right before your period starts. They include headache, tiredness, pain, and digestive issues. Mental health changes include anxiety, irritability, crying, and mood swings.
- Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD): A severe form of PMS. It causes extreme mood swings and debilitating physical symptoms. It requires medical treatment, such as medicine and therapy, to ease symptoms.
Pregnancy
Women can face mental health challenges before, during, and after pregnancy. These include:
- Baby blues: New moms may feel worried, sad, or overwhelmed caring for their newborn and healing from birth. You may cry or feel irritable. For most women, these “baby blues” only last a few days.
- Perinatal depression: Some women feel depressed during or after pregnancy. This is perinatal depression. It often requires treatment and close monitoring.
- Postpartum depression (PPD): Worse than the baby blues. PPD comes in the months after childbirth and lasts longer than 2 weeks.
- Postpartum psychosis: In extreme cases, PPD can trigger a break with reality called psychosis. It puts women at higher risk of harming themselves or their baby.
Menopause
Perimenopause is the time before you stop having your period for good. The hormonal shifts of menopause can cause mental health changes. These include:
- Mood changes: Some 40% of women have PMS-like shifts in mood during perimenopause. A woman’s risk of depression also rises as she nears menopause.
- Sleep problems: Perimenopause symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats can also get in the way of a good night’s sleep. Not getting enough sleep can worsen mental health.
Our women-focused mental health care includes:
- Medicines: Birth control can help with PMS. Hormone replacement therapy can ease perimenopause symptoms. Mental health medicines can also help with depression and psychosis.
- Talk therapy: Counseling and support groups help, as well as grief and loss support for pregnancy loss.
Pregnancy and maternal mental health care
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or already are, we care for your mental health with:
- Mental health screenings before, during, and after pregnancy
- Helping you with changes to your medicines during pregnancy and while breastfeeding
- Specialized addiction care for drug-dependent mothers and their babies
Emergency mental health care
If you or a loved one is in crisis or has thoughts of self-harm, harming your baby or suicide, call Carilion CONNECT at 540-981-8181 or toll-free at 800-284-8898. You can also call or text 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
You can also go to your nearest emergency room. The Carilion emergency department has an emergency psychiatry team ready to help.
How We Care for Women’s Mental Health
Our women-focused mental health care includes:
- Medicines: Birth control can help with PMS. Hormone replacement therapy can ease perimenopause symptoms. Mental health medicines can also help with depression and psychosis.
- Talk therapy: Counseling and support groups help, as well as grief and loss support for pregnancy loss.
Pregnancy and maternal mental health care
Whether you’re trying to get pregnant or already are, we care for your mental health with:
- Mental health screenings before, during, and after pregnancy
- Helping you with changes to your medicines during pregnancy and while breastfeeding
- Specialized addiction care for drug-dependent mothers and their babies
Emergency mental health care
If you or a loved one is in crisis or has thoughts of self-harm, harming your baby or suicide, call Carilion CONNECT at 540-981-8181 or toll-free at 800-284-8898. You can also call or text 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
You can also go to your nearest emergency room. The Carilion emergency department has an emergency psychiatry team ready to help.
Our Women’s Mental Health Clinic puts women and their unique needs at the center of care. Whatever mental challenges women face in life, they can count on us for support and evidence-backed treatment.
Expert care
Our care teams have advanced training in treating mental health conditions in women.
Focused on you
Our experts provide respectful and responsive care. We tailor our treatment plans to your preferences, needs, and values.
Convenient options
We offer many ways to connect for care. You can have onsite visits at multiple locations, as well as group support and video visits.
Why Choose Carilion Clinic?
Our Women’s Mental Health Clinic puts women and their unique needs at the center of care. Whatever mental challenges women face in life, they can count on us for support and evidence-backed treatment.
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Get Care at Carilion Clinic
Don't let mental health stigma keep you from getting the care you need. Whether you're struggling with emotions or substance use, we encourage you to reach out. We can provide real help and hope.
Get Care at Carilion Clinic
Don't let mental health stigma keep you from getting the care you need. Whether you're struggling with emotions or substance use, we encourage you to reach out. We can provide real help and hope.
Get Care at Carilion Clinic
Don't let mental health stigma keep you from getting the care you need. Whether you're struggling with emotions or substance use, we encourage you to reach out. We can provide real help and hope.
Get Care at Carilion Clinic
Don't let mental health stigma keep you from getting the care you need. Whether you're struggling with emotions or substance use, we encourage you to reach out. We can provide real help and hope.