Women's Issues
Introduction
Women can sometimes face different psychological issues than men and to different degrees, and certain disorders are more prevalent in women. If you suffering from mental health problems that come with the territory of being a woman in today's society, help might be required in order to regain a positive frame of mind.
Men and women experience different challenges and many take up different roles in daily life. They also differ biologically and hormonally. This means that they are vulnerable to different psychological and emotional challenges. Women often adopt caring roles. However, nowadays most also juggle careers and busy social lives in addition to care-giving. Women and men are, of course, equal as human beings, but we do still experience rare instances of discrimination and sexism. In terms of physical strength, women biologically are less prone to having muscle mass than men, which can leave us vulnerable to physical or sexual abuse. We are pushed by the media and "society" in general to be concerned about our image and weight. Biologically, we face menstruation, pregnancy, child birth, menopause and aging, all of which have effects on us psychologically. This unique set of factors means that it is important to consider the landscape of challenges facing women as separate and different to men. Only in this way can we understand and try to overcome potentially problematic issues.
When Women’s Issues Become Unhealthy
Women’s issues can become unhealthy and lead to a number of different psychological disorders. For example, the fact that women still continue to adopt caring roles whilst juggling careers and other activities, means that women often suffer from stress and stress related issues. Women can feel overwhelmed and exhausted due to a large number of responsibilities. If women are facing the issues alone, such as in single parent families, these problems are likely to be more severe. In terms of body image, women are much more vulnerable than men. The unrealistic portrayal of women in the media has led us to become overly concerned with our appearance. This can lead to self-esteem and confidence problems. Many women live in fear of aging or gaining weight. This had caused an increase in levels of plastic surgery, and also, more worryingly, eating disorders such as anorexia nervosa and bulimia. Women can feel significant levels of anxiety over these issues. In addition to this, women are sometimes sexually or physically abused, which can have massively detrimental and on-going psychological effects, including post-traumatic stress and serious trust issues. Women’s experience of pregnancy and child birth can be difficult, again because of weight gain issues, but also because of experiences of postpartum or postnatal depression. These issues could be further compounded by anxieties about taking time off work for maternity leave. Women might be worried about their job security and their ability to catch up when they return to work. Fortunately, sexism is now quite rare. However, there are still some instances where women feel unfairly treated because of their gender. If a woman experiences this type of problem, particularly if it is repeated or on-going, she may begin to feel frustrated, hopeless, and depressed. Women can also develop depression because of a constant focus on other people; not focusing enough on their own desires and needs. All of these problems can be damaging to women’s psychological health and relationships.
Effects of Women’s Issues on Other Relationships
If women are suffering from any of the previously mentioned issues, it is likely to have a significant impact on their relationships. Let us now look at several examples of how this can happen. Firstly, if women are experiencing high levels of stress or anxieties it may affect their friendships. They might feel like they do not have time to maintain an active social life and can withdraw socially. Old friendships could be threatened and women are unlikely to meet and make new friends. This is also true if women are experiencing body image issues, they may have low self-esteem and feel unattractive. Again, this might restrict the ability to go out and have fun with friends, because they are worried about feeling self-conscious and unworthy. Such relationships can deteriorate if time is not dedicated to activities and enjoyment with friends. If the woman’s body issues are severe and an eating disorder develops it will also impact upon her familial relationships. She might not have the physical energy to make love to her husband, or to go out and play with her children. People will become concerned for her, but she might reject this and tensions can arise with the people she was previously closest too. If a woman develops depression, her relationships will suffer greatly. Social withdrawal has in many cases been attributed to depression. The affect on women’s relationships can be very negative if her issues and psychological problems go untreated and she does not seek help.
How Therapy Can Help
If any of the issues mentioned here ring a bell with you, it is time to get help and support. Therapists and counselors will not judge. Instead, they will assist you in focusing on your own mental health, and identifying the problems in play. You will be encouraged to talk about your feelings and frustrations; this can be a huge relief for many women. Do not suffer in silence, start your recovery by speaking to a professional therapist or counselor.
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