The truth is that while endless books have been written about it, and professionals pontificate at the drop of a hat, no one really knows. One explanation is the artifact theory that says that in fact men and women get equally depressed but that men find it less acceptable to express their emotions, so that it appears that women get more depressed than men. Others believe that women's hormones fluctuate more than mens' and that the root cause is biological. Another theory is that woman in our society often have a lesser quality of life in that they tend to be poorer and often bear a disproportionate share of responsibility for child care and housework. Still other mental health researchers believe that women feel more helpless and out of control in our society and that the resulting lower self esteem leaves them feeling helpless, hopeless and depressed.
Women also tend to blame themselves for perceived failures more often do men.
Whatever the reasons, women and men often go through times when they are so depressed, they simply cannot function. In the rest of this series, we will explore, sign-posts, impact on relationships and cures. Last week, Tipper Gore and Mike Wallace discussed their personal bouts with depression and how they got help. Many other well-known individuals have come forth with their own stories about their depression. It is important to take away the stigma of Big Blues and bring this issue into the open.