Women wear many hats – career women, caregivers, mothers, wives, daughters, friends, etc. These roles are essential to our society; thus, women are expected to always do good work to perfection. Managing multiple functions may take a toll on women – not only in terms of the physical aspect but also in mental health. Most times, because of these unrealistic expectations, women lose sight of their needs. According to the Anxiety & Depression Association of America, women are nearly twice as likely as men to develop an anxiety disorder in their lifetime. In fact, research shows that the prevalence of anxiety disorder for females is higher than for males.

Regarding mental health for women, it is important to point out that women have different issues than men. Research has also shown that women are much more prone to psychological problems due to differences in the brain structure. Not to mention the pressures that society is putting on their shoulders.

So, how can women take care of their mental health better? Here are four ways.

Do Something You Love

As women, basic needs come first, but it’s not so wrong to treat yourself from time to time. When we talk about self-care, it may mean different things. It can be anything – it can range from doing some chores you like, whether it’s cooking or washing your sheets, to taking some time doing fun activities like walking in the park or watching a film. It’s allowing yourself to just be you and giving yourself permission to focus on what your mind and body are telling you to do, which is to take a break.

Spend time with Friends

Friendship is one of the greatest gifts anyone could ever have. While your spouse or your family could give you a life of happiness, faithful friends provide a special kind of love and strength. Spending time with friends is important, especially when things become too overwhelming. Long-lasting friendships help build resiliency or the ability to cope with stress and other mental health challenges. One research has also shown that more than any different kind of relationship, friendship has the most significant impact on a person’s life expectancy.

Exercise

Physical activities like exercise not only make our physical bodies stronger and healthier, but it’s also a key to keeping our minds healthy. It can also be a good form of distraction and regulates breathing, as well as improve circulation, which helps calm the nerves and could promote healthy sleep patterns.

Live in the Moment

So much of the world has conditioned us to focus on the wrong things, and one of the ways to get out of this mindset is by practicing Mindfulness. Mindfulness is a state of mind where an individual’s ability to be fully present at the moment is harnessed. Practicing this mindset allows a person to become completely live in the moment and not feel overwhelmed, which is something that women should really take time to equip themselves with.

 

Written by Sheena Javier

Ingalhalikar, M., Smith, A., Parker, D., Satterthwaite, T. D., Elliott, M. A., Ruparel, K., Hakonarson, H., Gur, R. E., Gur, R. C., & Verma, R. (2013). Sex differences in the structural connectome of the human brain. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 111(2), 823–828. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1316909110

‌Women and Anxiety | Anxiety and Depression Association of America, ADAA. (2019). Adaa.org. https://adaa.org/find-help-for/women/anxiety

‌5 Ways Women Can Improve Their Mental Health – Orlando Health – One of Central Florida’s Most Comprehensive Healthcare Networks. (n.d.). Www.orlandohealth.com. Retrieved October 27, 2022, from https://www.orlandohealth.com/content-hub/5-ways-women-can-improve-their-mental-health#:~:text=A%20healthy%20lifestyle%20will%20improve

‌Why women need to make mental health a priority. (2019, January 7). YourStory.com. https://yourstory.com/2019/01/women-need-make-mental-health-priority/amp