Health and wellness should be at the top of everyone’s list, but many women lead busy lives and don’t prioritise themselves to take the time to stay healthy and stay on top of their wellbeing.
Often treated simply as women’s reproductive health, it is important to acknowledge that the unique health needs of women comprises more than just the health of their reproductive organs. The way diseases present in women and how they are diagnosed and treated can be completely different to the presentation and diagnosis in their male counterparts.
Every stage in a woman’s life calls for preventative health care precautions that can lead to early detection of medical problems, and that is why Talktime provides a platform where women can speak to competent specialists online and receive the help they need.
Understanding Women’s Health
Menstrual cycles, pregnancy, birth control, menopause – those are just some of the health concerns unique to women. A number of health issues affect only women, and others are particularly common in women. In order to achieve better health for women, a holistic, comprehensive and life-course approach beyond reproductive health must be adopted – starting with pregnancy and extending through the newborn, childhood, adolescence and ageing periods. Women must be empowered to take care of their health.
Even when it comes to their mental health, in today’s busy world, women tend to slide down their priority lists as a result of their busy lives. Consider, for example, a separated mother who works full-time but still struggles to pay her bills on a monthly basis. This pressure to perform at work and at home, sometimes compounded by the threat of lesser income could make her more susceptible to melancholy, anxiety, and stress – all of which are detrimental to her mental health.
Types Of Mental Health Concerns Among Women
The following are some of the most frequent mental health issues that women face — depression, anxiety, postpartum depression, eating disorders, self-harming behaviours, borderline personality disorder, mood-related and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Depression — Depression isn’t merely a feeling of sadness. A lack of interest and pleasure in daily activities, considerable weight loss or increase, insomnia or excessive sleeping, lack of energy, inability to focus, feelings of worthlessness or excessive guilt, and frequent thoughts of death or suicide are all symptoms of depression.
Anxiety — Anxiety is a state of mind marked by tense feelings, concerned thoughts, and physical symptoms such as elevated blood pressure. Anxiety disorders are characterised by recurrent intrusive thoughts or worries. You may avoid certain situations because they are anxiety-provoking. Physical symptoms such as sweating, trembling, disorientation, or a rapid heartbeat may also be present.
Postpartum Depression — Having a baby is an exciting, joyful, and often anxious time for most women. However, for women suffering from postpartum depression, this can be extremely distressing and stressful. Depression that occurs after or after childbirth is known as postpartum depression. Some of the symptoms of postpartum depression are trouble in sleeping schedules, feelings of worthlessness or guilt, and difficulty bonding with their baby.
Eating Disorders — Eating disorders are behavioural conditions marked by significant and persistent changes in eating habits, as well as disturbing thoughts and emotions. Anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, binge eating disorder are all examples of eating disorders.
Social And Cultural Factors
Women may encounter a number of societal barriers that contribute to a higher risk of mental and physical health concerns, but evolving roles and less focus on gender identity have helped to challenge these prescribed responsibilities. Mentioned below are some of the situations which are socially and culturally confounded:
- Abuse in intimate relationships: Studies have shown that women are more prone to be physically violated by their intimate partner. These abusive situations result in depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, or anxiety. A study conducted found that women who were physically or psychologically abused had critical depressive and anxiety disorders which resulted in attempting to suicide as well.
- Adverse Portrayal Of Society And Media : Images of idealised women in the media may influence perceptions of what women “ought” look like. Several research on women have looked at the relationship between self-esteem/self-worth and media depictions of the feminine “ideal.”
- Sexism And Oppression : Women’s growth, development, and overall well-being can be stifled by prejudice and unequal treatment. Women may be compelled to marry, deprived of basic rights, and barred from certain occupations. Women have traditionally been assigned the tasks of caretakers and nurturers, despite the fact that they are capable of becoming providers, suppliers, nurturers, professionals, or hold a variety of other jobs as well.
What Is Counselling?
Counselling is a type of therapy under the category of ‘talking therapies,’ and it allows people to talk about their difficulties and any tough feelings they are experiencing in a safe space. The term might mean different things to different people, but in general, it refers to a process that people use when they wish to make a change in their lives or simply delve deeper into their thought patterns and emotions.
A counsellor will encourage you to talk about what distresses you so that you can figure out what’s causing it and what your thinking patterns are. They may then work with you to develop a course of action to either assist you in resolving your issues or finding healthy coping mechanisms.
Counselling can provide you with the time and space you need to work through every problem, issue, or concern you may have. Working with an experienced professional allows you to open up about topics that you may be uncomfortable or unwilling to discuss with a loved one or friend.
How Talktime Can Help
If you are experiencing any of the above-mentioned mental health difficulties, it is time to speak with a registered mental health professional or a psychologist about how to manage and treat them.
Communicating effectively with your mental health care provider can help you and your physician make better health decisions. With Talktime, you can seek treatment options that are flexible enough to accommodate a range of counselling approaches, including online counselling which includes audio and video facilities.
Talktime’s mental health professionals are trained and experienced in a variety of mental health issues. You can receive confidential, one-on-one therapy that is designed to put you at ease and support you. Sign up Talktime today and connect with a therapist who can best assist you.
