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Anything He Can Do, I Can Do Better...

10/14/2014

10 Comments

 
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Women are amazing creatures, if I do say so myself. We can be mothers, sisters, daughters, homemakers, career women, worry warts, and chauffeurs. And usually, we are doing at least three at the same time. We are busy, busy things, always going a million miles a minute. Even when it looks like we are zombied out.

We are never zombied out, by the way. NEVER.

As busy as we are in today's day and age, we do not have time for nonsense. We don't have time to be sick. We don't have time to be depressed.

So why is it that women are more than twice as likely to suffer from a mental illness?

Just isn't fair is it? So why are we cursed to deal with mental illness on top of it?

Sadly, it's because we are women. That is, in fact, one of the biggest contributing factors.

What exactly causes women to be prewired for mental illnesses? Several things. At the top of the list is our hormones. Hormones can be blamed for just about every weird and icky thing we go through. Hormones suck, and we are doomed to wrestle with them until we die.  It starts with puberty, then with pregnancy, and then menopause. It never ends.

Women are also pre-programmed to think. A lot. Too much even. But that's how we are wired. We are programmed to worry about ourselves, our parents, our husbands, our children, our jobs, everything. It's through all this thinking and worrying that our brain goes caput. Our brain short circuits a bit and we end up with a mental illness.

What goes hand in hand with worrying and thinking all the time? Stress. So. Much. Stress. Not only are we constantly on the go and always running our brains on high speed, there are many expectations that society has placed on us. Not only are we working just like our male-counterparts, but we are also expected to take on the brunt of raising the kids, the housework, and keeping everyone else on schedule. Like I said before, busy, busy, busy.

You want to know the number one reason women are more likely to suffer from a mental illness than men? Because we get help.

That's right. So simple, huh?

Yup, We have a higher mental illness rate because we go in, talk to a doctor, and get the help we need. Men are programmed to be strong, brave, and stone cold to emotions. So when they start showing signs of a mental illness, they don't say anything. They stay tight lipped. Men are more likely to abuse substances before they go and get help for a mental illness.

Crazy right?

But all of this is important. It's important to know what can cause these things. When you know what can naturally set things in motion. It's also gives you the jump on preventing a mental illness from creeping up on you.

Women are, unfortunately, programmed to handle all of this. It may not seem like it, but we a naturally more susceptible to mental health problems, so we are also better equipped than the men in our lives to overcome it. You can also take comfort in knowing that you are not alone. You are in good company. You are struggling with millions of other women (and a few good men) with mental illnesses.

We really do need to make jackets...

10 Comments
Megan Kubasch link
10/15/2014 02:14:33 am

This is so true. I think that the reality is that men and women suffer from mental issues at about the same rate. But the point that you brought out (that women get help) is the difference. I suffer from debilitating depression, and I just recently started seeing a therapist. I have noticed such an amazing improvement in myself and my depression, I feel that everyone should go through therapy at some point in their life. I would love for my husband to see a therapist, but I know that he NEVER will because of the stigma that men are supposed to be strong, and that he doesn't really need to talk about "stuff like that." Oh well. I'll just have to do my best to convey what I learn to him and hope that it rubs off :) Stopping in from Hump Day Happenings

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Maniac Mom
10/16/2014 01:44:01 am

Yes! Keep talking about how much better you feel because you started going to therapy. Don't suggest it for him, but just play it up! Eventually, he'll come up with the idea on his own!

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Brandyn Blaze link
10/15/2014 03:33:48 am

Beautifully written! I suffer from anxiety and depression and for a long, long time I kept putting off getting help, thinking it was all just the stress of being a woman. Soon I learned that my reactions were more than just stress. Being brought up to think that women can handle it all it was very hard for me to get the help I needed. Now I'm learning to ask for help when I need it instead of shouldering all the burden, a lesson I wished I'd learned much sooner!

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Maniac Mom
10/16/2014 01:45:42 am

I had the same problem. I'm a very independent person, so asking for help in any capacity (even before kids) was physically painful. After having a relapse of my mental illnesses, I realized the pain of depression/anxiety was worse than the pain of asking for help.

I'm glad you finally broke that barrier down and are feeling better!

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Ray link
10/15/2014 03:49:30 am

You have made an excellent point in that we have higher numbers of female reported mental illness. Our society deems that the man can't have mental issues, he is the tough one. Case in point even though the Army says we will give you help, it is still frowned upon. Yet so many give so much, and need our help but are afraid. Fear drives them to not seek the help to make them whole again. Very sad.

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Maniac Mom
10/16/2014 01:48:01 am

It's true. My cousin actually suffers from severe PTSD after being in the Marine's for years and serving two tours oversees (Iraq and Afghanistan). It's painful watching him struggle with this on his own. He hasn't gotten to the point where he even thinks it's a possibility.

I hope the military starts to realize that they need to actually help more with this rather than just say they will.

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Ray link
10/16/2014 03:17:50 am

I think it should be mandatory after deployment is over. It is when a police officer fires his gun. Why not for our guys coming home.

Jennifer | The Deliberate Mom link
10/15/2014 10:48:38 am

Very well written and so true! I suffer from anxiety. Not run-of-the-mill anxiety but really tough to manage sometimes anxiety.

I feel for the men of society who have mental illness. Mental illness seems "acceptable" for women but men are often ostracized and considered a threat to society if they have mental illness.

There needs to be support and awareness, regardless of gender, that mental illness is serious and needs to be treated like any other illness.

Thanks for sharing.
xoxo

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Maniac Mom
10/16/2014 01:49:29 am

It's more understandable for a woman to have a mental illness than a man. And it is sad. I can hardly wait for the day to come where that changes. I know so many people around the world will start living better lives because of it!

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Jenna @ A Savory Feast link
10/19/2014 11:26:17 pm

This was a very insightful post. I never thought about how women are so much more susceptible to mental illness. Definitely makes you think about ways you can stay healthy and de-stress more often. Thanks for sharing with Hump Day Happenings.

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    Maniac Mom

    My name is Kristen and I suffer from Borderline Personality Disorder. This is my hysterical journey as a mom of two dealing with life twists and turns while trying to not let my "crazy" get too out of hand. I strive to be a happily depressed mom.
    Grab a cup of coffee or a shot of vodka and bask in the mania!

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