Why do women suffer more from anxiety and depression than men?

[ManHater]

Could someone tell me why is it that women are more likely to suffer from anxiety or depression more than men? Is it because of society? I don't understand why... is it in the brain or what?

[CrimsonAngel09]

"Is it because of society?"

For me, yes. Because of being bullied for looks by the boys at school, I developed depression, anxiety, and body dysmorphia as a teenager and self-harmed from 2007 to 2020. I didn't even get help until April this year because I finally had the courage to go to a Doctor. I'm currently taking 5MG of Buspirone mainly for anxiety.

One may ask, "why did it take so long?"

Short answer, there's a lot of judgement, and I heard it all.

• Other people have it worse than you.
• Exercise, you'll immediately be happy if you lose more weight.
• Pray to God, you'll immediately be happy.

When Chester Beddington committed suicide, I remember one comment saying he was rich and had no reason to be depressed.

In a 1959 interview of depression, one guy said it best and his quotes stuck with me:

"The worst part of Hell is not the flames, but the hopelessness."

"Everything is black. There's nothing cheerful in anything. All I could see was death. For instance, I'd say what's the use of getting up, what's the use of eating, I'm only gonna die someday, anyway. What's the use of doing anything? Because it's pointless. It's all gonna end in death. Whether I arrange to do it to myself or whether I just sit it out."

My own Hell?

Well since being bullied especially by the guys at school, I started comparing myself to the perfect girls. Eventually thanks to the internet and fashion magazines, compared myself to them as well. Even on GAG, most if not all guys want that perfect woman because that's what society told them is the most beautiful woman.

Almond shaped eyes? Check.

Lush lips? Check.

Hourglass figure? Check.

Small perky breasts? Check.

Long slender legs? Check.

Flat stomach? Check.

Pearly white teeth? Check.

Then there's me.

Almond shaped eyes? Nope, weird round ones.

Lush plump lips? Nope, small bow shaped ones.

Hourglass figure? There's something there.

Small, perfectly round perky breasts? Nope, saggy ones that go sideways when I lay down. I have four self-harm scars on my breasts when I saw a woman on Quora topless with small perky boobs.

Long slender legs? Nope, thick and short at 5'0". Also some cellulite there.

Flat stomach? Nope, a little chubby belly.

Pearly white teeth? Some crowding and a tiny bit yellow. It's why I never smile.

Also my face has acne scars from having bad acne when I was a teen, making my face just look like shit.

If you’re not skinny and even just have thick legs with a flat stomach, you're immediately labeled fat. I've even seen a post a few days ago on here of a woman in a bikini with a thick body but flat stomach, and an Anon told her she was fat.

WHERE? She already has a flat stomach.

Because of the CONSTANT guys on here, Quora, the people who run fashion magazines, I 100% hate myself. They're just shoving perfection down our throats to the point where we're choking on it.

It's like what Tony says in Shallow Hal, society is telling you what's beautiful and what isn't with magazines, T. V., etc..

It sucks, REALLY sucks.

[provokeesmokee]

Issues women have faced that men have not:

• Women were not initially considered "people"
• Women could not normally own land or assets (rare cases had widows inherit their late husband's estates)
• Women did not have voting rights
• Women to this day are underrepresented in medical science - most medical studies were and are conducted on white men 18-45
• Women in many US states no longer have access to abortion

Those aren't everything. Just a quick thirty second list.


Women have not only suffered and continue to suffer more than men, but the very institutions they must engage with to address their suffering are male-centric and male-foucused. Not to mention male dominated.


Even when women do receive help or aid, they're met with both men who put them on pedestals and men who blame them for (the man's) problems.


Not to mention the later stage issues the male dominated medical research creating dosage issues because female bodies are different from male bodies.


It's kinda natural a group more oppressed and embattled than men would have higher rates of anxiety and depression.


Not to mention that there's more risk of both following childbirth and cismen can't birth kids, so that's an entire category of mental illness that cismen just CAN'T get.


Of course numbers are worse for women.

[Alltheflowers84]

Spot on! This is so true.

[Vegasrunner]

@provokeesmokee I mean African Americans were not
- considered people
- could not own land
- Did not have voting rights
- Are under represented I. Medical studies
- Have never had access to abortion
Not to mention currently women enjoy every right a man has plus have other rights men don't have. Can you name a right that men in the Western world have that women dont?

[provokeesmokee]

@Vegasrunner

Correct! And they are likewise suffering disproportionately.

You're proving my point.

[Vegasrunner]

@provokeesmokee Gotcha so you're saying that any AA that doesn't suffer from depression is exceptional?

[provokeesmokee]

No, but considering 80% of American adults (probably increased since COVID), they're definitely in the minority.

It has nothing to do with race, either.

It's just legit rare to not have some sort of mental illness - sometimes it's something that can be resolved, other times it's a lifetime thing.

I don't know why you're bringing race into this. The question is based on gender.

[Vegasrunner]

@provokeesmokee Tbe question may be however your answer opens up some obvious questions. If you're going to make the claim that women suffer more from anxiety and depression because of these specific factors, the logical question would be since they are not the only ones that suffer from these factors, do others who do suffer from depression. If the answer is yes as u said then the next logical question is what does that make those that don't suffer from these things. If the answer is no, then obviously those factors don't contribute to anxiety and depression.

[provokeesmokee]

Well, good thing I did agree and yeah, African Americans who face similar issues do also suffer from the same.

Almost like environmental and circumstance factors impact mental health numbers.

Because they do.

[D_Bone_Steak]

Because they're more emotional in my opinion. I run into some fucked up shit, I'll say and point out it's fucked up, but I just recognize exactly why said fucked up thing was done and move from there.

With chicks... OMG there has to be a bunch of emotional aspects and shit attached to it every fucking time! It's like they fail to realize humans are selfish af, and anyone will let you down on a long enough timeline. They seem like it's really hard for them to decern from those that will do it on the regular and not even feel bad about it, or someone that accidentally does it through a moment of pressure or bad decision making.

I'll put it like this... on this site, how many chicks ask "What did he mean by bla bla bla?" when us dudes just respond with "He probably just meant exactly what he said." They attach a bunch of possible meanings and "stuff" onto regular mundane shit. I swear they just overthink everything with an emotional edge if that makes sense.

[inhua]

many of them get black-pilled when their lives are not what they expected

Twilight and Cinderella are only fairytales

most men are not Prince Charming or Edward Cullen, too many unattractive men existing to contaminate the gene pool

women are born naturally to want and seek out perfection and a fantasy utopia. men obliged to make this dream come true by killing off the snakes, spiders, sharks and unwanted men while saving kittens, puppies, dolphins and wanted women

the internet and TV gives them a false impression every man out there looks like Ryan Gosling and every woman out there looks like Margot Robbie (or at least that's what is to be expected) so of course they'd be depressed when this isn't case

[Smashingdoozy]

Yes society plays a role, there are a lot more societal pressures thrown at women. If you don't conform to social norm as a women you get ridiculed.

It's just harder to do anything as a woman. Constantly looking over your shoulder. Being degraded. Having to work twice as hard as your male counterparts. Being denied promotions because you might want kids, but also shamed if you don't want kids.

There's also hormones to factor in, including the use of hormonal contraceptives which increase your likelihood of experiencing depression and anxiety and 64% of women use contraceptives.

[KrakenAttackin]

Men have more than three times the suicide rate of women. The difference is women are allowed to be sad and depressed, even though they live life on easy mode. Men have to keep moving and producing no matter what.

Women get a pity party. Men get prison or death.

[Smashingdoozy]

Men are more likely to use more violent methods of suicide which is more likely to get the job done. Even at women's worst, darkest moments we are worried about how other people will think of us, and not wanting to be too much of a burden to whoever finds us, so women go for more "pretty" methods of suicide which have a higher chance of not succeeding. Women attempt suicide 2-3 times more than men.

[OlderAndWiser]

What is the basis for your claim? I think that women are more likely to talk about their feelings, and to seek treatment for anxiety and depression, so it conveys a false impression that those things are more prevalent among women.

[Alli39]

Well partly because far more men go undiagnosed (because they're also way less likely to seek help and get a diagnosis) so it's hard to tell if that assumption is even all that accurate.

[_SillyShoes_]

Society and the way the where raised - most definitely.

[WhitneySnow]

I’m not sure but I know I sometimes suffer from anxiety and depression. I can’t really generalize though.

[Anonymous]

do you not see how society treats us? and god forbid you're over the age of 25, then you're basically trash lol.

[Apple1996]

Life is harder for women. We go through more struggles than men do

[inhua]

physically yes and the mental handicaps that come from the psychology of knowing one's physical disadvantages but that's about it.

everything else favors women over men from a higher expectation/burden of performance, guilty until proven innocent, disposable and expendable lives and being told to shut up about men's issues etc.

[Apple1996]

@inhua there are a lot of things that don't favor women. Think about all the men constantly talking about how it's fine to use and abuse women for their body, looks, fertility, sex. Not seeing women as actually humans with a personality and a soul. Like Itd be slightly easier to be a man since at least y'all get viewed in our society as a human and not just something to be used. Not saying y'all don't have it rough in life cuz y'all do but it's just different type of rough then what women go through.

[inhua]

I don't know which men constantly talk about this though there are men who via actions do this but otherwise it's not men's instinct to want to use women that way much less see women in their life that way like their wife, mother, daughter etc.

the power therefore would lie in the women on how they portray themselves to the public. dressing modestly will invite different thoughts and reactions as opposed to dressing provocatively as does their sexual history

[Apple1996]

@inhua like 95% of the men on this site talk like that. And why would we have to dress a certain way for men to see us as a person? It shouldn't be that way

[inhua]

you might not like it but at least they're being honest. perhaps the provocatively dressed woman is actually good wife material and the modestly dressed woman is being a fake. nobody knows but first impressions are important and judging is a natural instinct in all humans whether it's judging a book by its cover, a car by its aesthetics, a room by its cleanliness etc.

men face the judgement too from women and other men. men can't walk around wearing dresses and skirts without 95% of people looking down on them.

[Apple1996]

@inhua judging someone by how they look is really messed up. You can't tell who a person is by how they look. It's better to get to know them before judging.


And I don't know it's 2023 most people wouldn't think much about a man wearing a dress

[inhua]

people might not say anything but they aren't thinking positively about a man wearing a dress

[Kingofkings1992]

Women have it way easier than men. 😂

[Apple1996]

@Kingofkings1992 in what way do women have it easier?

[Kingofkings1992]

@Apple1996 dating is easier for women. Men have to have some social value and put in work to have a partner. Where as all women have to do is exist, and they often have options to choose from. Women can approach the opposite sex without being seen as creepy. Women can show their emotions and have moments of mental weakness without having to worry about judgment. They can be financially supported by the opposite sex, without shame or judgment. Women are often shown leniency by authority figures simply for being attractive. Female waitresses can often get fatter tips than males simply for being attractive. Women are very often given easier sentencing for committing the same crime as men. Now, I’m not saying women don’t face any difficulties because they do, but that’s part of human existence. Societal expectations without question expect more of men.

[Kingofkings1992]

One last thing, marriage and divorce favor women astronomically more than it does men.

[Apple1996]

@Kingofkings1992 we have to exist to be used. It's not a fun life getting used by men. Being financially dependent on a man is also bad. Lots of financial abuse happens to women.
And wtf marriage is purely to benefit men. That's the reason why so many women choose to divorce because they are getting nothing out of the relationship

[inhua]

women file for divorce because men can't afford to file for divorce, not when he has to lose half his assets, loses half his finances, loses custody of his kids, has to pay alimony, has to pay child support

marriage was made specifically to benefit women so she would get a man's full protection and provision for herself and her kids. the only issue is only 20% of men are deemed attractive and the rest are not and the ones shackled with an unattractive man are the ones who are unhappy

[dolemite58]

how is a stay at home mom such a delusional feminist at the same time? 🤦‍♂️ Men are the expendable ones that have to do all the dangerous and difficult jobs women won't do. A man can stay home and watch the kids if need be, you’d crumble if you had to go do our jobs though.

[Apple1996]

@dolemite58 I'm not a feminist. And staying at home is way harder than working. It's a never ending job. Men run our society. If it was so easy and relaxing to stay home they would have chosen to take that job and make women work.
My husband stayed home for 3 months after I had the baby and was happy to go back to work since it was less stress then being home lol
He's actually in therapy right now cause of how bad it was on his mental health

[dolemite58]

any job you can do in your pajamas is not a hard job 😂 and men are in the upper positions of society but we also do all the grunt work like trashmen and brick layers. “they would have chosen that job and make women work?” you are delusional 😂 and just because ur husband doesn’t have a job you deem stressful and demanding doesn’t mean most guys are in the same boat, you wouldn’t last a day at my work.

[Apple1996]

@dolemite58 do you even know what my husband does for work? Lol he probably has one of the most difficult jobs out there. And even with that job he still gets breaks, time off and gets paid for it. Being a mom I get none of those things

[msc545]

It is a common misconception that women experience emotions more intensely than men. However, women are typically more receptive and comfortable with expressing their emotions and feelings..

[Friendlybro79]

There are plenty of articles that address studies to answer this.

[DextroShade]

It's because more of them are alone and from broken homes. Women are not designed to live alone so it causes problems for them.

[Sharkstealth]

I'm very depressed right now most of the time because I can't seem to pick up women and prostitution is illegal. I hope it ends soon.

[CrimsonAngel09]

🙄🙄🙄

[Anonymous]

We are more emotional overall and therefor more sensitive to our surroundings

[Kingofkings1992]

That’s not true. Men are far more likely to die by suicide. Society as a whole is much more receptive of women’s mental health problems than they are men’s.

[Anonymous]

Because if you're a woman society coddles you. If you are a man they say "suck it up". Women just are simply allowed to feel these things, men are not.

[SolitarySolace]

Men do we just don't discuss it or else we are mocked and made fun of.

[MissBoogus]

I’m not sure I think it’s in my brain , probably from childhood

[BrookeS]

Because we have to deal with a bunch of stuff

[Imsmurter1]

Actually I read men suffer more anxiety and depression.

[RoseySarah]

Cause we complain about it more!

[exitseven]

probably not but guys will not admit it

[jahaims]

Any evidence for this claim?

[ladysu]

It could be because we think too much

[Jmmmfi4]

Shit... im racked with it