Women's Mental Health Concerns
Posted: Thursday, August 02, 2007
by Rex Birkmire
Birkmire Behavioral Healthcare, Inc.
A woman faces special challenges as she lives out her life. These challenges start out early on as she develops a sense of who she is and what God’s purposes are for her.
Today, woman are more likely to have a history, often from childhood of physical and sexual abuse. This is associated with the development of eating disorders, P.T.S.D. and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome later in life. Each of these disorders can take years to overcome.
It all begins at menarche. This is usually around the middle school years. These hormonal changes are intertwined with the other aspects of the middle school years for a girl that include severely self-critical attitudes towards oneself and usually a host of severely fickle, critical and cruel “friends". It’s no wonder that most experts would tell you that the middle school years are often the most painful years for a woman.
Our sexual revolution and the post-modern values of our society have furthered the problem with sexual promiscuity, so that sexually transmitted diseases (S.T.D.) are rampant in the teen years. Besides the obvious well-known consequences, there are common, but less well-known consequences of S.T.Ds include Chlamydia induced Pelvic Inflammatory Disease and consequent infertility, as well as Human Papilloma Virus and its various strains that is causing cervical cancer rates to go through the ceiling. When it comes to S.T.D.s there is no equality between males and females. The males suffer few consequences from these two diseases and are often silent carriers.
If the above is not enough, there are the confusing, conflicting social demands and social roles that a woman faces.
And then there the hormones. Lets start with Pre-menstrual Dysphoric Disorder or P.M.D.D.. It affects 3-8% of woman and can last for up to two weeks each menstrual cycle. For up to have of a woman’s life, she can feel severely depressed and anxious because of P.M.D.D.. It makes her miserable and her P.M.D.D. can severely affect her family. Yet, nine out of ten cases are missed by doctors who have had ample opportunity to learn about the disorder and yet still have not. This of course is hormone based as are Post Partum Depression, peri-menopausal and post-menopausal changes that can often lead to severe depressions, severe anxiety disorders, and severe insomnia.
It turns out that hormones act like neuro-transmitters. Estrogen is a triple acting antidepressant. It works like a Prozac, Elavil and Mao-Inhibitor (all antidepressants) in one hormone. Progesterone is like a God-given Valium. Testosterone has antidepressant properties and effects libido. And finally, none of these hormones will work like they are supposed to, even if they are each present in adequate amounts if one’s cortisol levels and rhythms are not right. Given the above, it is no wonder that the rates of depression and anxiety are two-fold higher for woman than men! It doesn’t have to be that way.
There are advanced techniques for hormone management, chronic fatigue, P.T.S.D. and abuse histories.
Rex A. Birkmire, M.D.
Dr. Rex Birkmire is a national speaker who provides over 100 educational programs a year. His experience in general and forensic psychiatry is vast.
Dr. Birkmire trained at Harvard’s Massachusetts Mental Health Center , one of the most prestigious psychiatric residences in the country. He went on to teach as co-director of the Harvard Gaughan fellowship in psychiatry and law, while acting as deputy medical director of the Massachusetts correctional and mental health.
Dr. Birkmire moved to Orlando , Florida in 1998. He served as the associate medical director of Florida Hospital Center for Behavioral Health., where he provided outpatient care, ECT oversight and leadership of over 70 psychiatric beds .He started his own private practice in 2002, Birkmire Behavioral Healthcare, where he treats children, adolescents and adults. Dr. Birkmire has a particular interest and expertise in the area of sensory processing disorders. He is currently writing a book on the medical interventions for SPD.
In addition to his private practice, Dr Birkmire serves as the medical director of Devereux of Florida, a non-profit organization treating severely emotional disturbed children and adolescents.
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