As a sorority sister, you have a lot on your plate. You volunteer, plan, coordinate, and meet, in addition to everything else you handle outside of sorority life.
Unfortunately, when you’re juggling a lot, your mental health can become a low priority. Women face a lot of potential mental health struggles as they balance work, family, education, and more. Let’s talk about some of the mental health struggles that are prevalent among women and ways that we can combat them.
Possible Mental Health Ailments in Women
Being able to recognize and name your mental health struggles can help you get the help you need.Depression
Depression is a mood disorder characterized by persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and loss of interest or pleasure in activities.
Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders, such as generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), social anxiety disorder, and panic disorder, are characterized by excessive worry, fear, and anxiety that interfere with daily functioning. Anxiety disorders can be triggered by hormonal changes, trauma, or chronic stress.
Eating Disorders
Eating disorders, such as anorexia nervosa, bulimia nervosa, and binge-eating disorder, are serious mental health conditions characterized by unhealthy attitudes and behaviors related to food, weight, and body image. Women are more susceptible to developing eating disorders, which can be influenced by societal pressures to attain a certain body size or shape.
Postpartum Depression
As if pregnancy and childbirth weren’t enough on their own, many women find themselves facing postpartum depression after giving birth. Postpartum depression is a type of depression that occurs after childbirth and is characterized by feelings of sadness, anxiety, and exhaustion that interfere with maternal functioning and bonding with the baby. Hormonal fluctuations, sleep deprivation, and changes in identity and role can contribute to postpartum depression in women.
Trauma and PTSD
Women are more likely than men to experience trauma, such as physical or sexual assault, domestic violence, or childhood abuse, which can lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). PTSD is characterized by intrusive memories, nightmares, hypervigilance, and avoidance behaviors related to the traumatic event.
PMDD
Premenstrual dysphoric disorder (PMDD) is a severe case of PMS where, in addition to the physical symptoms your body experiences the week before your period, you also experience severe anxiety, depression, mood swings, and uncontrollable rage. Women who suffer from PMDD can become suicidal.
In addition to mental health diagnoses, women can have strained mental health due to stress. Women often juggle multiple roles and responsibilities, including caregiving, household management, and maintaining relationships with partners, children, and extended family members. Relationship and family stressors, such as marital conflict, parenting challenges, and caregiving responsibilities, can impact women's mental health and well-being.
Women may also face unique stressors in the workplace, including gender discrimination, unequal pay, and balancing work and family responsibilities. Workplace stress and burnout can contribute to mental health struggles such as anxiety, depression, and exhaustion.
Ways to Keep Mentally Healthy
Things that can help your mental health.
Eat a Healthy Diet
You are what you eat. Fueling your body with the nutrients it needs helps you to stay physically healthy, which is linked with being mentally healthy. Your brain needs nutrients, too.
Exercise Every Day
Move your body. Breaking a sweat can help you be physically and mentally in your best shape. Prioritize at least 20 minutes of your favorite form of exercise each day.
Get Enough Sleep
When you don’t get enough sleep, your brain power is one of the first areas to suffer. Inadequate sleep not only affects your cognitive function, but it can be detrimental to your mental health to be missing those Zs.
Set Routines
If your mental health is struggling, doing everyday tasks can be overwhelming. Setting routines can help you go through the motions, even if that’s all you can give that day.
Fit in Stress Relieving Activities
Don’t book your schedule so full you don’t have time to relax and relieve stress. Whether you decompress best with a book and a soak, a leisurely walk, or flexing your creative muscles with some watercolors, find a method to relieve stress that speaks to your soul. Your mind and body need time to relax, rejuvenate, and recharge.
Reach Out
Connections with people you love can be a critical part of staying mentally healthy. Reach out to friends and family. Nurture your relationships with the people that matter most to you. You belong to a sisterhood who will be there for you. Put on your DST apparel and go out for a night on the town with your sisters. The connection you share will buoy you up.
Find a Professional
Mental health struggles can leave you feeling worthless and empty. Sometimes, mental health struggles are too big to be handled on your own. There is no shame in reaching out to mental health professionals for support when needed. Don't hesitate to ask for help or talk openly about your feelings and struggles. You may be prescribed medication to help you get your mental health on the right track. Remember, you're not alone, and there's strength in seeking support from others.
Strengthening Our Sisters
Staying an active member of your sorority can be a source of strength, but at times, it can be demanding and weigh on your mental health. Take time to care for yourself, even in those times when life gets busy.
Recognize that mental health struggles are common among women. Seek support and treatment when needed. By raising awareness, reducing stigma, and providing access to mental health resources and support services, we can better address the mental health needs of women and promote overall well-being. Chances are, you’re not the only one in your chapter who is struggling.
It’s okay to ask for help. If you or someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts, dial 988 to call the suicide and crisis hotline. Your life is valuable, and the world needs your light.