Experts reveal what destroys the female psyche

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According to studies, twice as many women – approximately one in eight during their lifetime – struggle with depression compared to men.

Hormonal fluctuations. Scientists have found that before puberty, boys and girls have the same rates of depression, and after that, the level of depression in girls doubles. According to scientists, women's psyche is more strongly affected by hormonal fluctuations. In men, the level of the main sex hormone testosterone does not change much throughout life – after puberty it remains approximately the same, only gradually decreasing starting at the age of 40.

For women, there are dramatic fluctuations in the sex hormones estrogen and progesterone. In particular, a lack of estrogen negatively affects the functioning of the female brain, as it helps women produce feel-good chemicals such as serotonin. Up to 20 percent of women during menopause report bouts of depression due to the dramatic drop in estrogen levels.

Menopause.Ferhat Uddin, a doctor specializing in menopause, said that when women stop menstruating, their mood-boosting hormones drop significantly until their brains can adjust to menopause. Women also have higher levels of a brain protein called monoamine oxidase. This lowers serotonin levels, which are responsible for feeling good and having a good mood.

Seasonal depression. It is four times more common in women than in men in the winter. This is due to a lack of sunlight, which stimulates the production of serotonin, which women already have lower levels of.

Insomnia. According to a review published in the journal Philosophical Transactions, women are 40% more likely to suffer from insomnia than men. Their tendency to sleeplessness is also influenced by the ups and downs of hormones. Sleep problems, in turn, wreak havoc on women's psyches.

Inflammation. According to the journal Current Psychiatry Reports, women are more prone to brain inflammation than men. This contributes to their susceptibility to depression and dementia.