Women's Mental Health | Baylor Scott & White Health

Understanding women’s mental health over a lifetime

When you have good mental health, you can enjoy all life has to offer. You may perform better at work and your relationships will likely be stronger and more fulfilling. At Baylor Scott & White, all our primary care and women’s health providers are dedicated to helping you live well every day.

Two women sitting outside on a fall day, smiling and engaging in a conversation about women’s menta

Depression

Depression is the most common mental health condition in women. It affects twice as many women in their lifetimes than men and can occur for many reasons, from your family history to your hormones and brain chemistry. However, many women can overcome depression with treatment.

Anxiety

Women experience anxiety twice as much as men do. The types of anxiety that women are likely to experience include:

Generalized anxiety disorder: Constant worrying or feelings of dread that disrupt your daily life
Panic disorder: Sudden periods of intense fear even though you aren’t in danger
Phobias: Fear of situations, spaces or objects that pose no real threat
Social anxiety: Feelings of extreme anxiety around social situations and interactions with others

As with depression, you can find relief from anxiety with professional help.

Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

Women are twice as likely as men to develop PTSD. Although often associated with traumatic events such as war, PTSD can also occur after physical and sexual trauma, natural disasters, car accidents, and other significant, upsetting events.

A mental health professional can help you process a traumatic event and address your unique PTSD symptoms.

Woman with post-traumatic stress disorder sitting on a couch, gazing off-camera with her hands near

Eating disorders

The vast majority of people with eating disorders are women. These conditions, which often run in families, focus on food restriction (anorexia nervosa and avoidant restrictive food intake disorder), binge eating, and binging and purging (bulimia).

Treatments can help you address an eating disorder by focusing on your eating habits and moods and by addressing related or underlying causes.

Woman slicing a banana to make a smoothie in a well-lit kitchen

Postpartum depression

According to the Office on Women’s Health, postpartum depression affects approximately 1 in 8 new mothers during the year after childbirth.

Many women try to hide symptoms of postpartum depression, feeling embarrassed or ashamed, but seeing a mental health professional who specializes in postpartum depression can help you feel better, as well as help keep your baby healthy.

Woman experiencing postpartum depression gently holding her newborn in her arms

Fertility and mental health

Struggling with infertility can cause women and men alike to experience anxiety, depression and grief. Roughly half of all women experiencing infertility develop depression.

Seeking help could improve your mental wellness and your chances of conceiving. Research has shown that women with infertility-related depression are less likely to seek out infertility care.

Body image and mental health

Many women feel self-conscious about how they look, and women are more likely than men to struggle with body image issues. Having a negative body image can increase the risk of developing an eating disorder or depression, and it can lead to body dysmorphic disorder, a serious but treatable mental illness.

Menopause

Certain mental health conditions that impact women are related to changes in hormone levels, and menopause is no exception. You may notice symptoms of depression during perimenopause, the months and years leading up to menopause. Sometimes, these symptoms are caused by hormone fluctuations but can also be caused by life events.

Talk to your women’s health specialist if you’re feeling depressed. Medications, talk therapy and hormone therapy may help.

Woman going through menopause riding a bike with her husband jogging alongside her on a cool, sunny

Our women’s mental health services

At Baylor Scott & White, you can access many mental healthcare treatment options and services. These include:

Biofeedback

This treatment aims to teach you to better manage automatic body functions, such as breathing, heart rate and muscle tension.

Your biofeedback therapist attaches sensors to your body that detect bodily changes, such as pulse or brain-wave patterns. Your mental health specialist can help you identify these changes and learn appropriate ways to react.

Find a location near you

At Baylor Scott & White, you have access to compassionate, expert care for a wide range of mental health issues. We help you find care at a location that fits your needs. We offer several locations across North and Central Texas.

Baylor Scott & White Behavioral Health Services at The Star

3800 Gaylord Pkwy Ste 820, Frisco, TX, 75034