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WHAT ARE THE CAUSES OF
STRESS IN WOMEN
In today’s society, there is a lot of pressure on women to be good mothers, have successful
careers outside the home, be perfect wives and take care of household chores. According to the
Cleveland Clinic, 70 percent of married women with children work outside of the home. With the
decline in the economy, it’s even more critical that many families have two sources of income to
survive. Overwhelming stress can cause mental health issues such as depression and anxiety
disorders.
Balancing Act
Many women are trying to take on the role of caretaker, housekeeper, taxi/cab driver for their
children and dedicated employee which all require a tough balancing act. Some women who work
outside of the home feel guilty about spending time away from their children and family which can
lead to stress. Some women also feel the effects of stress due to a financial burden placed on them
to pay the mortgage, the utilities, the grocery bill and more. Women who try to balance all of these
roles probably spend less time on themselves, because they don’t want to appear selfish. Without
time spent on reducing stress, women become more stressed.
Powerlessness
Lack of power can become a daily stressor for women. According to the Cleveland Clinic, women
are less likely to feel that they have the power to change their situation. Some women feel stuck in the
lives they are leading and don’t know how to change them. For example, some women aren’t happy
in their marriages, but they know that if they leave, they won’t be able to financially support themselves.
This is one reason that some women stay in abusive relationships.
Hormones
Throughout life, women experience extreme hormonal
changes and imbalances. Women experience menstrual
cycles, hormonal changes while pregnant and menopause.
Many times these hormonal imbalances cause mood swings
and other unpleasant side effects which increase level of
stress.
Significant Life Events
Significant life events are a major cause of stress.
According to Helpguide.org, a nonprofit health resource, the
No.1 cause of stress is the death of a spouse. Because
women live longer than men, they are more likely to
experience stress as a result of being widowed. Marriage is
listed as the No.7 cause. Also, women experience stress
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