The scale of mental health crisis has incredibly widened among young musicians due to their incapability to handle the challenge of multitasking and excessive adulation of the fans. In fact, a number of artists and musicians in recent times have admitted of falling into the dark pit of depression and anxiety after being catapulted to stardom. While speaking on ‘The Dan Wootton Interview’ podcast, Meghan Trainor, a 24-year-old American singer known for her mysterious and bubbly pop hits, spoke candidly about her long battle with anxiety and depression.
Describing her ordeal of dealing with excessive fears and other overwhelming emotions, Trainor confessed getting afflicted by the disorder due to her second vocal cord surgery. While recuperating from the surgery, she went through the dark phase of fears related to the downfall of her singing career, triggering anxiety and depression. The resting period after the surgery pushed her into excessive introspection, which resulted in a panic attack. “I fell into a crazy, deep hole of depression and anxiety,” confessed the ‘All about That Bass’ singer.
Fearing the worst, she preferred confining herself within four walls, and soon her psychological symptoms caused immense physical discomfort. She even had to seek emergency medical attention for breathing problem caused due to panic attack. This was the time when she felt crumbled between her public persona of a lively young musician followed by many and a woman fighting with own inner demons. Though initially embarrassed about her disorders, she was able to overcome her fears through medical intervention and her own personal research on depression.
She went on to reveal that a combination of psychotherapy and self-care made her more comfortable about her condition and cope with them through strategic efforts. “Talking to a therapist teaches you: ‘God, I wasn’t loving myself. I took time off. I took time for me.” added the ‘Dear Future Husband’ hitmaker.
Additional personal and biological risk factors increase risk of depression
Anxiety and depression are the two most commonly occurring mental disorders across the world. While these psychiatric disorders are prevalent across all age population, irrespective of gender, race, etc., their rate of incidence is higher in women due to personal and biological stressors. While women are two to three times more likely than men to develop depression, they are two times more prone than men to anxiety from puberty to the age of 50.
Like any mental disorder, some of the common reasons for developing the disorders can include genetic predisposition, unhealthy lifestyle, environmental stressors, side effects of prescription drugs, self-medication, traumatic experiences and substance abuse. As mentioned earlier, women witness additional risk factors compared to men, which are as follows:
- Puberty: The stage involves a series of hormonal changes and mood swings that can potentially trigger depression and anxiety. As a result, the rate of suffering from depression and other associated psychiatric disorders in adolescent girls is higher than their male counterparts. Also, because girls reach puberty earlier than boys, they are more likely to develop depression and anxiety at a younger age.
- Premenstrual problems: Common among women, premenstrual syndrome (PMS) leads to abdominal bloating, breast tenderness, headache, anxiety, irritability and mood swings. These symptoms occur due to the cyclical changes in estrogen, progesterone and other hormones. Although these symptoms are short-lived, they can significantly affect the function of the brain chemicals like serotonin, responsible for regulating mood, social behavior, appetite, sleep, etc.
- Pregnancy: It is a crucial stage in every woman’s life and also involves changes in terms of hormones and physical attributes. These changes when further clubbed with alternations in lifestyle, eating habits and sleeping pattern can increase the risk of developing depression and anxiety.
Seek treatment to snap out of mental illness
Apart from aforementioned factors, depression and anxiety can also occur due to traumatic experiences, such as sexual abuse, violence, abortion, etc. Since women go through a number of life-changing events that lead to vital social and biological changes, it becomes imperative to ensure adequate care to women during such crucial phases. If left untreated, mental illnesses can lead to the development of chronic mental health conditions and suicidal ideations.
If you or your loved one is suffering from any mental illness, get in touch with Anxiety Treatment Advisors of Colorado for information on anxiety treatment advisors near you. Call at our 24/7 helpline number 866-891-2539 or chat online with our experts to connect with the excellent anxiety disorders treatment center in your vicinity.