In today's society, there is a lot of pressure on women to be good mothers, have successful careers outside of 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 for their children and dedicated employee which can be 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 levels of stress. These experiences, however, can cause 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 during happy events such as planning a wedding and having a baby.
Daily Stressors
Depending on how a woman copes with stress, daily stressors may be a noteworthy cause of stress. Daily stressors include such annoyances as receiving an unexpected bill in the mail, locking your keys in your car, popping a tire, a child throwing a temper tantrum and getting into an argument with a spouse. Some women learn to cope in healthy ways with these daily stressors through meditating, taking a bubble bath or practicing yoga.
