Debunking 6 Common Myths About Women’s Mental Health

Like most women, you’ve probably lost count of the number of times you’ve heard “you’re being too emotional” or “it’s just hormones” or even had your doctor dismiss mental health symptoms as “just a part of being a woman.” These myths aren’t just annoying (and infuriating!), they can be dangerous because they keep women from reaching out for support.

What you’ll learn about in this article: 

Despite more people talking about mental health these days, harmful myths about women still exist and stop women from getting the help they deserve. Here, I clear up six common misunderstandings using the latest research and my real experiences from over 30 years of helping women with their mental health.

Today, I want to talk about six myths I hear over and over again in my practice. I’ll share what the research actually says, along with real experiences from my years of working with Australian and multicultural women. Most importantly, I want you to know that if you’re struggling, your feelings are valid and help is available.

Myth 1: Hormones are the main cause of mental health issues in women

Have you ever shared a genuine concern only to be told “you’re just being hormonal”? I’ve heard this so many times — both in my practice and in my own life — and it never fails to make me frustrated.

Here’s what’s really going on: Yes, hormones do affect how you feel, but they’re just one piece of a much bigger picture. When someone blames everything on hormones, they’re missing so much of what might actually be going on in your life.

Recent numbers from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (2023) show that women’s mental health is shaped by many different things working together:

• Life pressures — too many balls in the air, unfair treatment at work, looking after everyone else, relationship stress 
• What you’ve been through — difficult experiences, big life changes, ongoing worry 
• Your body — your genes, hormone changes, underlying (and often undiagnosed) health problems, e.g. vitamin deficiencies 
• Your world — having people who care about you, feeling financially secure, being part of a community

What I see in my practice: So many women come to see me after being told their anxiety or sadness is “just hormonal.” When we really talk about what’s happening, we usually find things like work stress, relationship problems, or painful experiences they haven’t had a chance to work through.

Yes, hormone changes can make these feelings worse, like during your period, pregnancy, or menopause. But treating only the hormones is like putting a band-aid on a broken arm. You need to look at the whole picture.

The Beyond Blue’s research on women’s mental health backs this up. They found that the best treatment looks at everything that’s affecting you, not just your hormones.

If someone has dismissed your mental health concerns as “just hormones,” I want you to know that you deserve better. Your feelings matter, and there are people who will take them seriously.

Myth 2: Women are more emotional, so they’re more likely to have mental health issues

This myth makes me so sad because I see how it hurts women every day. I’ve worked with countless women who’ve learned to hide their feelings because they’re scared of being called “unstable” or “too much.”

Here’s the truth: Being able to express your emotions is actually healthy, not a sign of mental illness. And the idea that women are “more emotional” misses the real story.

Research shows that women and men just handle emotions differently:

• Women often talk about their feelings and ask for help (which is healthy!) 
• Men often keep feelings inside or show them through actions rather than words  
• Both ways are normal when they’re working well 
• Problems happen when you can’t express emotions at all, or when they become overwhelming

What I notice with my clients: The women who struggle the most are often those who’ve spent years hiding or repressing their emotions. I regularly see successful, strong women who come to me with anxiety or depression after years of pushing down their feelings to seem “professional” or “put-together.”

Here’s something interesting: the latest mental health numbers from 2023 show that while women ask for help more often, men and women actually have mental health struggles at pretty similar rates. Women are just better at knowing when they need support.

If you’ve ever been made to feel bad for having emotions, please know this: your feelings are information or messages. They’re telling you something important about what you need. Don’t let anyone shame you for being human.

Myth 3: Postnatal depression is just ‘baby blues’

This myth breaks my heart because I’ve seen how dangerous it can be. I’ve worked with so many new mums who suffered in silence because everyone kept telling them what they were feeling was “normal” when it really wasn’t. (Not to mention the “perfect lives” we see of “mummy influencers” on social media making us all feel like we’re failing.) 

The real difference: Baby blues and postnatal depression are completely different experiences. One is tough but normal, the other is a serious condition that needs proper help.

Baby blues (hard but normal): 

• Happens to most new mums (about 8 out of 10) 
• Starts a few days after birth 
• Goes away within about two weeks 
• You might feel weepy, worried, or overwhelmed 
• You can still look after yourself and your baby

Postnatal depression (needs professional help): 

• Happens to about 1 in 5 new mums, according to PANDA (2024) 
• Can start during pregnancy or anytime in the first year 
• Lasts longer than two weeks 
• Makes it really hard to cope with daily life and bond with your baby

A story from my practice: I’ll never forget Steph (not her real name), who struggled for months because everyone — including some health professionals — told her she was just experiencing baby blues. By the time she came to see me, she was having scary thoughts about hurting herself and couldn’t feel connected to her baby. She felt like a terrible mother.

With the right support, Steph made a full recovery and went on to have a beautiful relationship with her child. But those lost months were heartbreaking for her whole family.

If you’re a new mum and you’re struggling, please don’t let anyone brush off your concerns. You know your own experience better than anyone else. Signs you need help right away include:

• Feeling sad or hopeless for more than two weeks 
• Having trouble connecting with your baby 
• Thoughts about harming yourself or your baby 
• Panic attacks or severe worry 
• Not being able to look after yourself or your baby

You’re not weak, you’re not failing, and you’re definitely not alone. Help is available, and you deserve to feel well.  Click here to learn more about our antenatal and postnatal counselling services.

Myth 4: Women’s mental health issues are overdiagnosed

I hear this worry quite a bit, usually from people who think we’re making normal women’s experiences into medical problems. As someone who does careful assessments every day, I can tell you this myth misses what’s really happening.

What’s actually going on: Women aren’t getting too many diagnoses, they’re just more likely to ask for help when they need it. And honestly, they face some pretty tough situations that really do affect their mental health.

Numbers from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024) show: 

• Women get diagnosed with depression and anxiety more than men 
• Women are also more likely to reach out for professional help 
• When you account for who actually seeks help, the difference between men and women gets much smaller

What I see in my practice: Women don’t come to me looking for a label or diagnosis. They come because they’re hurting and want to feel better. Most have tried to cope on their own for months or even years before making that first appointment.

The reasons women might struggle more with certain mental health issues include: 

• They’re more likely to ask for help (which is actually a good thing!) 
• They face unique challenges like workplace discrimination, domestic violence, and having to care for everyone else 
• Hormone changes during periods, pregnancy, and menopause can deeply affect mood and energy 
• We’re finally recognising conditions that were missed in women for years

Rather than overdiagnosis, I think we’re finally starting to see and properly support women’s mental health needs. And that’s long overdue.

If you’re wondering whether your struggles are “real enough” to get help, let me be clear: if it’s affecting your life, relationships, or happiness, it’s real enough. You don’t need to wait until you’re in crisis to reach out.

Myth 5: Eating disorders are a ‘young woman’s problem’

This stereotype has really harmful effects. I’ve worked with women in their 40s, 50s, and beyond who couldn’t get help because people — including some medical professionals — thought they were “too old” to have an eating disorder.

The reality: Eating disorders affect people of all ages and genders, and the fastest-growing group is actually women over 35.

New numbers from the National Eating Disorders Collaboration (2024) show: 

• More and more women over 35 are developing eating disorders, often during big life changes like divorce, menopause, or kids leaving home
• About 1 in 3 people with eating disorder behaviours in the community are male (but many don’t get diagnosed)
• Women make up about 80% of people with anorexia nervosa and 70% of people with bulimia nervosa
• Eating disorders can affect people at any age, though they’re most common between ages 12-25, with some people developing them during major life changes

A story that stays with me: I once worked with Jenny*, a 48-year-old successful businesswoman who developed binge eating during a difficult divorce. She told me she felt “too old and too smart” to have an eating disorder. She’d spent months thinking she was just “stress eating” and feeling ashamed of her lack of willpower.

The truth is, eating disorders are serious mental health conditions that can happen to anyone at any age. They’re not about vanity or willpower — they’re complex illnesses that often develop as a way of coping with difficult emotions or situations.

The danger of this myth is that it stops people from getting help early, when treatment is most effective. If you’re struggling with your relationship with food or your body at any age, you deserve support. It’s never too late to get help, and you’re never too old to recover.  Click here to learn more about our Nutritional Psychology services. Nutritional psychology seeks to understand the relationship between nutritional behaviour, eating, weight management and mental health.

Myth 6: Women can ‘snap out of’ mental health issues with positive thinking

If I had a dollar for every time a client told me someone suggested they “just think happy  or positive thoughts,” I could probably retire! This myth is especially hurtful because it makes people feel like it’s their fault they’re struggling.

Here’s what positive thinking can and can’t do:

Positive thinking CAN help with: 

• Building strength to cope with daily challenges 
• Supporting your recovery alongside professional treatment 
• Improving your mood on ordinary days

Positive thinking CAN’T do: 

• Cure depression or anxiety disorders 
• Heal trauma 
• Replace proper treatment 
• Fix brain chemistry imbalances

In my work: I do help people develop healthier ways of thinking, but this is careful, professional work — not just telling someone to “be positive.” Real therapeutic work includes: 

• Learning to spot unhelpful thought patterns 
• Developing realistic, evidence-based cognitive skills 
• Working through difficult emotions and experiences 
• Building practical ways to cope

The Australian health authorities recommend proven treatments like Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT), which does include working with thoughts, but alongside emotional healing and practical changes.

When well-meaning people suggest “positive thinking” as a cure, they accidentally make things worse. I regularly work with women who feel like failures because they couldn’t “think their way out” of depression or anxiety.

If this is you, please know: mental health conditions aren’t a lack of willpower or positive attitude. They could be medical conditions that need proper treatment. You haven’t failed — you just need the right kind of help.

Need support right now?

If you’re having thoughts of hurting yourself or you’re in crisis: 

• Emergency help: Call 000 
• Lifeline: 13 11 14 (free, 24/7 crisis support) 
• Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 (free, 24/7 support for anxiety and depression)

For ongoing help: 

• Talk to your GP about getting a Mental Health Care Plan for cheaper psychological sessions 
• Try MindSpot for free online help 
• Use the Australian Psychological Society’s Find a Psychologist tool to find support near you

Remember: asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness. You deserve support.

You deserve to feel well

After more than three decades of doing this work, I’ve learned that myths about women’s mental health usually come from people feeling uncomfortable with women’s real experiences. They want simple explanations for complex problems.

But here’s what I want you to know: your mental health is complicated because you’re a whole person living a full life. You deserve care that sees all of you — not just your hormones, not just your emotions, not just your thoughts, but all the different parts of your experience.

If you’re struggling right now, your feelings are real and valid. Help is available, recovery is possible, and you don’t have to go through this alone. You deserve compassionate, proper support — not dismissive explanations or overly simple solutions.

If you’d like personalised support, our team at Integrated Health Specialists understands the real complexities of women’s mental health. We’re here on the Gold Coast, ready to listen without judgment and help you find your way forward. Reach out to us — you deserve to feel well.

Frequently Asked Questions About Women’s Mental Health

Do women really have more mental health problems than men? 

Women get diagnosed with anxiety and depression more often, but this is mostly because women are better at asking for help when they need it, not because they’re naturally more likely to have problems.

Can my period really affect my mental health? 

Yes, hormone changes during your cycle can affect your mood, but if you’re feeling depressed or anxious most of the time, that’s worth talking to someone about regardless of your cycle.

How do I know if what I’m feeling after having a baby is normal? 

Baby blues last about two weeks and don’t stop you from caring for yourself or your baby. If you’re struggling for longer than that, or if you’re having scary thoughts, please reach out for help right away.

When should I see a professional about my mental health? 

If your feelings are affecting your daily life, relationships, work, or happiness for more than a couple of weeks, it’s worth talking to someone. You don’t need to wait until you’re in crisis.

Medical Disclaimer: This article gives general information for learning purposes and doesn’t replace personal medical advice. Please talk to a qualified health professional about your specific situation.

*Names have been changed to protect privacy

References

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2023). National Study of Mental Health and Wellbeing, 2022. Retrieved from https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/health/mental-health/national-study-mental-health-and-wellbeing/2022
   
2. Beyond Blue. (2024). Women’s Mental Health retrieved from https://www.beyondblue.org.au/mental-health/womens-mental-health
   
3. Australian Psychological Society. (2024). Mental Health Guidelines and Research. Retrieved from https://psychology.org.au/for-the-public/psychology-topic-guides/mental-health
   
4. Perinatal Anxiety & Depression Australia. (2024). Facts and Figures. Retrieved from https://www.panda.org.au/info-support/facts-figures
   
5. National Eating Disorders Collaboration. (2024). Statistics and Research. Retrieved from https://nedc.com.au/eating-disorders/eating-disorders-explained/statistics/
   
6. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2024). Mental Health Services in Australia. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/mental-health
   
7. Phoenix Australia. (2024). Australian Clinical Guidelines. Retrieved from https://www.phoenixaustralia.org/resources/ptsd-guidelines/

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