Depression can be an extremely hard illness to understand. If you are like me then you are probably researching online why you are feeling the way you do. You are tired of feeling tired, worthless, and depressed so you are trying to find the cause. Maybe if you find the cause then you can fix it and start feeling better, right?
I have been suffering with depression for almost 10 years. I have certain triggers that make it more likely for me to fall back into a deep depression but that doesn’t mean that it is the same for each person. There is not just one thing that has to happen to cause someone to have depression. There are multiple different reasons for why someone can develop depression and today I want to share some with you.
Brain Chemistry Imbalance
I dislike when people say that depression is all in my head. HELLO?? Depression can be caused by different chemical imbalances in the brain, most commonly an imbalance of neurotransmitters that are involved in mood regulation. A neurotransmitter is something that helps different areas of the brain talk to each other. When neurotransmitters are in short supply this can cause your mood to be off. So yes negative people who annoy me. IT IS ALL IN MY HEAD!
Genetics
Twin, adoption, and family studies have linked depression to genetics. If you have a sibling or a parent who has had depression in the past then you are more susceptible to developing it. I was suffering with depression for about three years until finally my dad told me that depression runs in our family. If you are thinking of an ice breaker to talk to your parents about depression, ask them if it runs in your family. You might be surprised of the answer.
Abuse
Past sexual, physical, or emotional abuse can make a person feel very vulnerable and alone. Because of this a lot of abuse survivors suffer with depression symptoms. With a good support system and therapy a lot of abuse survivors see an improvement with their symptoms.
Medications
When you watch those medicine ads on tv you almost always hear that one of the rare side effects of the medication is depression. Some drugs can cause you to be more at risk of depression. This article breaks down what types of medications could cause someone to have depression.
Sex Hormones
It has been shown that females are more likely than males to have depression once in their lives. Because depression peaks during a woman’s reproductive years, it is believed that hormonal factors are involved when someone has depression.
Different Time of Year
Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) happens when someone experiences depression only during a certain time of year. The most common time of year that people experience this is in the Winter. The days are shorter, the temperature is colder, and a lot of people just want to stay home in their comfy beds and binge watch tv shows. This isolation and lack of sunlight causes more people to have depression symptoms during this time of year.
Poor Nutrition
You are what you eat. If all you eat is unhealthy, greasy, fatty junk food then you are not going to feel mentally healthy either. When we start eating more unhealthy it can do a number on your mental health as well. You might not have enough energy or motivation to do the things you used to love. There are also different vitamin deficiencies that could cause symptoms of depression including omega 3 and omega 6.
Substance Abuse
30% of people with a substance abuse problem have a co occurring mental health problem. People who are suffering with depression are more likely to use a substance to cope with their emotions.
Physical Health Problems
I have been suffering with chronic pain for almost 5 years now. At times when the pain is so bad my mental health suffers as well. The brain and the body are connected and if one is suffering then the other can suffer as well. If you are experiencing another health problem and are starting to feel depressed, please contact your doctor.
Stressful Life Events
We all have stress in our lives and we all experience change. Some people just cope with stress differently than others. What someone sees as a stressful event in their lives could be no big deal to someone else. Stressful events in life can challenge the way we cope with stress. Grief, loss of a job, divorce, or trauma could cause someone to develop depression symptoms.
Like I said before, everyone experiences depression differently and everyones path is different. If you are experiencing depression right now please know that you are not alone. There are so many people out there that care about you and want to help you.
If you would like some resources to help you toward your path of recovery and wellness click here!
