Have you ever wondered what causes clinical depression? Perhaps you have been diagnosed with major depression, and that’s made you question why some people get depressed but others don’t.
Depression is a complex disease. No one knows exactly what causes it, but it can happen for a variety of reasons. Some people have depression during a serious medical illness. Others may have depression with life changes such as a move or the death of a loved one. Still others have a family history of depression. Those who do may have depression and feel overwhelmed with sadness and loneliness for no known reason.
Depression is not just an emotional state; it is an illness that affects both the mind and body. Symptoms include persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, fatigue, anxiety, loss of interest in activities, and changes in sleep and appetite. If symptoms like these have persisted for two weeks or more, with little or no let-up, depression might be a likely diagnosis.
People experience depression in different ways. It may interfere with your daily work, resulting in lost time and lower productivity. It can also influence relationships and some chronic health conditions.
Conditions that can get worse due to depression include:
- arthritis
- asthma
- cardiovascular disease
- cancer
- diabetes
- obesity
It’s important to realize that feeling down at times is a normal part of life. Sad and upsetting events happen to everyone. But, if you’re feeling down or hopeless on a regular basis, you could be dealing with depression.
The symptoms of depression can be experienced differently among men, women, and children differently. They may experience symptoms related to their:
- mood such as anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness, restlessness
- emotional well-being such as feeling empty, sad, hopeless
- behavior such as loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favorite activities, feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, engaging in high-risk activities
- sexual interest such as reduced sexual desire, lack of sexual performance
- cognitive abilities such as inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, delayed responses during conversations
- sleep patterns such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, not sleeping through the night
- physical well-being such as fatigue, pains, headache, digestive problems
There are a number of things people can do to help reduce the symptoms of depression. For many people, regular exercise helps create positive feeling and improves mood. Getting enough quality sleep on a regular basis, eating a healthy diet and avoiding alcohol can also help reduce symptoms of depression.
There are several possible causes of depression. They can range from biological to circumstantial.
Common causes include:
- Family history. You’re at a higher risk for developing depression if you have a family history of depression or another mood disorder.
- Early childhood trauma. Some events affect the way your body reacts to fear and stressful situations.
- Brain structure. There’s a greater risk for depression if the frontal lobe of your brain is less active. However, scientists don’t know if this happens before or after the onset of depressive symptoms.
- Medical conditions. Certain conditions may put you at higher risk, such as chronic illness, insomnia, chronic pain, or attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
- Drug use. A history of drug or alcohol misuse can affect your risk.
Everyone feels down from time to time, and anyone can get depression. If you feel depressed for more than a week or two, tell your healthcare provider right away. They will help you find a therapist. There’s no risk in reaching out – if you start feeling better, you can choose not to see the therapist. It’s important to know that there is help for you if you need it.
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Don’t ignore symptoms of depression. If your mood doesn’t improve or gets worse, seek medical help. Depression is a serious mental health illness with the potential for complications. Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Talk to your healthcare provider about possible options. You may successfully manage symptoms with one form of treatment, or you may find that a combination of treatments works best.
Depression is a real illness and help is available. With proper diagnosis and treatment, the vast majority of people with depression will overcome it. If you are experiencing symptoms of depression, a first step is to see your family physician or psychiatrist. Talk about your concerns and request a thorough evaluation. This is a start to addressing your mental health needs.
Treating depression with “talk therapy” is often the first step with mild to moderate depression. Many experts will go this route prior to trying medication. If depression is more severe, medication will often be required and a combination of therapy and medication may happen at the same time.
Counseling by a qualified therapist is an effective treatment for depression, particularly when depression is the result of adverse life events. During depression counseling, the therapist will use “talk therapy” to help you understand and work through the issues that are impacting your life in negative ways. Their role is to listen, provide feedback, and work with you to develop strategies to cope. They will also evaluate your progress and adjust the sessions accordingly.
Effective counselling is also the key to long-term recovery and the prevention of relapse. Decades of clinical research suggest that for relief from depression, counselling is a more effective treatment than taking medication. Those same studies also report that a course of therapy is just as effective as medication combined with counselling.
If you’ve been experiencing the symptoms of depression for longer than a couple of weeks, you will want to learn as much about its symptoms and treatment as you can. A truly fulfilling life is possible – all you need are the right tools and a little help getting there. Take the first step today.
Even if you feel unsure that what you’re experiencing is depression, speaking to a qualified counsellor about your concerns can clarify what’s happening, give you some effective tools to manage your mood, and help you to expand your sense of purpose, joy and connectedness to life again. Contact one of our friendly intake consultants at Psychology Melbourne CBD for a private consultation today.
