What Causes Depression?

The cause of depression isn't always completely understood.

A major depressive disorder?

Have you ever wondered what causes depression? Perhaps you have been diagnosed with major depression and are wondering why some people get depressed and some don’t.

☹️ Depression is a complex illness. No one knows what is causing it, but it can happen for a variety of reasons.

👆🏻Some people experience depression during a serious medical illness. Others may be suffering from life-changing depression, such as moving home or dying a loved one. Yet others have a family history of depression. Those who do so may suffer from depression and be overwhelmed by sadness and loneliness for no known reason.

Depression symptoms General signs and symptoms

Everyone who suffers from depression won’t feel the same way. The intensity, frequency, and persistence of symptoms might range widely. You may be depressed if you have had any of the following symptoms almost every day for at least two weeks:

crying a lot
loss of interest in hobbies and interests you once enjoyed
chronic physical pain with no clear cause that does not get better with treatment (headaches, aches or pains, digestive problems, cramps)
feeling sad, anxious, or “empty”
feeling hopeless, worthless, and pessimistic
difficulty concentrating, remembering, or making decisions
thoughts of death, suicide, self-harm, or suicide attempts
feeling bothered, annoyed, or angry
appetite or weight changes
decreased energy or fatigue
moving or talking more slowly
difficulty sleeping, early morning awakening, or oversleeping

Depression manifests itself differently in men and females, adolescents and young children. Let’s look through every option:

Depression symptoms Males may have signs and symptoms

emotional well-being, such as feeling empty, sad, or hopeless
behavior, such as loss of interest, no longer finding pleasure in favorite activities, feeling tired easily, thoughts of suicide, drinking excessively, using drugs, or engaging in high-risk activities
sleep patterns, such as insomnia, restless sleep, excessive sleepiness, or not sleeping through the night
physical well-being, such as fatigue, pains, headache, or digestive problems
mood, such as anger, aggressiveness, irritability, anxiousness, or restlessness
cognitive abilities, such as inability to concentrate, difficulty completing tasks, or delayed responses during conversations
sexual interest, such as reduced sexual desire or lack of sexual performance

Depression symptoms Females may have signs and symptoms

behavior, such as loss of interest in activities, withdrawing from social engagements, or thoughts of suicide
physical well-being, such as decreased energy, greater fatigue, changes in appetite, weight changes, aches, pain, headaches, or increased cramps
mood, such as irritability
sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping through the night, waking early, or sleeping too much
emotional well-being, such as feeling sad or empty, anxious, or hopeless
cognitive abilities, such as thinking or talking more slowly

Depression symptoms Children may have signs and symptoms

cognitive abilities, such as difficulty concentrating, decline in school performance, or changes in grades
behavior, such as getting into trouble at school or refusing to go to school, avoiding friends or siblings, thoughts of death or suicide, or self-harm
mood, such as irritability, anger, rapid shifts in mood, or crying
physical well-being, such as loss of energy, digestive problems, changes in appetite, or weight loss or gain
emotional well-being, such as feelings of incompetence (e.g., “I can’t do anything right”) or despair, crying, or intense sadness
sleep patterns, such as difficulty sleeping or sleeping too much

Common causes Here are some of the causes of depression:

Abuse. Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse can make you more vulnerable to depression later in life.
Age. People who are elderly are at higher risk of depression. That can be made worse by other factors, such as living alone and having a lack of social support.
Brain chemistry. People with depression may have a chemical imbalance in the regions of the brain responsible for regulating emotions, cognition, sleep, appetite, and behaviour.
Brain Structure. If the frontal lobe of your brain is less active, you are more likely to suffer from depression. However, experts are unsure whether this occurs before or after the beginning of depression symptoms.
Certain medications. Some drugs, such as isotretinoin (used to treat acne), the antiviral drug interferon-alpha, and corticosteroids, can increase your risk of depression.
Conflict. Depression in someone who has biological vulnerability to it may result from personal conflicts or disputes with family members or friends.
Death or a loss. Sadness or grief after the death or loss of a loved one, though natural, can increase the risk of depression.
Early childhood trauma. Some experiences have an impact on how your body responds to fear and stressful circumstances.
Family history. If you have a family history of depression or another mood illness, you are more likely to acquire it.
Gender. Women are about twice as likely as men to become depressed. No one’s sure why. The hormonal changes that women go through at different times of their lives may play a role.
Genes. A family history of depression may increase the risk. It’s thought that depression is a complex trait, meaning there are probably many different genes that each exert small effects, rather than a single gene that contributes to disease risk. The genetics of depression, like most psychiatric disorders, are not as simple or straightforward as in purely genetic diseases such as Huntington’s chorea or cystic fibrosis.
Hormone levels. Changes in female hormones estrogen and progesterone at various stages of life, such as the monthly cycle, postpartum period, perimenopause, or menopause, may all increase a person’s risk of depression.
Major events. Even good events such as starting a new job, graduating, or getting married can lead to depression. So can moving, losing a job or income, getting divorced, or retiring. However, the syndrome of clinical depression is never just a “normal” response to stressful life events.
Medical condition. All risk factors are chronic sickness, sleeplessness, chronic pain, Parkinson’s disease, stroke, heart attack, and cancer.
Other personal problems. Problems such as social isolation due to other mental illnesses or being cast out of a family or social group can contribute to the risk of developing clinical depression.
Pain. People who experience extended durations of emotional or chronic physical pain are substantially more prone to develop depression.
Serious illnesses. Sometimes, depression happens along with a major illness or may be triggered by another medical condition.
Substance misuse. Nearly 30% of people with substance misuse problems also have major or clinical depression. Even if drugs or alcohol temporarily make you feel better, they ultimately will aggravate depression. A history of substance or alcohol misuse can affect your risk.

What does biology have to do with being depressed?

Researchers have found that the brains of people with clinical depression differ from those of people who don’t have it. For example, the hippocampus, a small part of the brain that is important for storing memories, seems smaller in some people who have had depression than in others who have never had depression. Fewer serotonin receptors are in a smaller hippocampus. Serotonin is one of many chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters allow communication between the circuits that link the parts of the brain that deal with emotions.

Scientists don’t know why some people with depression may have a smaller hippocampus. Some researchers have found that people who are depressed make too much of the stress hormone cortisol. These researchers think cortisol hurts the hippocampus’s development or makes it smaller. Some experts believe that people more likely to be depressed may be born with a smaller hippocampus. An individual with depression is thought to involve many other parts of the brain and the connections between them. Likely, no single brain structure or relationship can fully explain clinical depression.

One thing is for sure: depression is a complicated illness caused by many things. Recent scans and studies of brain structure and function indicate that antidepressants may have “neurotrophic effects.” This means they can help keep nerve cells alive, keep them from dying, and help them make stronger connections that can withstand biological stresses. As scientists learn more about what causes depression, doctors will be able to make more “suited” diagnoses and come up with more effective ways to treat it.

How Is Genetics Related to Depression Risk?

Everyone is aware that depression may run in families. This suggests that depression has a genetic component. Children, siblings, and parents of persons suffering from severe depression are more likely to suffer from depression than the overall population. Multiple genes interacting in unique ways are likely to contribute to the various types of depression in families. Despite the evidence of familial relation to depression, it is doubtful that there is a single “depression” gene, but rather a network of genes that each contributes a modest contribution to depression when interacting with the environment.

Can Certain Medications Cause Depression?

In some individuals, medicines may cause depression. Medications include barbiturates, benzodiazepines, and the acne medicine isotretinoin (formerly known as Accutane, now Absorica, Amnesteem, Claravis, Myorisan, and Zenatane) have occasionally related to depression, particularly in the elderly. Similarly, stomach cramp-relieving drugs such as corticosteroids, opioids (codeine, morphine), and anticholinergics may also produce mood swings and fluctuations. Even beta-blocker blood pressure drugs have related to depression.

What’s the Link Between Depression Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain?

Depression is caused by chronic illness in specific individuals. A chronic illness is a disease that lasts very long and is often incurable. Nevertheless, chronic diseases may usually manage via food, exercise, lifestyle choices, and certain drugs. Diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, renal disease, HIV & AIDS, lupus, and multiple sclerosis (MS) are some chronic conditions that may induce depression. Hypothyroidism may also cause feelings of depression. Researchers think treating depression may occasionally aid in recovering from a coexisting medical illness.

When pain persists for weeks or months, it is referred to as “chronic.” Chronic pain causes discomfort and disrupts sleep, the ability to exercise and be physically active, relationships, and job productivity. May you see how chronic pain can lead to sadness, isolation, and depression? There is assistance available for chronic pain and sorrow. A complex medication regimen, counselling, and support groups may assist you in managing your pain, alleviating your depression, and regaining control of your life.

Could Depression Be a Common Reaction to grief?

Grief is a natural and frequent reaction to loss. Many life transitions and losses may trigger sadness, including the loss of a loved one, a career, a pet, or any other significant person or thing in one’s life.

Although everyone would feel the pain of loss, not everyone will go on to develop clinical Depression. Clinical Depression is distinguished from grief by the presence of additional symptoms such as poor self-worth, negative attitudes toward the future, and suicidal ideation. Everyone has their method of dealing with these emotions.

"Depression is being colorblind and constantly told how colourful the world is"

(Atticus)

Common causes Risks factors

Biochemical, physiological, social, genetic, and environmental risk factors have all been identified for the development of depressive symptoms. Many of the following are considered to be potential risks:

Sex. The likelihood of severe depression is twice as high in women as in men.
Genetics. You are at a higher risk if you have a family history of depression.
Socioeconomic status. Socioeconomic status, such as financial difficulties and perceived poor standing in society, might raise your risk of depression.
Certain medicines. Certain medications, such as hormonal birth control, corticosteroids, and beta-blockers, have been linked to an increased risk of depression.
Deficiency of vitamin D. Studies shows connected depression symptoms to low vitamin D levels.
Gender identification. According to 2018 research, the risk of depression for transgender persons is roughly four times that of cisgender people.
Misuse of drugs. Around 21% of persons with a drug use problem also have depression.
Medical conditions. Depression occurs in several chronic medical conditions. Persons with heart disease are roughly twice as likely to have depression as those who do not, and up to one in every four people with cancer may have depression.

The helping profession Mental Health Treatment for depression

Psychotherapy

You can learn how to deal with negativities by talking to a counsellor. You can also see a counsellor with your family or in a group. Psychotherapy, also called “talk therapy,” is when a person talks to a licensed professional to observe what causes their mental health condition, like depression, and learn how to deal with it. Psychotherapy has shown to be an effective way to help people with depression and other psychiatric disorders feel better. Psychotherapy is often used in addition to medicine (only by psychiatrists). There are many kinds of psychotherapy, and some people respond better to one than to another.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)

In cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), a counsellor will help you find unhealthy thinking patterns and point out how they may be causing you to behave, react, or think negatively about yourself.
Your counsellor might give you “homework” in which you try to change your negative thoughts into more positive ones.

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) is similar to cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT), but it focuses more on validation, which means accepting uncomfortable thoughts, feelings, and behaviours instead of trying to change them. If you face your negative thoughts and feelings, you can accept that change is achievable and plan to improve.

Psychodynamic therapy

Psychodynamic therapy is a method of talk therapy that helps you understand and deal with your everyday life. Psychodynamic treatment is founded on the notion that your present reality is influenced by childhood events you cannot recall. (unconscious mind).

In this type of therapy, your counsellor will assist you in thinking about your childhood and experiences to enable you to comprehend and deal with your life.

Therapies beyond the mainstream

Meditation. Depression may be triggered by stressful or upsetting feelings like worry or anger, but regular meditation practice can help rewire the brain’s response to these negative states. Meditation has been shown in credible research to alleviate depressive symptoms and prevent a recurrence.

Acupuncture. Acupuncture is a method of traditional Chinese medicine that may help alleviate specific depressive symptoms. Acupuncture may alleviate various health issues by having an acupuncturist insert needles into specific acupoints on the body. Acupuncture has been shown to improve the effectiveness of therapeutic therapies, and some studies even claim it may stand on its own against psychotherapy in helping people overcome their problems.

On the side note

Bipolar disorder is easily confused with depression because it can include depressive episodes. The main difference between the two is that depression is unipolar, meaning that there is no “high” period, but bipolar disorder includes symptoms of mania.

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