Medical experts declared depression a disease of the 21st century. It’s not like it has not existed before, but it seems to have escalated in the modern age. This condition can hit everyone, from the youngest to seniors, regardless of their social status, education, sex, etc.
Major depressive disorder is a severe mental health condition that comes in episodes. Symptoms include persistent sadness and hopelessness, loss of interest in daily activities, and a persistent sense of worthlessness. The depressed person may also be tired, irritable, and sluggish. There are different triggers of depression and understanding them might be of great importance.
Major Events and Stress
Major life events, especially those of a destructive nature (death of someone close or a breakup), may contribute to a depressive disorder. Even things not known as ‘bad,’ like a wedding or childbirth, can make people anxious. It happens because some people are more sensitive to stress than others.
Recent studies have shown that ongoing difficulties are more likely to trigger rumination than one-time issues. In most cases, a combination of immediate and long-term problems is responsible for a depressed state.
Many current studies explore the impact of early life stress and emotional abuse on the development of depression. Things someone experienced in childhood and repeated occurrences increase the likelihood of a depressive reaction.
Relations with Others
Relationships are essential for maintaining mental health. Social interactions are one of the best predictors of the future risk of many mental disorders. An unhappy relationship with a partner, spouse, colleague, or family member can lead to depression. So working on these could prevent the onset of many diseases.
If you don’t feel good or notice that your relationship with someone makes you ill, it’s time to ask for help. Couples and family therapies have shown promising results in improving relationship quality. Their goal is to reduce negative interaction and enhance communication. By clearing things up, you’ll reduce the chance of becoming depressed and distressed. But this therapy brings results only if all parties take part.
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse and depression can trigger each other. Unfortunately, many depressed people don’t get the proper treatment to overcome this condition. So they can turn to vices. Vice versa, any form of addiction can make people anxious and desperate.
Visit the source below to learn how these conditions are related:
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/signs-of-drug-addiction https://www.psycom.net/depression/depression-and-substance-abuse
Treating these two mental health conditions in tandem for a successful recovery is essential. First, the patients need to be encouraged to seek help for depression. Also, they should engage in peer support groups and counseling sessions for their addiction. Finally, both treatments should help them develop defensive and stress coping skills. That should prevent depression from worsening and relapsing.
Medications and Diseases
Depression is a common side effect of certain medications. Many drugs, including antibiotics, allergy pills, and prescription painkillers, can affect mood. It can even happen in kids receiving therapies for ADHD.
The side effect of many drugs is lowering serotonin levels. That’s a brain chemical involved in mood regulation. Also, taking several medications at the same time increases the risk of depression due to possible interaction between them. So discussing adverse effects with your doctor can help you reduce the chance of their occurrence.
Social Media
One study found that excessive social media usage can increase the risk of depression. Although these platforms have good sides, abusing and overusing them can be detrimental. It will likely reduce social interaction and replaces it with negativity.
Studies show that people who spend too much time on social networks suffer moderate to severe anxiety. That could be because they spend fewer hours with their friends and family in real life. Also, being online for too long drives people to create a new, fake perception of the world around them. Simply put, they live in a lie. And every time they return to reality, that hits them hard, mixing up their feelings and causing mood swings.
Genetics
Each person’s genetic makeup can point to many things and help medical experts predict the onset of certain diseases. Thus, genetics may be associated with depression. Some people might have that ‘depressed’ gene due to the family history of ancestors who suffered from this condition.
But genetic predisposition doesn’t always determine whether someone will become depressed. Simply put, having a gene for depression doesn’t always mean it will develop. Instead, it simply means that you will be more sensitive to it than someone who doesn’t have the same genetics. More tips on preventing anxiety are here.
Understanding depression is crucial in treating the condition. Knowing what triggers it can help people manage this condition and avoid relapse. And the good news is that there are several ways to combat depression. Yet, finding out which one is the best is possible only after seeing a specialist.