According
to National Institutes of Mental Health(NIMH), around 16.2 million American adults will suffer from major depression in any given year.
What
actually causes depression? It’s a complex illness; many factors contribute to
it or make it worse.
The way depression shows itself is
different for different people and often has to do with your past and your
environment.
Researchers
have been searching for the causes of depression for years, and they’ve
developed many theories. Here are four of the main ones.
1.
Genetics
One of the most influential
factors in the onset of major depression is outside your control: your genetic
code. Research suggests that in most cases of depression, around 50% of the
cause is genes.
Two people, with two different sets of genes, could experience the same traumatic life event, yet one develops depression while the other doesn’t.
It seems likely that your environment and your genes interact
in a way that determines your risk of developing depression.
Research suggests that if you have a parent or sibling who’s suffering from depression, you are up to three times as likely to have the condition.
But its exact influence and relationship with each other is still being studied.
2. Substance Abuse
Substance abuse (alcohol
or drugs) often go hand-in-hand with major depression. This is known as
comorbidity or having two mental health conditions at the same time.
While 17% of Americans overall
will experience depression, 30% of substance
abusers and alcoholics have depression. Researchers say that around 27% of
depressed people also struggle with substance abuse.
But how does this substance abuse actually cause depression? There are variety of ways.
You may be dealing with a lot of emotional pain and stress
and use alcohol and drugs to self-medicate. Regularly drinking or using drugs
makes you feel euphoric and provides temporary relief. But when you sober up,
you experience a “crash.” This may come along with:
- Anxiety
- Increased bouts of low mood
- Irritability
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A downward spiral sets in. Withdrawal depression turns into
clinical depression if it lasts for two weeks or more.
Many people also resort to drug abuse as a way to manage the
pain of their existing depression.
3. Early Childhood Experiences
Certain experiences in early childhood are risk factors for depression. This includes traumatic events like the death of a loved one or physical or sexual abuse.
Children can also develop the condition if they:
- Experience neglect
- Hear constant criticism
- Experience family conflict
- Grow up with a parent who is suffering from depression
Going through a lot of stress in early childhood makes you
more vulnerable to stress later in life.
4. Major Life Events (Both Immediate
and Prolonged)
If you’re someone who is already at risk of depression, then a major life event can be enough to trigger the condition. Immediate major life events could include:
- Divorce
- A breakup
- Job loss
- Death in family
- Failure in business
- Loss of home in a natural disaster
- Serious physical injury
- Childbirth
Experiencing longer periods of stress can also cause symptoms
of depression. Prolonged stressful life events could include:
- Unemployment
- Homelessness
- Health issues, like a chronic illness
- Chronic pain
- Job related issues
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You can protect your mental health by recognizing and
understanding the causes of depression, avoiding them if they can be avoided,
or coping with them if they can’t be.
There are various ways to cope with depression which one can apply and actually get rid of depression.
Following posts would be related to treatment, how does gender play a role in depression, etc..
References:
https://www.deseret.com/2018/7/5/20648411/when-a-child-is-traumatized-this-one-thing-helps-their-recovery-the-most
https://successtms.com/blog/what-causes-depression
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