Depression is very common affecting 1 in 5 people at some time in their life. With 20% of Americans struggling with depression, it is important to know what can cause depression so you can be on the look out for situations or events in your own life.
Are there Causes of Depression that You Cannot Control?
Unfortunately, 30-50% of depression is caused by genetics which none of us can control. We get what we get genetically. Depression tends to run in families, and many people simply inherit a genetic predisposition to getting depression. Knowing this, you can be alert to signs and symptoms so that you can catch it early and start counseling, therapy, or medication in the mild stage before it becomes debilitating. Another component of genetics is chemistry. Sadly, we cannot control our levels of dopamine and serotonin in our brains. Sometimes these neurotransmitters become out of balance and cause depression. Hormonal changes can also play a role in the onset of depression. Women are often more susceptible to this cause than men. Premenstrual dysphoric disorder is a type of depression brought on cyclically with the menstrual cycle. Additionally, postpartum depression is very common with hormones out of balance after having a baby. Lastly, there are a number of medical conditions that can drive an episode of depression. These can include diabetes, thyroid disorders, cancer, stroke, or chronic pain issues to name a few. Being educated about this and working with your doctor can help keep some of these conditions in check and under control.
Does Personality Play a Role in Depression?
Although some personality traits have some genetic underpinnings, others can be worked on and changed over time. There are definitely some personality traits that can put you at risk for depression. Some people are prone to pessimism and have a negative, glass half-empty, outlook on situations and life. Obviously, they will be more prone to depression than those who are optimistic and have a brighter outlook. Some people are prone to being perfectionistic, which is a natural set up for failure since no one is perfect. These inevitable failures cause some people to become quite self-critical and self-deprecating. Not surprisingly, their self-esteem suffers greatly at the voice of their own internal critic. This chain reaction can easily bring about depression. A skilled therapist or counselor can help combat and help turn around these self-perceptions.
What Environmental Factors Cause Depression?
There are countless variables that can cause depression in people. Some people suffer through traumatic events such as bullying, abandonment of a parent, or abuse, all of which set the stage for development of depression. Even stressful life situations or changes can fuel depression. These could include divorce, moving, loss of a job, grief and loss, or financial hardships. Social factors can also play a role in depression. Growing up in poverty is a risk factor or facing discrimination based on race, sex, or sexual orientation can bring about depression. Ironically, even other mental health conditions can trigger an episode of depression. Many people with chronic anxiety begin to feel helpless and hopeless to figure out and solve their anxiety and sink into a depression. PTSD, social phobia, ADHD, and many other mental health conditions have a high co-morbidity with depression. Substance abuse can also create depression for some people. Alcohol abuse is a very common one. Because alcohol is a depressant by definition and categorization it is very common to end up with an alcohol-induced depression. Fortunately, with this cause, abstaining from alcohol often alleviates the depression. Although some of these environmental factors may be out of our control, others can certainly be influenced with effort on our parts. In many cases working with a therapist or psychiatrist can help us work through some of these situational causes and we can come out of depression quite successfully.
If you are interested in counseling, therapy, or wish to talk to one of our psychiatric providers about medications for your depression, feel free to contact IPC so you can schedule an appointment with one of skilled professionals. Please call us now at 763-416-4167, or request an appointment on our website: WWW.IPC-MN.COM so we can sit down with you and complete a thorough assessment and help you develop a plan of action that will work for you. Life is too short to be unhappy. Find the peace of mind you deserve.
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