Depression
Depression is a mental condition that is estimated to affect around 300 million people worldwide. Despite it being one of the more common illnesses, it can cause severe health concerns. The results of which could include struggling to socialise, concentrate or even finding motivation to leave the house. It can cause one’s lifestyle or performance at work or school to suffer greatly, making everyday living more and more difficult as time passes.
Depression can endure for up to many years, and can lead to development of other mental conditions such as anxiety or escalate into thoughts of self-harm. Other than trauma, Depression is the leading causes of suicide in young people in Australia today. After almost 2 years of social isolation, 20% of Australians aged 16-34 reported experiencing high levels of psychological distress in the National Census, as Depression has become a more common and prevalent issue.
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Causes of Depression
Depression is caused by a multitude of factors and is different depending on a person’s circumstance and environment. It is usually the result of multiple events occurring in combination. These range from:
Genetics:
The Black Dog Institute has found that around 30% of Depression is due to genetics, where certain genes inherited from parents can increase the potential likelihood of developing the condition over the child’s life. A significant portion of research is currently conducted in this field, attempting to find the specific strands that may contribute to this.
Health and Illness:
It is suspected that weakened or impaired immune function leads to an increased risk of developing mental conditions like depression, but this is not yet confirmed. However, suffering from health problems damages our mood, and chronic pain can prevent activities that enable us to function on a day-to-day basis. It is this detriment that results in illnesses such as neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes and epilepsy contributing to Depression.
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Stressful Life Events:
A common source of stress is major changes in one’s lifestyle that require adapting to a new way of thinking, functioning or behaving. Some major events could range from a divorce or the passing of a loved one to a car crash or job loss. But other events could have the same effect, such as an intense moment of guilt or embarrassment that harms self-esteem.
Enduring Stressors:
Some traumas might endure over a long period of time, causing psychological harm and putting them at a higher risk of developing depression. This could range from abusive parenting to overwhelming responsibilities, and can be especially impactful if it extends from childhood where it may impair self-esteem.
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Personality:
Those that are easily anxious, avoidant of social interactions and excessively self-critical or self-deprecating have a higher likelihood of developing a mental condition such as Depression, which could change over the course of one’s life.
Family or Social Support:
Perpetual loneliness can impact one’s mood and mental wellbeing, and lack of social interaction, especially in teenage years, or family support during childhood can be a cause for Depression. This is only made worse by neglecting physical health, with sleep deprivation and lack of exercise making this loneliness and lack of support more apparent.
Signs of Depression
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Withdrawal from activities that you enjoy
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Loss of interest in seeing friends
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Feeling of worthlessness
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Overwhelming guilt and dread that doesn’t cease
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Significant changes in appetite, gaining or losing a large amount of weight
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Always feeling tired
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Difficulty concentrating
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Struggling to sleep, experiencing insomnia
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Headaches and body pains
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Behaving recklessly
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Thoughts of self-harm or even suicide
Find activities that offer enjoyment and boost your mood. This could be watching a show, reading a book, listening to music, or anything that helps you personally.
Professional help is always there as an option. Medications such as antidepressants can reduce the toll the condition takes on your daily life, and therapy can offer a long-term support system to gradually improve. You should never be hesitant to reach for help, and helplines operate at all times whenever your thoughts are becoming too much to bear.
Recovery and Support
Recovery begins with yourself. The first priority is to try and stay connected with your friends and family, no matter how difficult it seems. Seeking help is not an act of weakness, and even trying to do so is always a step in the right direction. Try to force yourself to go out more, or even find companionship through a pet if you have one. Therapy has helped many reduce the severity of their symptoms, and given them someone who will certainly be there for support.
Health is another important factor. Sleeping sufficiently and practising meditation or relaxation exercises can reduce stress and improve well-being. Finding an appetite may be challenging, but try to eat enough and as healthy as possible to make sure your health isn’t falling behind. Physical exercise has been shown by research to help alleviate depression symptoms, so trying to fit in walks or workouts is never a bad idea.