October is National Depression Education and Awareness Month.
In 2021, the National Institute of Mental Health estimated that around 21 million adults and 5 million adolescents had at least one major depression episode (nih.gov, 2023). Unfortunately, these numbers are widely under reported as many people don’t seek out professional support when experiencing a depressive episode, so it is assumed the true figure is much higher. With so many affected by depression, it is important to know what it is, where it comes from and how to treat it.
So, what is depression?
The Mayo Clinic defines depression as more than just “feeling the blues”. Depression is an actual mood disorder. It is a feeling of persistent sadness and loss of interest (Mayoclinic.org, 2022). Depression can include a variety of symptoms such as: sadness, hopelessness, irritability, loss of interest, sleeplessness, lack of energy, anxiety, weight loss or weight gain, feelings of worthlessness, headaches, backaches, trouble concentrating and suicidal thoughts (Mayoclinic.org, 2022).
Where does depression come from?
When someone is experiencing depression there are a multitude of factors that could be the root cause. It can be situational, biological or even a combination of both. Depression could be an inherited trait, meaning you could be biologically predisposed to experiencing depression during your lifetime simply because someone in your family is also experiencing depression (Mayoclinic.org, 2022). Depression could also be related to fluctuating hormones. Hormones can change throughout our life as we have new experiences, for example when we are pregnant, after having a baby or when going through menopause. Other conditions cause our hormones to change as well and, unfortunately, these changes can trigger depression. Our specific brain chemistry could also be the culprit. Harvard Medical School has found that those experiencing depression could have a smaller hippocampus, the part of the brain that manages our emotional processing, causing depression. For example, when we are stressed, it suppresses the hippocampus which then negatively affects our emotions and moods (Health.harvard.edu, 2024). The National Library of Medicine has also been researching the possibility that another biological root cause of depression could be an overactive amygdala. The amygdala portion of our brain also plays a key role in processing our anxiety, emotion and fears (Nih.gov, 2024). Lastly, depression can simply stem from what is happening all around us such as life events or illness. In other instances, there may not be a known trigger (Hopkinsmedicine.org, 2024).
What should we do if we suspect we’re experiencing a depressive episode?
First, be seen by a healthcare professional that can diagnose depression and, if appropriate, put a plan in place to help treat the symptoms of depression. That plan may include medication, such as an antidepressant, that can help balance the chemicals in your brain. Therapy can also help as you counsel with a trained professional who will help you process your depression and teach you coping skills to manage it (Hopkinsmedicine.org, 2024). Other suggestions could include: exercise, eating healthy, avoiding alcohol and drugs, doing hobbies that make you feel better, breaking large tasks into smaller ones, setting realistic goals, etc (Hopkinsmedicine.org, 2024).
Remember depression is not the blues. It is a persistent feeling of sadness, it is a mood disorder that can be treated (Mayoclinic.org, 2022). Medication and therapy can help alleviate many symptoms of depression (Hopkinsmedicine.org, 2024). Rely on a trusted therapist, friend or family member to talk about what you’re experiencing and ask for their support.
Don’t forget the suicide hotline in an emergency 988.
As always, we are here to support you. If you’d like to make an appointment with one of our therapists you can do so through our website.
Sources
- Brain changes in depression – PMC (nih.gov)
- Depression (major depressive disorder) – Symptoms and causes – Mayo Clinic
- Major Depression | Johns Hopkins Medicine
- Major Depression – National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) (nih.gov)
- What causes depression? – Harvard Health
If you are interested in learning about some of the different types of depression, see link below
