All of this can make you feel worse and trigger depression. Some studies have also suggested that you're more likely to get depression as you get older, and that it's more common in people who live in difficult social and economic circumstances.
Most people take time to come to terms with stressful events, such as bereavement or a relationship breakdown. When these stressful events occur, your risk of becoming depressed is increased if you stop seeing your friends and family and try to deal with your problems on your own.
You may be more vulnerable to depression if you have certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem or being overly self-critical. This may be because of the genes you've inherited from your parents, your early life experiences, or both.
If someone in your family has had depression in the past, such as a parent or sister or brother, it's more likely that you'll also develop it. Some women are particularly vulnerable to depression after pregnancy. The hormonal and physical changes, as well as the added responsibility of a new life, can lead to postnatal depression. Feelings of loneliness , caused by things such as becoming cut off from your family and friends can increase your risk of depression. When life is getting them down, some people try to cope by drinking too much alcohol or taking drugs.
This can result in a spiral of depression. Effective treatment can stimulate the growth of new nerve cells in circuits that regulate your mood, which is thought to play a critical part in recovering from the most severe episodes of depression. It's important to remember that you can't always identify the cause of depression or change difficult circumstances. The most important thing is to recognise the signs and symptoms and seek support. Find out more about depression and anxiety, available treatments and where to get help in your local area.
For a full list of references for the statistics on this page, and any others across the website, please visit the references page and search through the relevant category.
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Life events Research suggests that continuing difficulties — long-term unemployment, living in an abusive or uncaring relationship, long-term isolation or loneliness, prolonged work stress — are more likely to cause depression than recent life stresses. Personal factors Family history — Depression can run in families and some people will be at an increased genetic risk.
The theory is that by coming to terms with your harmful thoughts or emotions, you can accept that change is possible and make a recovery plan. Psychodynamic therapy is a form of talk therapy designed to help you better understand and cope with your day-to-day life. Psychodynamic therapy is based on the idea that your present-day reality is shaped by your unconscious, childhood experiences.
In this form of therapy, your therapist will help you reflect and examine your childhood and experiences to help you understand and cope with your life. Exposure to doses of white light can help regulate your mood and improve symptoms of depression. Light therapy is commonly used in seasonal affective disorder , which is now called major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern. Electroconvulsive therapy ECT uses electrical currents to induce a seizure, and has been shown to help people with clinical depression.
Your healthcare professional will place cardiac monitoring pads on your chest and four electrodes on specific areas of your head. They will then deliver short electrical pulses for a few seconds.
You will neither convulse nor feel the electrical current and will awaken about 5 to 10 minutes after treatment. Side effects include headaches, nausea, muscle aches and soreness, and confusion or disorientation.
Patients may also develop memory problems, but these usually reside in the weeks and months after treatment. Ask your doctor about alternative therapies for depression. Many people choose to use alternative therapies alongside traditional psychotherapy and medication. Some examples include:. Aim for 30 minutes of physical activity 3 to 5 days a week. Drinking alcohol or misusing substances may make you feel better for a little bit. But in the long run, these substances can make depression and anxiety symptoms worse.
Feeling overwhelmed can worsen anxiety and depression symptoms. Setting boundaries in your professional and personal life can help you feel better. You can also improve symptoms of depression by taking care of yourself. This includes getting plenty of sleep , eating a healthy diet , avoiding negative people, and participating in enjoyable activities. These options include electroconvulsive therapy ECT or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS to treat depression and improve your mood.
Some research suggests this compound may ease symptoms of depression. The effects were best seen in people taking SSRIs. However, the results of this research is not conclusive and more research is needed. Your body makes this chemical when you consume tryptophan, a building block of protein.
However, more studies are needed. These essential fats are important to neurological development and brain health.
Adding omega-3 supplements to your diet may help reduce depression symptoms. However, there is some conflicting evidence and more research is needed. Always talk to your doctor before taking supplements, as they may interact with other medications or have negative effects. Vitamins are important to many bodily functions.
Research suggests two vitamins are especially useful for easing symptoms of depression:. Learn about herbs, vitamins, and supplements that have shown some promise, and ask your healthcare professional if any are right for you. But your healthcare provider can make a diagnosis based on your symptoms and a psychological evaluation.
Because depression can be linked to other health problems, your healthcare professional may also conduct a physical examination and order blood work. Sometimes thyroid problems or a vitamin D deficiency can trigger symptoms of depression. Depression is a serious mental health illness with the potential for complications.
If left untreated, complications can include :. Depression can be broken into categories depending on the severity of symptoms. Some people experience mild and temporary episodes, while others experience severe and ongoing depressive episodes. There are two main types : major depressive disorder and persistent depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder MDD is the more severe form of depression. In order to be diagnosed with clinical depression, you must experience five or more of the following symptoms over a 2-week period:.
These include :. Persistent depressive disorder PDD used to be called dysthymia. In order for the diagnosis to be made, symptoms must last for at least 2 years. PDD can affect your life more than major depression because it lasts for a longer period.
Read more about why depression treatment is important. Living with depression can be difficult, but treatment can help improve your quality of life. Talk to your healthcare professional about possible options. Postpartum depression refers to depression that happens after childbirth. It is a common disorder after pregnancy, affecting 1 in 9 new parents. For many people, these symptoms go away in a couple of days.
But if you feel sad, hopeless, or empty for longer than 2 weeks post-childbirth, you may have postpartum depression. Symptoms of postpartum depression can range from mild to severe and can include :. Postpartum depression is thought to be triggered by the dramatic hormonal changes that take place after pregnancy. Bipolar depression occurs in certain types of bipolar disorder when a person experiences a depressive episode.
Bipolar disorder is a mental disorder that causes distinct changes in mood, energy, concentration, and the ability to carry out your day-to-day tasks. People having a depressive episode may :. Symptoms during a depressive episode last every day for most of the day and can last for several days or weeks. If bipolar disorder is treated, many will experience fewer and less severe symptoms of depression, if they experience depressive episodes.
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