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Depression causes
Depression is a common mental illness: around 280 million people worldwide suffer from it. However, the causes vary. We explain in detail which factors increase the risk of depression.
Who is at risk for depression?
Depression is a mental illness that can affect anyone. It does not matter whether you are male, female, of a certain age, and so on. Some sources claim that women may be more susceptible to depression than men, but that does not mean that depression is a female disorder. However, there are certain people with specific genes or health problems who are indeed more likely to experience depression.
In addition, if you have dealt with a depressive disorder earlier in life, you are more likely to relapse or experience another form of depression at some point.
What causes depression?
Sometimes the underlying causes of depression are easy to recognize. For example, a person may experience depression because he or she has experienced trauma. Other times, people suffer from depression for no apparent reason.
However, there are several factors that are considered causes of depression. It is important to note that having one or more of these factors does not automatically mean that you will definitely experience depression.
Chemicals in the brain
Depression can be caused by an imbalance in brain chemicals. This is because our brain plays an important role in regulating our mood. Some professionals even believe that it is not so much the chemicals themselves that cause depression, but rather the way different parts of the brain work together.
For example, we have certain neurotransmitters such as norepinephrine, which transmit a fight-or-flight response to the rest of our brain. Another important neurotransmitter is serotonin. This helps our brain regulate anxiety, stress, block pain and so on. Finally, dopamine is important. This "feel good" substance provides positive reinforcement in our brain and motivates us to interact with certain people, participate in activities, and so on.
Low levels of these chemicals are associated with depression. This means you are more likely to experience symptoms such as anxiety, sadness, fatigue, irritability and more.
We look at
U-center broader
than just
a depression
Life Events
Drastic or life-changing events such as trauma, the loss of a loved one, isolation and other factors can cause depression. These events can cause an imbalance of chemicals in your brain, which can lead to depression.
Depression after childbirth
Even a positive event such as pregnancy or childbirth can disrupt your body's hormone balance so drastically that it can lead to postpartum depression. Estrogen and progesterone increase dramatically during pregnancy. After giving birth, these levels fall back to what they were before pregnancy within a few days.
Moreover, the psychological and social effects of having a baby can have such an impact on your life that they can cause postpartum depression.
Depression due to burnout
Some symptoms of burnout, such as losing interest in something you used to love, fatigue, feeling worthless and so on, are similar to those of depression. However, burnout is specifically related to one's work life, while depression can relate to anything. Both mental disorders often overlap, but there is no definitive evidence that burnout causes depression.
Social isolation
Social isolation is a well-known cause of depression. The lack of social contact increases your stress response, whether it is fight, flight or something else. Social contact, on the other hand, helps slow the development of depression.
Genes and personality
Genes
Sometimes depression is more common in families. Research suggests that people who have a first-degree relative who suffers from depression may be more likely to also be diagnosed with depression at some point in their lives.
However, this does not automatically mean that you will get depression. On the other hand, it is also possible to get depression without a family member with depression.
Personality
Some personality traits can increase the likelihood of depression. These can include becoming easily overwhelmed, overthinking, having negative thoughts, being hypersensitive to rejection or feeling alienated from others.
Even if you don't handle stressful situations well, you may be more susceptible to depression. If you know you have some of these personality traits, it might be a good idea to seek help to learn how to manage your feelings and thoughts in a healthy way.
Medical conditions and medication
Some medical conditions can lead to depression. Conditions such as diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or cancer often correlate with depression. Another interesting condition that seems to correlate with depression is having allergies to something other than food.
Medication
Some types of medication can cause depression or make depression worse. The list includes, but is not limited to, the following:
- Certain types
• Blood pressure medication
• Sleep aids
• Some antibiotics
• Anticonception pills
Another type of "medication" that causes or worsens depression is substance abuse. This is never a good way to deal with depression and will only worsen your symptoms over time.
Treating depression at U-center
U-center has many experts who specialize in depression and its many forms. Therefore, we know how to treat different types of depression in many different people. You can already find a lot of information on our website. But if you want to know more about our clinic or your condition, feel free to contact one of our experts. We will be happy to help you further.