Create a personalised content profile. Measure ad performance. Select basic ads. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights. Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Why do some people experience depression while others don't—even when under the same circumstances? Figuring out what makes someone more prone to clinical depression continues to be one of the most pressing questions for researchers and mental health professionals.
Research has implicated everything from physical and chemical differences in the brain to social and environmental risk factors. The complexity of depression is what makes it a challenging condition to diagnose and treat. Understanding what could make a person more likely to experience depression is the first step in developing prevention and treatment strategies tailored to reduce individual vulnerability to the condition.
Developing a more complete understanding of the various mechanisms that drive depression could also help researchers get better at predicting who will get depressed as well as predicting how the condition will present over time. With this information, mental health professionals would be better prepared to predict how a person might respond to antidepressants or other forms of therapeutic treatment.
According to the World Health Organization , over million people worldwide live with depression. While the experience of depression is shared by many, the contributing factors will be different for each person with the condition. However, there are others, such as your diet, that can be modified. While making a change won't necessarily prevent depression, it may help reduce your risk. Whether you can change them or not, it's helpful to be aware of factors that could make you more likely to develop depression in your lifetime.
Just remember that researchers are still figuring out the role each factor plays. Depression is common in people of all ages, races, gender identities, and socioeconomic status. According to the report from the National Institute of Mental Health, depression affects approximately And in , the CDC reported that approximately 1. Some risk factors for depression are rooted in biology. Researchers don't agree on precisely how brain chemicals relate to depression, but the connection has been discussed for many decades.
Some established theories suggest that low certain levels of neurotransmitters which the brain cells use to send signals to each other could cause depression. Other researchers have proposed that being depressed causes low levels, rather than it being the other way around. The relationship may even go both ways. What is known is that some people with depression feel better when they take medications that work on these neurotransmitters. Researchers know that people who have family members who are depressed are more likely to become depressed.
That said, a large genome-wide study published in The American Journal of Psychiatry in found that people with a genetic predisposition for major depression have an increased risk for suicide attempts across psychiatric disorders. If you are having suicidal thoughts, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at for support and assistance from a trained counselor. If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.
Depression is common in people living with chronic illnesses such as multiple sclerosis, type 2 diabetes, and migraines.
Research has shown that chronic pain conditions may cause biochemical changes that lead to symptoms of depression. While different mental health conditions may be diagnosed at the same time and can influence one another, they may need to be treated in different ways.
Certain hormonal shifts can increase your risk of depression as well. For example, the hormonal changes associated with the menstrual cycle , pregnancy, giving birth, and menopause can all contribute to depression. Environmental factors also appear to play a role in the development of depression in some people. One of the more well-studied depression risk factors is trauma in early childhood.
Researchers believe that child abuse may change the brain physically, as well as alter its connectivity structure. A study from the Massachusetts General Hospital has even proposed that traumatic experiences in the first three years of life may even change a child's DNA.
People living in poverty were twice as likely to have depression compared to those living at or above the poverty level. Not only does living in poverty place a person at higher risk for depression but if they are unable to work or do not have access to support and social services, mental illness can make it harder for someone to break out of a cycle of socioeconomic disadvantage.
Several studies and pilot programs have shown that when people with mental illness were given financial assistance, symptoms of depression and anxiety improved.
Where a person lives can also have an impact on mental health in a number of ways. For example, some people report they become depressed during certain months of the year, sometimes called seasonal affective disorder SAD.
There are also studies that cite pollution and other environmental exposures as potential contributing factors to depression. In another study , children who grew up in areas with poor air quality appeared to be more likely to be depressed or be diagnosed with conduct disorder by the time they turned Your environment can also be an asset to your mental health. Research has shown that spending time in nature can help people cope with depression, and a study found kids who spent time in nature had better mental health as adults.
In addition to biological and environmental factors, social factors such as a person's personality, experiences of stress and conflict, and even social media can also influence depression risk. Certain personality traits, including low self-esteem , pessimism, neuroticism, and being self-critical or "a perfectionist" have been associated with a greater tendency toward depression and other mental health conditions, such as anxiety and eating disorders. Researchers are especially interested in learning more about a personality trait that may make someone less likely to experience depression.
You may also be able to access therapy privately or through your employer in an Employee Assistance Programme. Computerised cognitive behavioural therapy cCBT is one way of treating mild to moderate depression. You learn CBT techniques online using a computer. You will go through the same type of session as you would if you were with a therapist. It can be helpful after you have finished talking therapies to stop your symptoms coming back.
Your doctor might offer you an antidepressant. You may need to try different types before you find one that works for you. If you do not want to take antidepressants, tell your doctor and you can discuss other options.
Antidepressants can have side effects and can affect other medicines you are taking. Your doctor will check if you have physical health conditions or if you take other medication. It is important to talk to your doctor before you stop taking medication, because stopping suddenly can cause problems.
Regular exercise can help with your mood if you struggle with depression. Some GP surgeries will put you in touch with local exercise schemes. Electroconvulsive therapy ECT is a procedure sometimes used to treat severe depression. In this treatment, an electrical current is briefly passed through your brain while you are under general anaesthetic.
This means you are not awake during the procedure. You should only have ECT if you have severe depression, it is life-threatening and treatment is needed as soon as possible. Or you may be given ECT if no other treatments have worked. Transcranial direct current stimulation tDCS This treatment involves using a small battery-operated machine to pass a low current through your brain to stimulate activity. You are awake during the procedure, with daily sessions for several weeks.
NICE state that there is not a lot of evidence for how tDCS works for depression, but there are no major safety concerns. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rTMS rTMS uses electromagnetic coils to deliver pulses of magnetic energy to specific parts of your brain.
This stimulates the brain and may help to reduce depression and anxiety. You are awake during the procedure and can leave hospital the same day. If this is offered, you may have daily sessions for several weeks. Complementary therapies are treatments which are not part of mainstream healthcare. They can include aromatherapy, herbal remedies, acupuncture, massage, meditation and yoga. These treatments may help improve your emotional wellbeing and may help with side effects.
But your doctor does not have to give you these treatments. And the treatments may not be available in your area. Different treatments may be available in your area. Your doctor might think these suit your symptoms more than the recommended treatments. NICE recommend that depression is treated in different steps depending on how severe the condition is for you. The steps are as follows. This is when your symptoms have not improved after at least 2 standard treatments.
This can also be known as treatment-refractory depression. What treatment is available for treatment-resistant depression? There are treatment options for treatment resistant depression. Even if antidepressants have not worked already for you, your doctor may suggest a different antidepressant from a different class. Sometimes your doctor can prescribe a second type of medication to go with your antidepressant.
This can sometimes help the antidepressant work better than it does by itself. Where antidepressants have not worked, your doctor may suggest talking therapies, ECT or brain stimulation treatments.
See the previous section for more information on these. What is an implanted vagus nerve stimulator, and how is it used in treatment resistant depression? This is given for treatment-resistant depression to reduce symptoms with the aim of improving mood by regular stimulation of the vagus nerve. However, there is not currently a lot of evidence about how well this procedure works for treatment-resistant depression.
An advocate is independent from the NHS. They are free to use. They can be useful if you find it difficult to get your views heard. There are different types of advocates available.
Community advocates can support you to get a health professional to listen to your concerns. And help you to get the treatment that you would like. You can ask an advocate to help you make a complaint. Advocates that do this are called NHS complaints advocates. You can search online to search for a local advocacy service. You can email us too at advice rethink. We will look for you. Talk to your doctor about your treatment to see if you can resolve the problem with them first.
You are not legally entitled to a second opinion, but your doctor might agree to it if it would help with treatment options. It is best to try and solve the problem with the team or doctor first. If this does not help you can make a formal complaint. If you are unhappy with their response to your complaint, then you may be able to take this up to the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman. You can learn to manage some of your symptoms by looking after yourself. Self-care is how you take care of your diet, exercise, daily routine, relationships and how you are feeling.
You will learn how to notice when you are becoming unwell and know what your triggers are. Our diet affects our physical health. Depending on what you eat you could develop problems like obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
In the same way, the things we eat may affect our moods and mental health. Some people deal with their depression by eating high-fat and high-sugar foods. Also, seasonal affective disorder SAD can make you crave sugary carbohydrates like cakes and biscuits.
The UK Chief Medical Officer recommends that men and women should not regularly drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week. This is to help keep the risks and affects from alcohol low. If you have depression, making these changes may not have an instant impact on your mood. However, they can be important for long-term recovery. Exercising regularly can help your mood. You can exercise any way you like, so long as it safely increases your heart rate and makes you breathe faster.
Exercise can also help if you have problems sleeping. Getting proper sleep may be important for your mental health. How much you can do depends on your age, physical health and fitness. If you do not exercise already, start with small amounts and fit this into your daily routine.
You can then slowly increase the amount you do. This approach may help with your motivation. Or jogging for 5 kilometres. Some other ideas are listed below. Some mental health medication can cause problems with weight gain. Exercise could also help you manage this. To help, you could look at the NHS week diet and exercise plan which you can find here: www. You should speak to your doctor if you have any concerns about gaining weight due to medication.
You should also speak to your doctor if you have any concerns before starting to exercise. It gets in the way of everyday life, causing tremendous pain, hurting not just those suffering from it but also impacting everyone around them. If someone you love is depressed, you may be experiencing any number of difficult emotions, including helplessness, frustration, anger, fear, guilt, and sadness.
These feelings are all normal. And if you neglect your own health, it can become overwhelming. You can help them to cope with depression symptoms, overcome negative thoughts, and regain their energy, optimism, and enjoyment of life. Start by learning all you can about depression and how to best talk about it with your friend or family member.
Depression is a serious condition. Depression makes it difficult for a person to connect on a deep emotional level with anyone, even the people they love the most. Remember that this is the depression talking, not your loved one, so try not to take it personally. In fact, this may keep the depressed person from seeking treatment. Have patience as you encourage your loved one to take the first small steps to recovery.
While you can offer love and support, ultimately recovery is in the hands of the depressed person. Family and friends are often the first line of defense in the fight against depression.
You may notice the problem in a depressed loved one before they do, and your influence and concern can motivate them to seek help. Has lost interest in work, sex, hobbies, and other pleasurable activities. Has withdrawn from friends, family, and other social activities.
Expresses a bleak or negative outlook on life. Frequently complains of aches and pains such as headaches, stomach problems, and back pain. Or complains of feeling tired and drained all the time. Sleeps less than usual or oversleeps. Sometimes it is hard to know what to say when speaking to someone about depression.
You might fear that if you bring up your worries the person will get angry, feel insulted, or ignore your concerns. You may be unsure what questions to ask or how to be supportive. But remember that being a compassionate listener is much more important than giving advice.
Often, the simple act of talking face to face can be an enormous help to someone suffering from depression. Encourage the depressed person to talk about their feelings, and be willing to listen without judgment. Depressed people tend to withdraw from others and isolate themselves. You may need to express your concern and willingness to listen over and over again. Be gentle, yet persistent. Did we do something wrong?
I just didn't want to do anything. If you think someone has depression, you can support him by helping him find a doctor or mental health professional and then helping him make an appointment. Even men who have trouble recognizing that they are depressed may agree to seek help for physical symptoms, such as feeling tired or run down.
They may be willing to talk with their regular health professional about a new difficulty they are having at work or losing interest in doing things they usually enjoy. Talking with a primary care provider may be a good first step toward learning about and treating possible depression. As you continue treatment, gradually you will start to feel better.
Remember that if you are taking an antidepressant, it may take several weeks for it to start working. Try to do things that you used to enjoy before you had depression.
Go easy on yourself. If you are unsure of where to go for help, ask your family doctor or health care provider. You can also find resources online including the NIMH website at www. Hospital doctors can help in an emergency. Men with depression are at risk for suicide. If you or someone you know is in crisis, get help quickly.
In many instances, a crisis can be avoided when friends or family members are involved in the treatment and can recognize crisis warning signs. Crisis warning signs are different for different people. One person may have more trouble sleeping and become more agitated.
Another person may sleep more, stop eating, and focus on disturbing thoughts. You're lost. I'd drink and I tried to numb my head It doesn't just go away. It affects the way you feel. It affects the way you love It's just a blanket that covers everything And at times you just say it's enough already.
It just feels like enough. NIMH publications are in the public domain and may be reproduced or copied without permission. NIMH encourages you to reproduce them and use them in your efforts to improve public health.
Citation of the National Institute of Mental Health as a source is appreciated. Using government materials inappropriately, however, can raise legal or ethical concerns, so we ask you to follow these guidelines:. National Institute of Mental Health U. QF Revised January
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