The physical and mental changes that depression creates can seemingly slip into one's life without much reason. In an attempt to explain the new mood, a person might blame it on how their life is going, or something unrelated that happened days or weeks prior. However, there are generally more direct reasons that explain why a person experiences depression or depressed feelings. Depression is caused by a combination of potentials and triggers. As a child I found myself steeped in a pool of stressful situations ranging from my family life and personal health to unhealthy cultural norms and living isolated in the country. It took a long time to tease these apart and address them individually instead of simply seeing the world as an awful place to live, but after research and experimentation, I now have a pretty good idea about what causes depressive episodes and what I can do to alleviate feeling mentally unwell. The following information is what I found. Things that increase the overall potential of experiencing depression and depressed feelings include:
This list can be generalized into four broad categories: chronic genetic and chemical abnormalities, life events, lifestyle choices, and unmet needs. It may be difficult to discern which category or categories you fit into initially, but doing so will greatly help you find proper treatments for your depression. "Triggers" put a person into the state of depression. They can include just about anything depending on the person, though some triggers are more common than others. These include things such as:
This article was adapted from Chapter 4 of my book, The Happiest Choice: Essential Tools for Everyone's Brain Feelings. Potentials and triggers are explored in depth with many options for empowering your life and overcoming depression and anxiety. You can download a condensed version of the book for free here, or consider supporting this work and getting a more in-depth look into the science of happiness and radical mental health by purchasing the full version on my Etsy Store or Amazon. Please note that I am not a medical professional and do not guarantee the accuracy of this information.
2 Comments
12/27/2017 11:31:58 pm
Despite the advent of science and technology, finding a safe and effective treatment for depression remains a challenge. Studies have found that as much as 40 percent of sufferers show no response to treatment, while the remaining half report only a partial response.
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12/28/2017 03:09:00 pm
Indeed it is a considerably small number that treatment truly works for, but I imagine that the study you are referring to used fairly limited methods of treatment as well. When people talk about getting treated for depression, they are typically referring to anti-depressants and therapy, neither of which completely cover the breadth of the possible causes of depression within a person. Fortunately there are quite a few other methods of treatment that people do find work, even if doctors do not cover them.
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Hi! My name is Sage Liskey, the founder of the Rad Cat Press. I grew up seeing a lot of the disturbing, toxic, and unhealthy sides of American culture, and decided I wanted to do something to change it. Since 2010 I have been writing books and zines (booklets) focused around uplifting lives and reimagining society, with a primary focus in mental health and empowerment. I believe a better world is possible, so I hope you feel inspired and a little more fulfilled from what you find here. Read on about my mission.
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