Where Does Depression Come From? Common Causes and Risk Factors

Depression is a common mental health illness. It can creep in and cause havoc on someone’s daily life and routine. Depression doesn’t discriminate. It can affect anyone at any time, regardless of age, gender, education, background, and more.

So, where exactly does depression come from? The specific cause of depression isn’t exactly known, but several risk factors make someone more susceptible. Let’s explore these different factors and discuss treatment options if you’ve been experiencing depression.

Family History and Genetics

Your family history and genetics actually play a role in whether you’re likely to develop depression or not. While your family can pass on certain traits and characteristics like hair and eye color, height, or blood type, mood disorders can also be passed on. If someone in your family has a history of depression, there’s a good chance that you could be at higher risk for developing depression yourself.

Additionally, the environment of a household with an adult suffering from depression can play a role. If you witnessed a caregiver struggling with their mental health, you could consciously or unconsciously pick up their maladaptive coping mechanisms and habits.

Life Events

Life is filled with ups and downs. Stressful life events can make your world feel like it’s flipped upside down. The stress of an upcoming deadline at work, the loss of a loved one, or financial stressors can all cause you to feel more anxious and stressed about your life. If these feelings are left untreated, they can worsen, and feelings of depression may start to creep in. When someone is experiencing high levels of stress, the body and brain try to protect themselves by releasing hormones into the body to cope. If the stress doesn’t go away, the body and brain can stay in this mode, creating a new baseline of depression as the default setting.

Poor Diet or Nutrition

You’ve probably heard the saying, “When you eat good, you feel good,” or “You are what you eat.” While these may not be fully true, some truth exists behind these sayings or expressions. If you’re not fueling your body properly with healthy and well-balanced meals during your day, it could lead to deficiencies in the body, which can, in turn, cause signs or symptoms of depression.

Foods that are high in fats, sugars, or processed carbohydrates are also linked to increased rates of depression. Additionally, certain vitamin deficiencies can exacerbate symptoms of depression. Notably, a deficiency of vitamin D is a great offender.

Treatment Options

If you or a loved one are showing signs or symptoms of depression, it’s important to know that help is available to you. You’re not alone if you’re going through a difficult time. You’re also not expected to try to deal with it all on your own. While depression may be common, it’s also a very serious mental health condition. The longer you go without getting the proper treatment and support, the worse those signs and symptoms can become.

Implementing lifestyle changes can be a great way to manage the signs and symptoms of depression if you’re not quite ready to talk to someone. Try eating a healthy and well-balanced diet. Find ways to move your body during the day, or practice mindfulness or stress management techniques. These are all great ways to get started on learning how to better manage and cope with depression.

When you’re ready, we’re here to help you. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) is a highly effective treatment option for individuals struggling with depression. This form of therapy can help you replace those negative thoughts, feelings, and behaviors with more helpful ones. We can help you move forward in your life again. Reach out to us today if you’re interested in learning more about CBT and how we can help you.

Read about our Depression Therapy in Washington DC and VA.