Depression is not a new problem; it’s a mental health issue that has been around for centuries – perhaps even since the beginning of time. How people think about it and treat it, however, has changed – and relatively recently too. Today, many people are much more understanding about what depression can do to a person and why it’s such a problem. Plus, they might even be more aware of how to treat it.
What they might not know, however, is what causes depression. Understanding its causes could be extremely useful, as it means people can be more cautious and mindful about how they live and what they do in an attempt to prevent depression from developing. With that in mind, here are some of the biggest causes of depression to consider.
Health Problems
Your health is so important. If you are healthy, you can do anything you want to do; you can go where you want to go, fulfill dreams and desires, get the job you want, and so on. But if you’re unhealthy for any reason, these things might be more difficult to achieve; you might not be able to live the life you want. Clearly, this will be detrimental when it comes to your emotional and mental health, which means poor physical health is a reason that depression can occur.
It’s not just that you might not be able to do the things you could do if you were well; there is also pain to consider. Some conditions mean that the sufferer has chronic pain, and this can lead to lack of sleep, not eating properly, and feeling generally down. As such, depression can occur, which adds a whole other layer of health problems to chronic pain conditions.
Therefore, if you have physical health problems, the best thing to do is seek medical help. Even if the issue can’t be entirely cured, it might be managed, which will greatly help your mental health.
Grief
When people are going through the grieving process, they could start to suffer from depression. Plus, if they were already suffering from this mental health condition, dealing with grief could make it worse. Some of the symptoms of depression include lack of appetite, low productivity, not being able to sleep, and not wanting to do things you used to enjoy – and these can all come about due to the loss of a loved one.
Of course, feeling these things when a loved one passes away is perfectly normal and could even be considered healthy. However, when they go on for a long time, they can lead to depression, which is not healthy in the slightest.
When grieving, the best course of action is to get help and support from others. Whether it’s in the form of practical help, therapy, a shoulder to cry on, or perhaps someone has chosen one of these 15 sympathy gifts that are thoughtful to give you, taking what is offered and allowing yourself to be helped will take the overall burden off you and help you feel better.
Stress
A big issue when it comes to depression and the causes behind it is stress. As with grief, stress can be healthy in small doses; it keeps humans alert to danger and ensures they can either run or fight if the need arises. On the other hand, chronic stress is dangerous, and depression is just one of the many issues that can come from it.
Therefore, it’s crucial to de-stress and relax as much as possible to keep your stress levels under control. This won’t always be easy, but there are ways it can be done, depending on your personal preferences and what makes you feel good. It might be going for a walk in the woods, watching a favorite old movie, speaking to friends, working out, or anything else that reduces your stress. It’s also important to make sure you recognize the symptoms of stress, as this will help you know when it’s time to do something about it.
