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5 reasons you may be depressed

Published

8 years ago

May 7, 2016

Depression is one of the most common mental disorders in the United States and is caused by a combination of genetic, biological, environmental and psychological factors, according to the National Institute of Mental Health.

Due to its myriad causes, there are many treatments and combinations of treatments including medication and non-drug approaches such as psychotherapy and other types of therapies including electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), as well as alternative approaches like herbs, supplements, hypnosis and meditation.

Depression is complicated, and so are the reasons for it. Sometimes you have to look beyond the obvious to search for and identify what is causing your depression. Once you find it, you may be closer to knowing how to treat it.

Here are some possible causes:

Sunny Weather: If you thought SAD only struck during the cold weather, you’re wrong. It can also happen during the hot weather. There can be many reasons: a disruption in your normal routine, increasing heat and humidity, or body image issues.

Underactive Thyroid: Having a thyroid that is underactive, or sluggish, has been linked to depression. In hypothyroidism, which affects more than 10 million people around the world, the thyroid not does produce enough thyroid-stimulating hormone, which can create a wide range of symptoms, including depression, mood impairment or trouble with concentration. Blood tests to measure your thyroid function can confirm this condition, which is treatable with medication.

Read also: Health benefits of salt therapy

Inadequate Sleep: There’s a powerful link between sleep and depression, and it works both ways. Depressed people may have more trouble sleeping, but lack of adequate sleep can also lead to depression. Being exhausted can make you feel tense and irritable and be much less likely to get proper exercise, which can also prevent you from feeling your best. Regular exercise has been proven to reduce stress and help alleviate feelings of anxiety and depression.

Internet Addiction: This might be an example of “some is good but more is not.” British researchers who studied the Internet’s role in depression found that “Internet addicts” had a higher incidence of moderate to severe depression. Could be that depressed people are more drawn to the Internet, or it could be that the Internet is causing depression by socially isolating people or causing them to feel bad about themselves when they see social media accounts of everyone else’s glorious vacation, reunion, party or other celebration.

Urban Dwelling: Where you live can affect your mood. One reason could be stress. A 2011 study in the journal Nature found that mood and anxiety disorders were more commonly found in city dwellers than in those who lived in rural regions. City dwellers showed more activity in the part of the brain that regulates stress than those who lived in quieter, more peaceful environments. In fact, the risk of mood disorders has been found to be up to 39 per cent higher among urban dwellers.

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