Reasons People Get Depressed (And How To Avoid It)

#1 Overthinking and stress

According to Mayo Clinic, “Chronic stressful life situations can increase the risk of developing depression if you aren’t coping with the stress well. There’s also increasing evidence of links among poor coping, stress and physical illness.”

A good way to overcome this is through mindfulness and affirmative thinking. It’s never easy to just stop thinking about something, so it’s always better to try and replace the stressful thoughts with something more affirmative.

#2 Debt

There is no doubt that money is important in society.However, it is not the lack of money that ultimately leads people to become depressed; it is the process of being in chronic debt.Research from Lawrence Berger Ph.D., from the University of Madison, has found that when a person’s debt increases by 10 percent, symptoms of depression increase by 14 percent.Those that display the most depressive symptoms because of debt are people who are 50 and older.That is not surprising as people around this age feel that they are running out of time.

Researchers have found out that it’s not the lack of money that can fuel your depression, it’s chronic debt and being constantly poor.

Researcher Dr. Thomas Richardson says, “People who are depressed may struggle to cope financially and get into debt, which then sends them deeper into depression.”

A good way to remediate this is to focus on controlling your spending and trying to find activities to enjoy that don’t involve money. That way you can reassess some of the good, free things in your life.

#3 Brain Chemicals

Although there’s been a lot of research in this complex area, there’s still much we don’t know. Depression is not simply the result of a ‘chemical imbalance’, for example, because you have too much or not enough of a particular brain chemical. It’s complicated, and there are multiple causes of major depression. Factors such as genetic vulnerability, severe life stressors, substances you may take (some medications, drugs, and alcohol) and medical conditions can affect the way your brain regulates your moods.

Most modern antidepressants have an effect on your brain’s chemical transmitters (serotonin and noradrenaline), which relay messages between brain cells – this is thought to be how medications work for more severe depression. Psychological treatment can also help you to regulate your moods.

Effective treatment can stimulate the growth of new nerve cells in circuits that regulate your mood, which is thought to play a critical part in recovering from the most severe episodes of depression.

#4 Poor Body Image

In a society obsessed with the ‘ideal body type’, it is not surprising for many women, even men, to be unhappy with their body image. They tend to compare themselves with the ‘thin ideal’ that is often seen in many magazines and television. Many types of research have reported more women are having a negative perception of their own body image, linking it to high incidents of depression often leading to suicide. Poor body image has driven many women to extreme measures such as starvation, leading to serious eating disorders – this can lead to attempts of committing suicide.

#5 Divorce/Failed Relationships

Divorce is one of the most stressful events in life an individual can experience. A failed relationship is especially hard on the psyche as you have come to depend, rely upon, and confide in that person.Part of the emotional torment comes from the lack of hope that you will find another person that you feel the same way about.

#6 Thinking the worst will happen

That’s kind of the same as overthinking but the other way around – overthinking something that will happen in the future rather than a past situation. Focusing too much on things like whether your new boss will like you or whether your date will go well only causes more stress which leads to depressive thoughts. The best way to avoid this behavior is to busy yourself with everyday chores and avoid focusing on what’s to come. Keep yourself rooted in the present to stop thinking about the future.

#7 Vitamin D

Most people in the US have insufficient or deficient levels of Vitamin D. The reasons are not clear, but could be related to nutrition and insufficient sun exposure. People with dark skin are more vulnerable to vitamin D deficiency, due to a decreased ability to process vitamin D from sunlight. Vitamin D deficiency has been statistically linked to depression. In a large Dutch study by Hoogendijk and colleagues (2008) of over 1,200 persons aged 65 and older, levels of vitamin D were 14% lower in persons with minor depression or major depressive disorder when compared to those not showing depressed mood.

#8 Hormones

Hormones are substances produced by the endocrine glands that influence many bodily functions, including growth and development, mood, sexual function, and metabolism. Levels of certain hormones, such as those produced by the thyroid gland, can be factors in depression. In addition, some symptoms of depression are associated with thyroid conditions. Hormones fluctuate during the menstrual cycle and may create vulnerability to sad or depressed mood in the premenstrual period, as well as during peri-menopause, and menopause. There are individual differences in how much our moods are vulnerable to the effects of hormones. If you are more vulnerable, you may want to consult a physician to see if medications are needed to help regulate your hormones. Or you could try try alternative medicine treatments, such as acupuncture to reduce hormone-related mood imbalance.

#9 Death of a Loved One

Grief is one of the five natural emotions and is completely natural. However, if grief is dealt with incorrectly, it can lead to chronic depression. If grief is handled correctly, it can make one appreciate how short and fleeting life is and to start taking life by the horns.

#10 Vitamin B-12

Vitamin B-12 and other B vitamins play a role in producing brain chemicals that affect mood and other brain functions. Low levels of B-12 and other B vitamins such as vitamin B-6 and folate may be linked to depression.

Low levels of a vitamin can result from eating a poor diet or not being able to absorb the vitamins you consume. Older adults, vegetarians, and people with digestive disorders such as celiac disease or Crohn's disease may have trouble getting enough B-12.

Sometimes a vitamin B-12 deficiency occurs for unknown reasons. Your doctor may order a blood test to check levels of B-12 or other vitamins if a deficiency is suspected.

The best way to make sure you're getting enough B-12 and other vitamins to eat a healthy diet that includes sources of essential nutrients. Vitamin B-12 is plentiful in animal products such as fish, lean meat, poultry, eggs, and low-fat and fat-free milk. Fortified breakfast cereals also are a good source of B-12 and other B vitamins.

Taking a daily supplement that includes vitamin B-12 may help your body get the nutrients it needs, especially if you're older than 50 or you're a vegetarian.

Keep in mind, the role of B vitamins in depression isn't clear. If you have a vitamin deficiency, taking a supplement may help. But no supplement can replace proven depression treatments such as antidepressants and psychological counseling.

#11 Childhood Adverse Events

Stressful life events can wear down our physical and mental resources, making us more vulnerable to both depression and physical illnesses.A history of childhood trauma, including abuse, poverty, or loss of a parent, can reset our developing brains to be less cognitively flexible. It seems that our brains naturally go into a “fight, flight, freeze” response to stress or threat and we often have to use our prefrontal cortex or executive center to get out of this state. Prolonged stress in childhood can make our brains less interconnected and resilient..Our brains can more easily get “stuck” in negative thinking patterns or stressed out states and we become less able to change tracks.

#12 Loneliness

Our human brains are wired or be part of a social group, and we experience loneliness as chronically stressful and depressing. Unfortunately, some of us have toxic or neglectful families that don’t provide support or presence when we need it. Or we may feel that our friends are moving on in finding romantic relationships or having kids and leaving us behind. Research using fMRI brain scans shows that even minor social rejection lights up the same areas of our brains as physical pain. Feeling left out, rejected, or excluded makes us sad and can also lead to rumination about what is wrong with us that further darkens our moods. We become scared of further rejection and isolate ourselves, perpetuating the negative cycle. While there may not be an immediate cure for loneliness, it helps to get out in the world and pursue your natural interests, which can lead to expanding your social network. Staying in touch with old friends or family and deliberately seeking opportunities to connect may help as well.

#13 Coping Mechanism

Coping (or defense) mechanisms are conscious efforts to try to solve your internal conflicts or problems.Some great coping mechanisms you can develop in order to cope with life’s stressors are:

Exercise

Social support

Hobbies

Music

Humor

#14 Final Thoughts

Remember,“You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.”

― Maya Angelou