Depression refers to a constant feeling of sadness, emptiness, or a lack of pleasure in life. It is different from sorrow and grief which are a result of challenging life events.
It can even lead to suicidal ideation, affect your personal relationships, and make work and maintaining a healthy lifestyle very difficult or at times even impossible.
What are the causes of depression?
Although the medical community still does not completely understand the reasons behind depression, there are some possible causes and triggers that may lead to depressive symptoms.
Following are some of the factors that may cause depression:
- Genetic factors
- A traumatic event
- Social and psychological factors
- Alterations in a person’s neurotransmitter levels in their brain
- Other mental health conditions such as a bipolar disorder
Interaction between these factors may lead to depression. For example, a person who has the genetic disposition to depression or family history may become clinically depressed after a traumatic event.
What are the symptoms of depression?
Some common symptoms of a person who has depression may include:
- Loss of energy
- Fatigue
- Feelings of guilt
- Thoughts of suicide
- Unexplained changes in appetite
- A drop in sexual desire
- A lack of pleasure in everything
How is depression different in males and females?
Depression is more common in women. But one of the reasons behind this is that females are more likely to report depressive symptoms and seek treatment. On the other hand, depressive men are more likely to drink alcohol, engage in risky behavior, and display more anger than a woman with depression.
Other signs of depression in men may include:
- Abusive and controlling behavior in their relationships
- Working endlessly without a break
- Avoiding social and family situations
- Having a hard time keeping up with family and work responsibilities
What are the risk factors for depression?
People who have the following risk factors may have a higher risk of being depressed:
- Lack of social support
- Frequent acute stress
- Lack of coping strategies
- A family history of depression
- Using drugs such as amphetamines and alcohol
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