Depression

Depression is a disorder of the brain. It is also called major depressive disorder or clinical depression. Depression is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest in once enjoyable activities. It affects how you feel, think, and behave and it can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.

There are a variety of causes of depression, including genetic, environmental, psychological, and biochemical factors. Depression usually starts between the ages of 15 and 30, and is much more common in women than in men. Depression is one part of bipolar disorder.

Depression is more than just feeling “sad” or “blue” every once in a while. Depression may require long-term treatment, but most people with depression feel better with medication, psychological counseling, or both.

It is not known exactly what causes depression. As with many mental disorders, a variety of factors may be involved, including genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.

Depressive illnesses are disorders of the brain, and brain-imaging technologies, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), have shown that the brains of people who have depression look different than those of people without depression. The parts of the brain involved in mood, thinking, sleep, appetite, and behavior appear different. But these images do not reveal why the depression has occurred and they cannot be used to diagnose depression.

Neurotransmitters and hormones play a role in depression. The balance of these chemicals in the brain influence mood and mental health, and changes in levels and interactions of certain neurotransmitters and hormones can trigger depression.

Some types of depression tend to run in families. However, depression can occur in people without family histories of depression too. Scientists are studying certain genes that may make some people more prone to depression. Some genetics research indicates that risk for depression results from the influence of several genes acting together with environmental or other factors. In addition, trauma, loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or any stressful situation may trigger a depressive episode. Other depressive episodes may occur with or without an obvious trigger.

Risk Factors that increase the risk of developing or triggering depression include:

• Certain personality traits, such as low self-esteem and being too dependent, self-critical or pessimistic
• Traumatic or stressful events, such as physical or sexual abuse, the death or loss of a loved one, a difficult relationship, or financial problems
• Childhood trauma or depression that started when you were a teen or child
• Blood relatives with a history of depression, bipolar disorder, alcoholism or suicide
• History of other mental health disorders, such as anxiety disorder, eating disorders or post-traumatic stress disorder
• Abuse of alcohol or illegal drugs
• Serious or chronic illness, including cancer, stroke, chronic pain or heart disease

Reach out to a doctor or pharmacist if low mood, loss of interest, or sleep and appetite changes last more than two weeks. If you have thoughts of harming yourself, call or text 988 right away.