What is the Root Cause of Your Depression?

Depression is so common, in fact around 1 in 4 people will go through depression or a similar condition at least once during their lifetime. While genetics has something to do with it, there are other things that cause depression. When you figure out the root cause of your depression, you have a starting point in getting over it. Let’s take a look at some of the causes of depression.

Abuse

For many people who have depression, they put it down to their past/childhood and abuse and that is likely where it comes from, whether it be sexual, physical, or mental abuse. This is something that’s really hard to get over and even years later, it often presents itself in the form of mental illness including depression.

Grief

Losing somebody close to you can often result in depression. Everybody gets sad after they lose someone but for some people, it can result in a long time of being in a depressive state and even foster suicidal thoughts. It’s so important to talk to people including your family, friends, and professionals if you are currently going through grief and can’t see a way out at the end.

Medications

Certain medications that you might think are no big deal could cause depression. It is so important to do your research into any medications you are taking and also talk to your doctor about possible side effects including mood changes.

Substance Abuse and Addictions

It will probably be no surprise to you that depression and addictions and substance abuse go hand in hand. All mental problems are linked in some way and people often find themselves suffering from more than one. If you are addicted to drugs and or alcohol, this affects the chemistry in your brain and is known to cause depression.

Things like gambling addictions, food addictions and basically any other type of problems that you can think of can also result in depression. This is due to the horrible side effects that these type of addictions cause. It’s like an endless cycle when you are stuck in this carousel of depression and addictions. You need to tackle both, or you’ll never be free of either.

Stressful Life Events

Events in your life that have caused you stress can build in your head and make you feel very depressed. Some of these things include moving, losing your job, or a relationship ending. For some people, even the slightest bit of stress can cause the chemicals in your brain to alter and light the fuse of depression. When you feel yourself going down a spiral, it is important to get professional help as soon as you notice it starting.

Some people will suffer from mental illness their entire life but knowing where your depression stems from is the first step in eliminating your symptoms as much as possible. No matter what kind of recovery route you do decide to go down, just keep in mind that it does get better.

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