Who is responsible for my depression?
It is natural to try to find the causes of a mental illness that so greatly affects our daily life, decisions, emotions, and behaviors. It is natural to try to determine who is at fault in a mental disorder that causes us sadness and sorrow, anger, guilt, frustration, and constant fatigue.
So, who is to blame?
• Is it my fault that I don’t make the right decisions for my life?
• Is it my fault that I don’t take care of myself as I should?
• Are my parents to blame?
• Are my grandparents to blame?
• Are my friends to blame?
• Is my school to blame?
• Is my environment to blame?
SOMEONE MUST BE TO BLAME!
Everything indicates that for a person to develop a Depressive Disorder, a combination of factors is needed, which make them more vulnerable and increase the likelihood of experiencing this mental illness.
Initially, genetic factors play an important role. According to research, there is a higher probability of developing a depressive disorder in twins and first-degree relatives, that is, in parents, siblings, and children. It appears that there are genes involved with depression that affect the production and transmission of serotonin in the brain. This means that a susceptibility to this mental illness is inherited, which will manifest in the individual if other contributing factors are also present.
Of course, we cannot ignore the personality and temperament of each individual, which significantly influence their psychology. It seems that people who naturally have low self-confidence and self-esteem, who experience excessive anxiety, who are characterized by negative thinking, and who habitually interpret everything that happens in their life in a hostile way, increase their chances of developing depression. In turn, biological factors contribute to the emergence of depressive symptoms due to low levels of certain brain chemicals that are essential for our mood.
Certainly, we cannot remain unaffected by social and cultural factors, by what happens in our daily lives, or by our environment and surroundings. It is quite natural that if you are called to handle difficult situations, severe financial problems, anxiety, a breakup, or the death of a loved one, you have a higher likelihood of developing depression compared to the general population. The same applies to those who are isolated or belong to minority groups, to those who have no support and are alone. Stereotypes, discrimination, and pressures often exerted by society are factors that can negatively affect and exacerbate the symptoms of depression.
In any case, for someone to develop a Depressive Disorder, the following are required:
- To experience intense stressful and negatively charged social and psychological conditions.
- For certain processes in the brain to be activated.
- For there to be genetic factors that make the individual more sensitive and vulnerable to the above events.
What are Depressive Disorders?
Something that many people do not know is that Depressive Disorder is not just one condition. On the contrary, there are many forms, which differ according to type, quality, frequency, intensity, gender, age, and the symptoms experienced by the individual.
One of the most common is Major Depressive Disorder, which lasts at least 2 weeks and involves a significantly low mood or loss of interest and pleasure for most hours of the day. It is characterized by sadness and despair, fatigue, reduced concentration and attention, weight loss or gain, insomnia or excessive desire to sleep, thoughts of death, and more. Research shows that, on average, the first depressive episode occurs between the ages of 25 and 29, and it is slightly more common in women.
Another well-known form is Persistent Depressive Disorder, also known as Dysthymia. To have this mental disorder, your symptoms must last at least 2 years and are relatively milder than Major Depressive Disorder, but they persist longer over time. Fatigue and exhaustion are intense, self-esteem is low, and negative thoughts about oneself, others, and the future are common. In general, there is reduced concentration, difficulty making even simple decisions, and a sense of hopelessness.
Perinatal or Postpartum Depression is particularly common and affects exclusively women. As the name suggests, it refers to depression that occurs during pregnancy or after childbirth. Symptoms of this disorder include intense sadness, fatigue and exhaustion, indifference, anxiety and guilt, and changes in sleep and appetite. Generally, there is significant anxiety about anything related to the baby or, conversely, a complete lack of interest and a feeling of being a “bad mother,” which increases the guilt and shame experienced by the new mother, making the disorder even more painful for her and, consequently, for the infant.
There are also other Depressive Disorders, which may not be as well-known or common, but still affect a portion of the population. In any case, for someone to be diagnosed with depression, certain basic criteria—symptoms—must be met according to the APA (American Psychiatric Association), and the diagnosis can only be made with the help of a psychiatrist.
Bibliography
- American Psychiatric Association. (2016). Depressive Disorders. In Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed., text rev.)
- Howard, L. M., & Khalifeh, H. (2020). Perinatal mental health: a review of progress and challenges. World Psychiatry, 19(3), 313–327. doi:10.1002/wps.20769
- Hyde, J. S., & Mezulis, A. H. (2020). Gender Differences in Depression. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 28(1), 4–13. doi:10.1097/hrp.0000000000000230
- Khalsa, S.-R., McCarthy, K. S., Sharpless, B. A., Barrett, M. S., & Barber, J. P. (2011). Beliefs about the causes of depression and treatment preferences. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 67(6), 539–549. doi:10.1002/jclp.20785
- Neitzke, A. B. (2015). An Illness of Power: Gender and the Social Causes of Depression. Culture, Medicine, and Psychiatry, 40(1), 59–73. doi:10.1007/s11013-015-9466-3
- Nobis, A., Zalewski, D., & Waszkiewicz, N. (2020). Peripheral Markers of Depression. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 9(12), 3793. doi:10.3390/jcm9123793
Written by a scientific collaborator of myTherapist | Maria Sakkari
Medicine
