Depression: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatments

Depression is one of the most common mental health and mood disorders, and it affects around 280 million people worldwide. It can affect patients of any age, and symptoms may include mixed feelings of sadness, grief, and hopelessness. Depression can impact your energy as well as your ability to perform daily life activities. Women are twice as likely to develop anxiety and depression than men.

Depression may also cause suicidal thoughts and loss of interest in things you used to enjoy or love. So, how can you identify and treat depression?

In this article, we will discuss the main causes of depression, its symptoms and treatment, and how to avoid or cope with depression.

What Is Depression? 

Sometimes, it is normal to feel sad, unhappy, or low, especially when life gets challenging and things don’t go as planned or expected. 

But if these emotions persist for several weeks or months and noticeably affect your daily life tasks, it’s classified as depression.

Depression is defined as feelings of intense sadness, hopelessness, irritability, and grief that persist every day for at least 2 weeks or more and prevent you from living your life. It can sometimes occur with anxiety, fear, and restlessness.

Symptoms of Depression 

The common symptoms of depression include five or more of the following:

• Feelings of sadness, emptiness, and hopelessness
• Low mood
• Suicidal thoughts 
• Loss of interest in enjoyable or day-to-day activities
• Trouble sleeping or excessive sleeping 
• Constant feelings of guilt
• Irritability 
• Feelings of worthlessness 
• Difficulty concentrating and making decisions 
• Loss of appetite or overeating 
• Headaches or undefined body aches 

What Are the Five Main Causes of Depression? 

The five leading causes are:

Life Events 

The most common reason for depression is stressful or challenging life events, like the death of a loved one, breakup, divorce, loneliness, and trauma. It may also occur if you are not able to achieve something you desire.

Hormonal Changes 

The hormonal changes in a person’s body can also cause temporary depression, which usually will resolve with time. For instance, menstrual cycles, menopause, pregnancy, or postpartum period can affect hormonal levels, causing sadness and potentially depression. 

A drop in hormones also leads to a decline in serotonin levels (feel-good hormones), which can trigger depression. In menopause, there is a reduction in estrogen and progesterone hormones, which can lead to mood swings, anxiety, depression, and irritability.

Genetics 

If one or both parents have depression, it can increase the chances of the illness occurring in their offspring. Genetic factors can make a person susceptible to this condition. In those with a strong family history,  there may be a lower threshold for depression due to life events and both emotional and physiologic triggers.  

Chronic Medical Conditions or Medicine Side Effects 

Chronic medical conditions, like cancer, diabetes, hypertension, loss of eyesight, hearing difficulties, disability, or non-treatable disorders may also progress to depression.

Some medications, like corticosteroids, beta-blockers, hormonal contraceptives, anticonvulsants, and others, list depression as a potential side effect. Using these drugs for the long term may cause or worsen this mental illness.

Chemical Imbalance 

Serotonin and dopamine are neurotransmitters or chemicals in the brain that play a role in maintaining a person’s mental well-being or improving mood. They are also known as the feel-good neurotransmitters. An imbalance or dysfunction of these hormones may also cause depression.

Diagnosis

The diagnosis is typically made through evaluation of symptoms and a thorough understanding of the context of symptoms. Doctors will also evaluate other mental health conditions and the life events or background of the patient.

Blood tests may be done to diagnose any underlying disease that may be causing depression. This includes untreated thyroid disease or perimenopausal/menopausal changes.

Depression is usually diagnosed when the patient has at least five or more depressive symptoms every day for 2 weeks or more.

Treatment of Depression 

The first method for treating depression is through natural means, like regular exercise, a healthy diet, changing the environment, visiting a loved one, and mental counseling or therapy. If the symptoms persist, then medications should be prescribed.

Treatment is based on the following factors: 

• The type and severity of depression 
• If it is related to other chronic disorders or mental conditions
• If it is temporary due to a specific loss or hormonal fluctuations or if it’s long-lasting

Psychotherapy 

Psychotherapy, also called talk therapy, is a type of treatment in which patients discuss the issues that are causing them to feel depressed with a mental health professional, like a psychiatrist or psychologist. 

The psychiatrist or psychotherapist counsels the patient, tries to figure out the core problem, and supports, motivates, and guides the patient, aiming to improve their mental well-being. 

Psychotherapy may include: 

• Cognitive behavioral therapy 
• Problem-solving therapy 
• Interpersonal psychotherapy 

Medications

The benefits of medications commonly appear after about 4 to 9 weeks of treatment. Dry mouth, weight disturbance, reduced sex drive, sleep disturbances, and dizziness are some common side effects of antidepressants.

Depending on the patient’s condition or need, the following medications are prescribed if depression is chronic, long-lasting, or doesn’t resolve through natural ways or counseling. Below are some of the common medications that are used: 

Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRIs)

• Fluoxetine
• Citalopram
• Escitalopram
• Paroxetine
• Fluvoxamine
• Sertraline

Serotonin Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitors (SNRIs) 

• Duloxetine
• Venlafaxine
• Desvenlafaxine

Atypical Antidepressants 

• Mirtazapine
• Bupropion

Tricyclic Antidepressants 

• Amitriptyline
• Imipramine
• Doxepin 

Monoamine Oxidase Inhibitors (MAOIs)

• Isocarboxazid
• Selegiline
• Phenelzine
• Tranylcypromine

Prevention of Depression

To prevent or cope with depression naturally, it is recommended to:

• Engage in regular physical activity or exercise. Exercise stimulates the release of feel-good neurotransmitters, like dopamine and serotonin, which are good for a person’s mental well-being. You can also opt for other physical activities that you enjoy, like swimming, outdoor sports, gardening, or jogging.
• Avoid or limit the consumption of alcohol or illicit drugs, as they can worsen or trigger depression. 
• Keep yourself busy and avoid isolation. Remain connected with your friends, family, and relatives, and share your feelings with your close ones.
• Maintain a healthy diet. Increase your intake of vegetables, fruits, fish, non-refined grains, and olive oil, and reduce the consumption of high-fat dairy products, junk foods, and poultry, as such foods may lead to more severe depressive symptoms. 
• Develop and stick to a sleep routine and take measures to maintain a sound, peaceful sleep. Remove distractions that may affect your sleep, like phones, lights, or human distractions. Avoid consuming caffeine at night.
• Check in with your primary care doctor regularly to discuss any changes in your energy and how you feel. Laboratory testing may be indicated to rule out any hormonal imbalances which may contribute to the symptoms.