What is the number one cause of depression?

Changes in the brain (imbalance of neurotransmitters) is one of the main causes of depression. However, there are other factors such as genetic vulnerability, severe life stressors, substances you may take (some medications, drugs and alcohol) and medical conditions that can affect the way your brain regulates your moods.

Which hormone is responsible for depression?

A number of hormonal changes can contribute, but serotonin, dopamine and oxytocin are thought to be altered in the pathophysiology of depression.

What raises serotonin levels in the brain?

Brain serotonin levels can also be raised by eating foods rich in L-tryptophan such as chicken, eggs, cheese, turkey, beef, salmon and tuna, tempeh, beans, lentils, spinach and other dark green leafy vegetables, pumpkin and chia seeds, and nuts.

What part of your brain is affected by depression?

The main subcortical limbic brain regions implicated in depression are the amygdala, hippocampus, and the dorsomedial thalamus. Both structural and functional abnormalities in these areas have been found in depression.

Which gender is more likely to be depressed?

After puberty, depression rates are higher in females than in males. Because girls typically reach puberty before boys do, they're more likely to develop depression at an earlier age than boys are. There is evidence to suggest that this depression gender gap may continue throughout the lifespan.

Is depression a genetic disease?

Depression is known to run in families, suggesting that genetic factors contribute to the risk of developing this disease. However, research into the genetics of depression is in its early stages, and very little is known for certain about the genetic basis of the disease.

Do I need to take antidepressants forever?

Although it may be tempting to stop medication as your mood lifts, continue taking it for as long as your doctor recommends. Most doctors advise patients to take antidepressants for six months to a year after they no longer feel depressed. Stopping before that time can cause depression to return.

What happens if you take antidepressants without depression?

There is a new reason to be cautious about using popular antidepressants in people who are not really depressed. For the first time, research has shown that a widely used antidepressant may cause subtle changes in brain structure and function when taken by those who are not depressed. The drug is sertraline.

What are protective factors for depression?

Protective factors were positive family functioning, social support (including online), community support, and physical activity. For young adults, risk factors were social isolation and loneliness, homelessness, being a sexual minority, migration and cyberbullying.

How can I boost my mood naturally?

Eat foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids, pump up on probiotics, reach for whole grains, opt for a nutritious breakfast, load up on leafy green vegetables, enjoy caffeine in moderation and enrich your diet with foods high in Vitamin D. Additionally, maintain sleep hygiene or regular sleep schedule and avoid alcohol and other substance abuse.

Can depression be cured?

Depressive disorders are treated with medication and psychotherapy and response to treatment modalities is generally good. When treated early, the response rate is even better and the person is able to be off medicines in due course of time.

Is depression an illness or a state of mind?

Depressive disorders are caused by a neurochemical disturbance in the brain which responds to antidepressant treatment. Like other bodily ailments, there is a physiological process involved in these disorders which disturb the normal state of well-being. Just because there is no lab test to identify these imbalances at present, doesn't mean that depression is not an illness and that it should not be treated.

Can depression be caused by something other than stress?

Depression can occur in the absence of a significant environmental stressor. There are hereditary and genetic factors involved in the causation of these disorders and psychosocial issues are often the triggers for the onset of depression and not the cause of it.

Are all antidepressants sedative in nature?

All antidepressants are not sedatives. The goal of treatment is to help the individual lead a happy, healthy life and not to put him to sleep. Initial side effects of some antidepressants produce drowsiness and the effects vary from person to person. Treatment is thus individualized based on effects and side effects. Antidepressants are generally non-addictive if taken under supervision.

Can depression be controlled by willpower and involvement?

Depression occurs when the brain is unable to produce sufficient chemical substances to keep the person in a normal state of mind. During this phase, the person is not able to use his or her willpower alone to get out of the state of depression. Negative thinking, lack of interest and inability to feel good are part and parcel of depressive disorders. Medicines help correct the neurochemical imbalance faster. Psychotherapy, in addition to medical therapy, can hasten the process of recovery.

Depression

Written By Dr. Sakshi JainMS, BDS

Reviewed By Dr. Lalit Kanodia

MD (Pharmacology), MBBS

Last updated on: 27 Sep 2022 | 06:23 PM (IST)

Overview

Depression is a mood disorder that drains you of hope, motivation and energy and keeps you in a consistent feeling of sadness. It starts with subtle signs like difficulty in focusing, poor recalling abilities, feeling low quite often, and changes in appetite. Most of the people tend to ignore these signs, till it manifests as a clinical illness and can have serious health implications.

Depression is a complex disorder most likely triggered by overlapping biological, psychological, and environmental factors. It is much more common than we think and anyone can suffer from depression, even a person who appears to live in relatively ideal circumstances.

Depression is not something to be embarrassed or ashamed about. It is a bodily disorder and needs medical intervention like any other disease. Timely and right medical treatment along with self care can go a long way in managing it. So speak up, treating depression as a taboo will only make matters worse.

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Overview

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