When experiencing depression, many people say that they feel as if a black curtain has come down over their life. They report feeling alone and not knowing where to turn for help. But depression is common - approximately 8 percent of adults have reported being in a depressive state at some point within the past year. Depression affects people in many different ways and there are many reasons why people become in this state.
Why do people become depressed?
• Genetics play a major role in depression. Research has shown that it runs in families. Some people inherit genes that cause them to be at a greater risk for depression. However, not everyone that inherits such genes will become depressed and many people do have the disease without any family history.
• Traumatic and stressful life events are also leading causes of depression. Struggling to cope with the death of a loved one can often lead to despair. The same is true when trying to cope with the breakup of a relationship or financial difficulties. Sometimes the stress associated with moving or changing jobs can even cause one to become depressed.
• The conditions of one’s family and social environment can also play a role in their mental health. A negative, stressful, or unhappy family environment can lead to depression. This includes when one is forced to deal with issues such as poverty, homelessness, and family violence.
• People with low self-esteem and a negative outlook on life are also more likely to become depressed.
• Serious medical conditions such as cancer, heart disease, and HIV can cause one to become depressed. The physical weakness and stress that are associated with such conditions can allow mental disease to easily set in.
• Other psychological conditions, especially substance abuse, can cause the onset of depression. Alcohol and drugs can change the chemical makeup of the brain, causing depressive effects. Substance abuse also has negative social and personal effects that can lead to depression.
Who does depression affect?
• Depression can affect anyone, but its severity can depend on your age and gender.
• Women are twice as likely as men to experience depression. This is partly due to hormone changes during puberty, menstruation, menopause and pregnancy.
• While the risk of depression for men is lower, they are more likely to allow the disease to go undiagnosed and untreated. They are also more likely to become angry and often try to hide the disease with substance abuse. Suicide is also a serious concern with men who suffer from depression. Men are four times more likely to commit suicide than women.
• The elderly are also at a higher risk of depression. Changes that occur during aging are often difficult to cope with. Similarly to men, the elderly tend to not receive help for their depression.
How can I combat depression?
Exercise is physically the best way to naturally improve your mood and lessen depressive feelings. A recent study assigned 202 adults with serious depression to four groups. One group took sertraline, one group exercised in a group setting, one group exercised at home, and one group took a placebo pill. After 16 weeks, 47 percent of the first group reported feeling better, as did 45 percent of the second group, 40 percent of the third group, and 31 percent of the fourth group. This shows that exercise works just as well as antidepressants, if not better and cheaper!
Exercise is effective in combating depression for a number of reasons :
• It increases the levels of serotonin and other mood-enhancing neurotransmitters in the brain.
• Exercise promotes a sense of accomplishment. This is helpful for people who don’t feel in control of their moods and emotions.
• It helps to increase positive self-esteem.
• Exercising serves as a distraction from worries and problems.
• Exercise helps lower stress levels and release muscle tension.
• Exercising also makes it easier to sleep at night, which is often a common problem connected with depression.
Depression is a serious disease that one should not feel ashamed of. Serious depression requires professional help. However, if you’re looking for an easy way to improve your mood, try exercise. Studies have proved that it will help your mental and emotional state. Start exercising today and be on your way to feeling happier, healthier and confident!
