Depression Stinks

Depression sucks, there is no better way to describe it. Do you ever feel like “I don’t know why I’m depressed, others have it way worse than me”? You are not alone. According to the National Alliance on Mental Health (NAMI), over 21 million Americans had at least one depressive episode in 2020. Many people think that they should be able to get over their depression easily but it’s not that simple. Research suggests that many factors contribute to depression: 

• Brain chemistry

• Physical changes in the brain

• Hormone changes

• Certain medical conditions (like thyroid disorder or postpartum depression) 

• Genetic predisposition from blood relatives

These factors combined with a history of trauma, low self-esteem, drug/alcohol use, and a history of other mental health disorders can lead to an increased risk of depression. But are there also situations or events that can cause depression? Absolutely. Any type of loss, difficulty in relationships, financial problems, or other stressful events can also lead to a greater risk of depression. 

Research has shown that a combination of antidepressant medication and counseling tends to have the best outcomes for decreasing depression. If you are even slightly interested in medication for depression, talk to your primary care doctor or a psychiatrist. This is a conversation, not a commitment, and a way for you to gain more information about antidepressant benefits and possible side effects. Ultimately, you decide what is best for you. It’s like anything else in life, you gather information from professionals and credible sources and decide what is right for you.