Who Gets Depressed?
About 2 in 3 adults have depression at some time in their life. Sometimes it is mild or lasts just a few weeks. However, an episode of depression serious enough to require treatment occurs in about 1 in 4 women and 1 in 10 men at some point in their lives. Some people have two or more episodes of depression at various times in their life.
What are the causes of Depression?
The exact cause of depression is not known. Anyone can become depressed but some people are more prone to it. It can develop for no apparent reason or for one or more of the reasons listed below.
Heredity: A person may have a greater tendency to develop depression if a parent or relative has the illness.
Life experiences: Such as problems in the family; bereavement or loss; being bullied; physical illness, financial problems, worry about the future; abuse or neglect.
Personality: Everyone reacts to situations and events in different ways and the potential to become depressed can be linked to how a person feels and thinks about themselves in relation to their experiences and how they have been supported.
Physical problems: Medical problems such as stroke, heart attack, cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and hormonal disorders can cause depressive illness.
Depression can be like Panic Disorder in that there are similar negative cycles you can fall into. You can become depressed about being depressed and your thoughts and behaviour ABOUT your depression can MAINTAIN the problem.
DEPRESSED MOOD’ CYCLE
