What Actually Causes Depression?
Our healthcare system has largely focused on biological causes of depression, along with the introduction of antidepressant medication. As these medications became more popular, the messages we received about depression and its treatment were almost solely based on the idea that a chemical imbalance in the brain is to blame. While antidepressant medication can be a beneficial treatment option for many suffering with depression, focusing strictly on brain chemistry ignores other aspects of one’s life that might be contributing to the illness.
In fact, there is little research to support the idea of these medications being the sole answer to such a widespread and complex issue. The mental health field takes a more comprehensive approach by looking at not only a person’s biology, but social and psychological factors as well. The following factors are all found to be possible contributors to someone experiencing depression.
1. Meaningful Work
We spend a large portion of our lives working, so what happens when we don’t enjoy the work? Some of us are lucky enough to have jobs in which we feel valued, passionate, and believe we have a positive impact on the world. But for those of us who are not getting a sense of fulfillment from our work, it can be a source of chronic stress.
2. Quality of Relationships to others/Community
Our society values individualism, but when it comes to feeling a sense of connection and community with others, that can be a huge obstacle. Our early ancestors relied on community to stay alive, and that has not changed as much as we might think. We need connection to other people because it gives us a sense of belonging, acceptance, and safety.
3. Meaningful Values
With the influence of advertising and social media we experience every day, it is easy to start focusing more on materialism and consumerism. The messages we get from these sources tell us the more we buy, the happier we will be. We all know logically this is not true, but we are not usually aware of how much these messages are influencing our decisions. We can easily get pulled into feeling we need to buy something new to achieve the goal of happiness/health/status, etc. The more we engage in this pursuit, the further we can get from spending our time, energy, and resources on things that will actually lead to more fulfillment.
4. Childhood Trauma
When traumatic experiences from the past go unacknowledged and unresolved, they often show up in other ways. This is especially true when the trauma occurred in childhood, because as children we do not have the awareness or ability to process the events. A child is more likely to take on blame and shame for the experience because they assume it is solely their fault. When this continues without healing into adulthood, the person is more likely to be depressed because they see the world through that lens.
5. Respect
We all need to feel valued and respected. When life circumstances lead people to feel unimportant or disrespected, it is difficult to avoid this affecting how they feel overall and their perception of themselves. Respect can come in many different forms and from different sources, but not having it at all is detrimental to one’s mental wellness.
6. Nature
Many of us live in cities and in situations where it is difficult to feel a connection with nature. Research has shown having little to no contact with nature increases the likelihood of depression, while spending time in and around nature decreases the chances. One reason for this is related to perspective. When someone is depressed, they get overly focused on their own story, their own experience and ego. Being in nature allows us to develop a healthier perspective. We see that whatever is happening for us internally is small compared to the world around us.
7. Hope for the future
When someone is facing chronic stress, economic insecurity, or a lack of agency in planning for the future, it can often lead to depression. Not having a sense of control over our circumstances, at least to the extent we can take reasonable steps toward the future we want, causes a sense of hopelessness.
It should also be noted there is a genetic component to depression, in that certain genes have been identified as relating to the development of the illness. However, one’s life experiences and circumstances can activate the gene as easily as they can prevent it from activating. So, under specific conditions, such as those identified here, one would be more likely to have that gene activated and develop depression. But, without these specific influences from the environment, the gene would not be activated.
Hari, Johann. Lost Connections: Why you’re depressed and how to find hope. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2018.
-Laura Gross, LMSW