Depression is a very severe mental disorder, and these days people are more vulnerable to it than ever. In fact, according to statistics for the WHO, more than 264 million people, from all age groups suffer from depression worldwide.
Depression can be a very devastating disorder, and it is very challenging for any person who hasn’t experienced depression to understand its severity truly. Depression is nothing like ordinary sadness or a bad mood.
These days people throw the word depression very quickly, describing mood swings and other momentary issues, but depression is something much worse in reality.
It is crippling sadness accompanied by self-loathing, anger, anxiety, hopelessness, and complete disinterest. Depression is like excruciating emotional pain that affects every inch of your body, and it is a shame that so many of us are affected by this problem.
Therefore, here are eight reasons why we may be vulnerable to depression. Knowing these reasons can help you avoid falling into the pit of depression.
Being stuck in negative feedback loops:
People tend to hold on to negative thoughts, and unfortunately, these narratives can amplify our negative responses and lead to the formation of negative feedback loops. If something negative happens, we may start to think about it continuously, and that develops a negative mindset, making other things in our lives go poorly as well.
The cynical mindset breeds hopelessness, low self-esteem, despair, and a lack of motivation. This process keeps going on and on, which results in a negative feedback loop. This negative mindset takes away our ability to cope with adverse situations, and can eventually lead to depression. Therefore, it is essential to break these loops and take positive steps towards coping.
Lack of emotional support:
Unfortunately, even though we are so connected with the world these days, most of us are entirely alone. We are so caught up in our routines that we don’t have time to talk to our friends and family and seek their emotional support.
This lack of emotional support and connection with others is another prominent reason why we are so vulnerable to depression. Therefore, we should make an effort to strengthen our bond with the people around us, trust them, and share our problems. A little support from someone you trust can go a long way in the fight against depression.
Increasing levels of stress:
Chronic stress is a precursor for depression, and unfortunately, these days, the average stress levels in people have increased dramatically. If financial pressure, relationship problems, and hectic work routines weren’t enough already, we have also had to deal with a pandemic this year, which has made matters worse in every way.
Yet, most of us don’t have a viable way to cope with stress, and when it is left unchecked, stress can eventually lead to depression and many other serious problems. Therefore, you need to fight daily stress, and one of the best ways to do so is to use cannabis to reduce stress.
Cannabis can be quite useful in fighting stress, its cannabinoids interact without natural endocannabinoid systems and trigger the release of pleasure hormones like dopamine, which can help in countering stress. Furthermore, because of its medicinal benefits, cannabis has also been legalized in Canada. So, check out the High Club Online Dispensary to get some strains for fighting stress.
An inability to express emotions:
Many times, we suppress our emotions and feelings from fear of conflict; however, bottling up our emotions can lead to disastrous results for our mental health. It can lead to overthinking, stress, and anger, which are also precursors for depression.
Throughout our daily routine, we go through many situations where we feel emotionally hurt, but don’t say anything, a prime example of bullying at school. Many children are afraid of conflict, so they don’t speak up about bullying, which can cause them a lot of trauma, develop negative personality traits, and eventually lead to depression.
Therefore, we need to learn how to express our emotions, and let things go, instead of bottling them in. This is a very positive step towards building a more stable and strong personality.
Social pressure:
Generally, the way others think about us has a significant role in how we perceive ourselves. And most of us tend to take negative criticism much more seriously than complements. Furthermore, because of how connected we are through social media and other platforms, many people have opinions about us.
This is particularly the case with your teenagers, and young girls are more susceptible than boys. Negative comments and criticism from social media can lead to teenagers’ emotional insecurities, which can make them more vulnerable to depression as well.
For instance, social bullying and body shaming can lead to low self-esteem in teenagers, which is a prominent aspect of depression.
An inability to cope with grief:
Grieving can feel like depression, but it usually begins with an event, such as the death of a loved one, and ultimately moves toward acceptance. However, in some conditions, when grief becomes persistent, it can lead to depressive episodes.
According to studies, people are more likely to get depressed after losing a loved one in an unexpected way, like an accident. Experts also term this condition as complicated grief and claim that it is similar to depression and PTSD, and if it remains unchecked, it can lead to a full-on depressive episode.
Unhealthy personality traits:
Certain personality traits have also been associated with a higher risk of depression and other mental health problems. According to studies, people with Neurotic characteristics are more vulnerable to depression because of their inability to cope with difficult situations.
Personality traits like low self-esteem, lack of self-confidence, and pessimism can also increase the risk of depression. Furthermore, most people consider these personalities challenging to deal with, which leaves Neurotic people to experience rejections and isolation as well, which can make things worse.
Genetics and hormones:
Research has shown that genetics can also play a role in increasing vulnerability to depression. According to a large genome-wide study, from The American Journal of Psychiatry, people with a genetic predisposition for depression, also exhibit higher suicide rates.
Studies also suggest that some hormonal shifts can increase vulnerability to depression. For instance, particularly in women, hormones related to pregnancy, menstrual cycle, and menopause can contribute to a higher risk of depression.
In fact, according to the CDC, about 1 in every nine women in America are affected by postpartum depression. Another study also indicated that about 4% of fathers are also affected by depression within the first year of childbirth.
Final thoughts:
Depression is a severe mental condition, and it has become very common in the previous decade. Therefore, we need to make a stronger effort to understand this disease and learn how to help and support people who are depressed.
