Depression FAQs
What are the causes of depression?
There are many different factors that can trigger depression. For some people,
upsetting or stressful life events, such as bereavement, divorce, illness,
redundancy, retirement and job or money worries, can be the cause. Sometimes it
is a series of events over many years and the final trigger is something quite
small which “brings it all back”.
A long period of stress, when taking care of emotional well-being may have gone out of the window, can make a person vulnerable to depression. People who have a long term health problem which limits their activities and people with caring responsibilities are known to be vulnerable to depression. Sometimes there is a link with hormone changes for example linked with the menstrual cycle, pregnancy, miscarriage, childbirth and the menopause.
If you have a family history of depression, you are more likely to get depression yourself. Remember this is only an increased risk and not a certainty. Many people who have a family history of depression never develop the condition and it can even protect you by making you more aware of the importance of looking after your emotional health. Also, people with no family history of depression can become depressed.
Other causes of depression are alcohol or recreational drug use such as cannabis or cocaine. Sometimes this can be part of a gradual onset of depression for example a difficult event such as a relationship break up leads to drinking more to cope with the emotions, which tips the sadness over into depression.
Although it is natural to want to understand why you have become depressed, sometimes there is no single obvious reason. What is more important is to recognise that you are unwell and seek help.
Research has shown that there is a link between depression and the imbalance of chemicals in the brain called neurotransmitters. People who are depressed have a lower level of certain types of neurotransmitters, such as serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine, than people who are not. It is still not fully understood whether this imbalance is a result of depression, or a cause of it. The drugs used to treat depression are working to alter the levels of these neurotransmitters.
Are grief and depression the same?
Even though grief and depression share many of the same characteristics, there
are important differences between them. Grief is an entirely natural response to
a loss, while depression is an illness. However, sometimes, it can be hard to
distinguish between feelings of grief and depression.
People who are grieving find that feelings of loss and sadness come in waves, but they are still sometimes able to enjoy things and are able to look forward to the future. However, those who are depressed have a constant feeling of sadness; they do not enjoy anything and have little sense of a positive future. Grief can trigger an episode of depression, sometimes years after the original loss.
What should I do if I think I’m depressed?
The most important thing that you can do is to talk to someone about how you are
feeling. Telling someone else is often a great relief and if you do not feel
able to talk to friends or family you can call a support service such as Next
Steps or a phone line such as the Samaritans.
The best way to get help with depression is to visit your GP. Your GP may
give you a physical examination and do some tests to rule out other conditions
that have similar symptoms, such as under-active thyroid.
There are no clinical tests for depression, so interviews and questionnaires are
usually used to make a diagnosis.
Some people are worried that depression is wasting their doctor’s time but that is not the case. It is a serious illness which can be treated. Don’t worry if you get upset when you talk to the doctor, it can be embarrassing but remember that they have treated other people with depression and understand that these feelings are painful to talk about. It can help to write down what you want to say before you go or to take someone along for support.
Any discussion that you have with your GP about your depression will be treated in the strictest of confidence. Your GP will only ever break this rule if there is a significant risk of harm to either yourself or to others, and if informing a family member or carer would reduce that risk.
Won’t my GP just make me take medication?
No. Your GP may suggest medication if they consider that it would benefit
your health but they will discuss it with you and the final decision is yours.
They will also discuss lifestyle changes and talking therapies to treat your
depression and they should be able to give you information about local support.
If you are not happy with how your GP treats your depression, you can ask to see
someone else at the practice.
Is it my fault that I have become depressed?
It is definitely not your fault. It may be difficult to avoid depression,
but there are certainly things you can learn to do to help yourself to recover.
It also helps if you can recognise depression early so you can avoid becoming
more severely ill.
If you have had depression before, you can start to recognise your early
warning signs. For example, not sleeping properly, starting to brood about
things, or spending all your time working and not enjoying yourself. You learn
that when you have these early warning signs, you have to reflect on your
lifestyle and make changes where necessary and think about whether it is time to
go and see your doctor.
Can I continue working?
If your depression is caused by overwork, or is affecting your ability to do
your job, you may need a little time off to recover. However, there is evidence
that taking prolonged time off work can make depression worse. In fact, there is
quite a lot of evidence that going back to work can help you recover from
depression.
Will my depression return?
You can make a full recovery with treatment, but there is a risk that your
depression will return. About half of the people who have a first episode of
depression will have another episode within 10 years. The risk of further bouts
of depression for these people is higher than in someone who has never been
depressed, and more likely if treatment is not continued for the prescribed
period of time. However, with the advantage of being able to spot the signs
early, many people find that even if depression returns it is not as bad.
Will I need to see a psychiatrist?
Probably not. Most people with depression are treated successfully by their
GP. If you don't improve and need more specialist help, you will be referred to
the Community Mental Health Recovery Service. You might see a psychiatrist to look at your
medication, a community psychiatric nurse for support, an occupational therapist
or a psychologist for specialist therapy.