About one in six people willexperience depressionat some point in their lifetime.Some people experience depression all the time.
This article explains the common triggers for depression.
You’ll also learn what to do if you are experiencing a depression episode.
Martin Dimitrov / Getty Images
Martin Dimitrov / Getty Images
What Is MDD?
There are several types of depression, but this article refers specifically tomajor depressive disorder (MDD).
MDD is episodic, meaning it can come and go.
Some people have only one MDD episode.
What Does “Trigger” Mean?
However, triggers can also cue symptoms in other mental health conditions, including depression.
A trigger could be a smell, sound, or sight.
A location or the anniversary of a traumatic event can also be a trigger.
It is normal and expected to feel sadness and grief after these events.
Some people may even feel like they are depressed.
However, sadness and grief alone do not indicateclinicaldepression.
These feelings can come before or develop into depression.
It is also possible to experience both grief and major depression at the same time.
Self-esteem is not typically negatively influenced.
If thoughts of death occur, they are usually about “joining” the lost loved one.
The low mood and lost interest in activities occur most of the time for at least two weeks.
Feelings of worthlessness or self-loathing are common.
Thoughts of death and suicide focus on feeling worthless or unable to cope with the pain.
Stressful events not related to loss can also be triggers for depression.
The hormonal changes and the mental stress from these changes can trigger depression in some people.
Postpartum depression(PPD) is a major depressive disorder following the birth of a child.
Typically, it occurs in the person who gives birth.
For example, a person may need thyroid medication and an antidepressant to control their symptoms.
Heart Disease
Depression can go along with having cardiovascular disease.
Thedepression associated with heart diseaseis often linked to (and made worse by) stress.
Depression and stress that go untreated can, over time, take a toll on the heart.
The formal diagnosis is “major depressive disorder with a seasonal pattern.”
SAD affects about 5% of adults in the United States.
However, some people have symptoms of SAD in the summer.
SAD episodes typically last about 40% of the year.
Alcohol use can also make depression symptoms worse.
Lack of Quality Sleep
Depression and sleep problems often influence each other.
Poor sleep can contribute to depression, and depression can interfere with sleep.
Since they are interconnected, it’s not always possible to know which one came first.
Sometimes, the sleep problems start before an episode of depression comes on.
Lifestyle Habits
What you eat and how often you exercise can also affect depression symptoms.
While the study was interesting, the results were far from conclusive.
More research is needed to determine if the benefits continue over time.
Be sure to include over-the-counter (OTC) products, supplements, vitamins, as well as herbal medicines.
Stopping Treatment
If and when to stop treatment for depression can be a difficult decision.
Maintaining treatment for six to 12 months after remission lowered the risk to 13%20%.
Can Depression Triggers Be Prevented?
If you or a loved one are in immediate danger, call911.
Summary
Major depressive disorder tends to be experienced in episodes.
Some health conditions, like thyroid problems, can cause depression symptoms.
However, they will get better once the underlying condition is managed.
It’s also possible to have depression and another condition, like a sleep disorder.
Depression triggers cannot always be predicted or prevented.
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