For many people the first time that they get depression often comes down to a life event. For some this means divorce, loss of job, death of a close family member or friend, life changes e.g. retirement, or other illness. However, for others this life event can seem much smaller, but to that person the perceived event can be huge.
In some cases depression can be triggered from childhood experiences, whether this be from physical or emotional abuse, or perhaps good coping skills weren't learnt as a child leaving a person less able to cope as an adult. For some children they may have felt something that was unable to be expressed or was consider unacceptable to express and as time has gone on it has manifested into depression.
Other physical conditions can also affect depression, however these other conditions can mean that the depression is overlooked because of the need to treat the primary condition first. Also if you are being treated for a condition there is a likelihood that some medications will cause you depression as unfortunately it is a frequent side effect to many drugs. If you are put onto drugs and find that after 2-4 weeks you are becoming increasingly down, go look at the advice leaflet that comes with the drugs and see what it says, then go and discuss it with your doctor.
There are also other controllable causes to depression, but the problem is knowing about them to control them. The use of drugs and alcohol can, and does, cause depression. For instance alcohol is a depressant and will suppress your mood and make you feel worse overall. Other controllable factors include diet and fitness. Certain foods can make you feel worse, sometimes quite suddenly, if you feel physically worse you are more likely to feel more down. Using fitness as a tool can make you feel better, sports release feel good chemicals into the blood stream (called endorphins), so if you feel down going to the gym or taking a brisk walk can make a difference.
I should add that there are people who seem to develop depression with no specific events to contribute to their diagnosis of depression. Sometimes it just simply happens (it can also be due to genetic predisposition too).
I should add that there are people who seem to develop depression with no specific events to contribute to their diagnosis of depression. Sometimes it just simply happens (it can also be due to genetic predisposition too).
In direct relationship to children and young people, remember the statistics from the other day:
- 0.9% of children and young people are seriously depressed
- 0.2% of 5-10 year-olds are seriously depressed
- 1.4% of 11-16 year-olds are seriously depressed
- 2.2% of 16-24 year-olds have experienced a depressive episode
It's difficult to know when a child or young person is depressed. Certainly in teenagers the moodiness and lack of communication just goes with the territory, it doesn't always mean that they are depressed though. It is all part and parcel of adolescence to go through these periods, which relate to the hormonal changes and finding ones place in society.
For some children and young people they seem to get stuck at a point in all of these changes and then don't know how to get through to the other side. Sometimes with depression they will seek to relieve their feelings through other medians; self harm, risk taking, refusal to accept boundaries. What makes it even more difficult is that often that young person won't talk to the people closest to them, their parents.
Is there a solution for children and young people with depression. Yes, but it's the same as everyone else, allow them the space, get the right medical intervention and/or therapy going, but most of all make it clear that you WILL find their feelings totally acceptable and by knowing them you start a place on which to work upon.
