Can Someone Get Depressed For No Reason

Assessing Negative Thought Patterns

What To Do When You Feel Sad For No Reason

Negative thinking may be a reason and a consequence of your mood.

Consider learning more about cognitive distortions. Once you do, you may want to identify those you may be using more often and that may be affecting your mood the most.

Taking this list to a therapist and discuss it with them can be helpful. They can provide actionable tips to improve these negative thinking patterns.

For Many Patients Antidepressant Side Effects Can Be Bothersome Persistent And A Cause Of Discontinuation13

Common side effects of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor antidepressants frequently persist well past the initial treatment period.13

Percent of patients reporting side effects during the first 2 weeks of a standard of care antidepressant who reported the same side effects at 3 months13#

#Based on a telephone survey of 401 patients who had received an SSRI for a new or recurrent case of depression. Telephone interviews were conducted within 75 to 105 days of starting antidepressant therapy. Patients responded yes or no to whether they had experienced any of a list of 17 common side effects of SSRIs.13

But Achieving Remission May Take Weeks To Months

~2/3 of patients failed to achieve remission with a first-line antidepressant in the STAR*D study, the largest prospective clinical trial of MDD ever conducted10
Mean time to remission was more than 6 weeks with a first-line antidepressant
For a second, third, or fourth line of therapy, mean time to remission was between 5.4 and 7.4 weeks

¶The Sequenced Treatment Alternatives to Relieve Depression Study enrolled 4,041 adult patients with MDD. In treatment step 1, patients received antidepressant monotherapy. Those who did not achieve remission or were unable to tolerate treatment were eligible for the next step. Steps 2 to 4 included several switch and augmentation choices.9

QIDS-SR16=Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomology -16 item.

Sadness Before Your Menstrual Cycle During Pregnancy Or After Childbirth

Reproductive hormones can also play a part in depression symptoms, so tracking what time of the month symptoms show up can offer some important clues.

Symptoms of premenstrual dysphoric disorder generally show up a week or so before your period starts. Along with depression symptoms, you might experience anxiety or nervousness, paranoia, or panic. Some people also have a sense of general overwhelm, or feel as if theyre losing control.
Perinatal depression involves episodes of depression that might begin during pregnancy or anytime in the first year after childbirth. It can involve worries about your ability to care for your child and intrusive thoughts about harming yourself or your child. You might also struggle to bond with your child.
Depression symptoms can also develop along with perimenopause, or the transitional period before menopause. You might feel very tearful, lose interest in your usual activities, and find it difficult to manage ordinary stressors.

Psychological Depression Symptoms Include:

doing poorly at work
difficulties with your family or home life

It’s not always possible to tell that you’re having symptoms of depression right away it can start and progress gradually. A lot of people don’t realise they’re ill and try to carry on and cope with their symptoms. Sometimes it takes a friend or family member to notice that there’s a problem.

You May Like: Does Taking Vitamin D Help Depression

What Treatment Should I Be Offered

The National Institute of Health and Care Excellence writes guidance on what treatment doctors should offer you. But your doctor does not have to give you these treatments. And the treatments may not be available in your area.

Different treatments may be available in your area. Your doctor might think these suit your symptoms more than the recommended treatments.

NICE recommend that depression is treated in different steps depending on how severe the condition is for you. The steps are as follows.

Step 1: Everyone who may have depression

Your doctor should offer you:

an assessment of your symptoms,
support, such as regular appointments in person or by telephone,
information on how to deal with your symptoms,
monitoring of your symptoms and follow-up, and
referral for further assessment and treatment if needed.

Step 2: Mild to moderate depression

Your doctor may offer you:

low-intensity interventions, such as self-help guided by the doctor or computerised cognitive behavioural therapy ,
physical activity programmes,
group cognitive behavioural therapy ,
medication if you have a history of moderate or severe depression, or you have had symptoms for a long time, and
referral for further assessment and treatment if needed.

Step 3: Moderate to severe depression, or mild to moderate depression when other treatments havent worked

Your doctor may suggest:

Step 4: Severe and complex depression or if your life is at risk Your doctor may suggest:

Can Depression Be A Symptom Of Other Mental Health Problems

Depression can be a part of several mental health problems, such as:

schizoaffective disorder.

If feelings of low mood or suicidal thoughts are the reason you first speak to your doctor about your mental health, your GP might offer you treatment for depression without realising that you are also experiencing other symptoms.

If you think you’re experiencing other symptoms, you can talk to your doctor about this to make sure you’re getting the right treatment to help you. See our pages on seeking help for a mental health problem for information on how to make sure your voice is heard, and what you can do if you’re not happy with your doctor.

Read Also: Do Cell Phones Cause Depression

Can You Prevent Depression From Happening

While theres no surefire way to prevent depression, one of the greatest protective factors for depression is social connection and social support, Dr. Stern adds. Maintaining healthy friendships and relationships, she says, can potentially significantly decrease the likelihood or severity of depression. Whats more, the chance that an individual will receive care for symptoms of depression is often based on their social situation, Dr. Murrough says. Friends or family notice that someones not themselves, having trouble getting out of bed, and missing activities and appointments, and will help them seek care. Someone whos relatively isolated may be at risk for not getting treatment, and in turn, fall into deeper depression. The key? Nurture your relationships and encourage each other to talk openly about your feelings, without judgment. The more we can de-stigmatize emotions, the more we can help prevent or slow down the progression of negative emotions to depressive symptoms, says Dr. Stern.

Are Sadness And Depression The Same

Suddenly Feeling Depressed for No Reason: What To Do

Though sadness and depression are interchangeably used, they are not the same. Sadness is a symptom of depression, while depression is a mental health condition.

Sadness happens after a negative experience and may last for a few hours to days and go away on its own. In contrast, depression may last for two weeks or more and cause general distress.

Sadness is a brief, subjective emotion, a specific reaction, and a temporary change in mood. By comparison, depression is a persistent mental illness that changes your life that needs a mental health professionals diagnosis.

Depression can affect relationships at home, work, or school. If youre feeling sad for a long time, it may be depression.

Also Check: Major Depression Without Psychotic Features

Why Do I Feel Depressed For No Reason

Sometimes it might seem like youre feeling depressed for no reason, but there is always a reason for your depression.

Remember, there are a variety of factors that can contribute to depression , but what ultimately causes depression is your thinking.

So, if youre depressed, youre definitely thinking in ways that are making you depressed, whether youre aware of it not, and this means that there is an identifiable reason for your depression: your thinking.

To appreciate this, imagine if you thought your life was wonderful in each and every way, and that every day was better than the last, and that you were looking forward more and more to the future with every passing day.

With these kinds of thoughts, you definitely wouldnt be depressed, would you?

So this is a clear lesson that if youre struggling with depression, youre thinking in ways that are making you depressed, because if you thought differently you wouldnt be depressed anymore.

Understanding A Loved Ones Depression

If someone you care about is dealing with depression, you may not be sure how to support them. If your attempts to help are rejected or dont seem to do any good, you may become frustrated and impatient.

If you feel tempted to tell someone who is depressed to try harder or just snap out of it, it may be a sign that you are overwhelmed or experiencing burnout. If this happens, its important that you pause and take time to reflect on your own feelings. You wont be able to help someone else until you have taken care of your own emotional needs.

When youre worried about a person you care about, the feelings of fear you have may come across as anger when youre talking to them. Even if you aren’t mad or speaking in anger, depression can make it harder for a person to really hear what you are saying. They may interpret your words as being dismissive, accusatory, disappointed, or any number of emotions that arent necessarily accurate.

When youre speaking to your loved one with depression, keep this in mind if it seems like your conversations are full of miscommunication. Although you may want to remind them of all the good things in life or point out that it could be worse, platitudes such as these arent usually helpful for a person with depression to hear.

You May Like: Ways To Help People With Depression

You May Be Depressed But You Just Dont Know It

There are many reasons why you may feel sad and just dont know it. You may be unaware of the symptoms, in denial, or have mistaken the symptoms for something else. Some may be aware of the symptoms but just dont realize theyre already depressed.

Here are the reasons why you dont realize that youre depressed:

Youve been depressed for some time now, and it seems like these feelings are normal to you. This is especially true for people who have been depressed since childhood.
Not everyone with depression may have sad emotions. Some may just feel tired, experience a loss of interest in activities, and have low energy or poor concentration.
The symptoms of depression may develop slowly, and you may not recognize them.
Youre dismissive about what you feel because you dont want to admit youre depressed, as you may perceive it as a sign of weakness.

Ruling Out Other Possibilities

Does Anyone Else Have Sad Days Where You Just Feel Down for No Reason ...

Its possible that some physiological changes may affect your mood. If this is the reason for your symptoms, addressing these changes may also help you in feeling better.

You may want to consult with a healthcare professional who may perform a comprehensive physical exam and perhaps recommend some laboratory tests.

Also Check: Does Depression Qualify For An Emotional Support Animal

Can Depression Be Prevented

Many people wonder if depression can be prevented and how they may be able to lower their risk of depression. Although most cases of depression cannot be prevented, healthy lifestyle changes can have long-term benefits to your mental health.

Here are a few steps you can take:

Be physically active and eat a healthy, balanced diet. This may help avoid illnesses that can bring on disability or depression. Some diets including the low-sodium DASH diet have been shown to reduce risk of depression.

Whats The Link Between Depression And Chronic Illness

In some people, a chronic illness causes depression. A chronic illness is an illness that lasts for a very long time and usually cannot be cured completely. However, chronic illnesses can often be controlled through diet, exercise, lifestyle habits, and certain medications. Some examples of chronic illnesses that may cause depression are diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, kidney disease, HIV and AIDS, lupus, and multiple sclerosis . Hypothyroidism may also lead to depressed feelings.

Researchers believe that treating the depression may sometimes also help the co-existing medical illness improve.

How Do I Know If This Is Sadness Or Depression

A mental health professional may be the best resource for an accurate diagnosis.

In general, sadness can be a symptom of depression, but it isnt the only one. Depression symptoms also last for longer than 2 weeks.

Some of the formal symptoms that might help you recognize what depression feels like can include:

not finding joy in things you used to be interested in
having a hard time focusing or remembering things

What Can Trigger Sadness

What is Anxious Depression?

Many things can trigger sadness from everyday life stressors to arguments with a family member. If you find yourself with constant negative feelings or an impending sense of sadness that follows you around, there could also be no reason at all. Sadness can also be triggered by depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and other mental health conditions. Its best to speak with a therapist to learn more about your specific situation.

Common Signs And Symptoms Of Depression

Here are some common signs of depression you may experience.

How you might feel

guilty, worthless and down on yourself
isolated and unable to relate to other people
finding no pleasure in life or things you usually enjoy
a sense of unreality

avoiding social events and activities you usually enjoy
self-harming or suicidal behaviour
difficulty speaking, thinking clearly or making decisions
losing interest in sex
difficulty remembering or concentrating on things
using more tobacco, alcohol or other drugs than usual
difficulty sleeping, or sleeping too much
feeling tired all the time
no appetite and losing weight, or eating too much and gaining weight
physical aches and pains with no obvious physical cause
moving very slowly, or being restless and agitated.

“It felt like I was really tired, all the time. I had no energy or emotion about anything.”

Act To Manage Your Depression For No Reason

When you feel guilty for having depression, its hard to manage it. Therapy is very helpful, but when someone doesnt believe they should be depressed, they often resist seeking professional help. A common thought is that they dont deserve help and certainly dont want to take up an appointment slot that someone else truly needs. Its hard to shake deeply ingrained beliefs like this.

An effective, research-based way to do so is with acceptance and commitment therapy . The six basic principles of ACT can help you believe in yourself and manage your depression. You can apply the principles right away, on your own, and you can work with a therapist to deepen their effects.

These steps allow you to move forward right now, even when you still have depression for no reason. You free yourself and become unstuck, and eventually, you will find that you have overcome depression for a very good reason: your actions and strengths.

APA ReferencePeterson, T. . How to Manage Having Depression for No Reason, HealthyPlace. Retrieved on 2021, December 11 from https://www.healthyplace.com/depression/causes/how-to-manage-having-depression-for-no-reason

Donât Miss: Dehydration Causes Anxiety

You May Like: Dealing With Anxiety And Depression

How Can I Help Someone With Depression

Helping someone with depression might not look a single way. However, things that you can do to help include encouraging treatment, listening with compassion, helping the person suffering with daily tasks, be vigilant for signs of suicidal behavior, and to make sure you are caring for yourself, too.

What To Do If You Have Depression For No Reason

Depression can be treated. You may feel theres no reason for how you feel, but a trained mental health professional may be able to explore this with you and help you research possible causes.

If youve been experiencing symptoms for longer than 2 weeks, seeking professional support can be a highly advisable next step.

There are other things you can do in addition to talking with a mental health professional:

What Causes Depression Or Anxiety

Depression and anxiety can happen for no obvious reason. But in many cases it can be triggered by certain life events, such as:

money or finance issues
the time of year.

These situations might make anyone feel low and not everyone who experiences these goes on to develop depression. But thinking about any triggers can help you understand your feelings.

Everyone feels down from time to time, but if youâve not been feeling yourself for a while itâs time to talk to someone like your doctor, nurse or a trusted friend or family member.

What Are The Symptoms Of Depression And How Is It Diagnosed

The NHS recommends that you should see your GP if you experience symptoms of depression for most of the day, every day, for more than 2 weeks.

Doctors make decisions about diagnosis based on manuals. The manual used by NHS doctors is the International Classification of Diseases .

When you see a doctor they will look for the symptoms that are set out in the ICD-10 guidance. You do not have to have all of these to be diagnosed with depression. You might have just experience some of them.

Some symptoms of depression are:

low mood, feeling sad, irritable or angry,
having less energy to do certain things,
losing interest or enjoyment in activities you used to enjoy,
reduced concentration,

You may also find that with low mood you:

feel less pleasure from things,
feel more agitated,
find your thoughts and movements slow down, and
have thoughts of self-harm or suicide.

Your doctor should also ask about any possible causes of depression. For example, they may want to find out if youve experienced anything traumatic recently which could be making you feel this way.

There are no physical tests for depression. But the doctors may do some tests to check if you have any physical problems. For example, an underactive thyroid can cause depression.

On the NHS website, they have a self-assessment test which can help you to assess whether you are living with depression: www.nhs.uk/mental-health/conditions/clinical-depression/overview/

Don’t Miss: How Can I Treat My Depression