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What Can Trigger Depression Episodes

Depression Symptoms & Signs

Identifying Depression Cues & Triggers

Depression is an illness that involves the body, mood, and thoughts and affects the way a person eats and sleeps, the way one feels about oneself, and the way one thinks about things. Depressive disorders are characterized by pervasive mood changes that affect all aspects of an individual’s daily functioning. A depressive disorder is not the same as a passing blue mood and is more than a case of persistent sadness.

Symptoms of depression also include

  • feelings of worthlessness,
  • lack of interest in daily activities,

What Can Trigger A Depressive Episode

According to the World Health Organization , approximately 5% of the adult population worldwide suffers from depression. A depressive episode is categorized as a period of persistent low mood, sadness, emptiness, or hopelessness, affecting different areas of life. Although a single factor doesnt usually cause depression, many significant factors can trigger a depressive episode.

Unlike normal mood fluctuations and reactions to challenges in day-to-day life, depression is just something you cannot snap out of. It can cause various symptoms with a significant impact on everyday life. At its worst, depression can lead to suicide, which is the fourth leading cause of death in people aged 15-29. Fortunately, depression is a treatable illness, and with the appropriate support, people with the condition can lead successful and fulfilling lives.

Lets talk about the symptoms of depression, the factors triggering depression, and where you can go for effective depression management in North Chesterfield, VA.

The Symptoms Of A Major Depressive Episode

The diagnostic criteria for major depression include nine possible symptoms. To be diagnosed, a person must experience at least five of these symptoms and significant impairment as a result of those symptoms. The symptoms must last for at least two weeks. This is a depressive episode. The nine possible symptoms of major depressive episodes are:

  • Depressed mood. A feeling of depression, sadness, and hopelessness that is intense and persistent. This may seem more like irritability in children, teens, and men.
  • Loss of interest. A significant loss of interest or pleasure in doing normal activities, including daily activities like chores but also hobbies, work, or school.
  • Weight changes. Significant loss of weight or weight gain that is not intentional but is triggered by overeating or loss of appetite.
  • Sleep changes. Either excessive sleep or insomnia and difficulty sleeping.
  • Agitation or retardation. Agitated and restless expression or slowed down affect that is notable to anyone observing.
  • Fatigue. Fatigue and loss of energy that is more than normal and cant be explained simply by lack of sleep or low quality sleep.
  • Excessive guilt. Feelings of deep guilt and shame, a feeling of being worthless.
  • Impaired thinking. Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, and focusing on anything, even just watching television.
  • Suicidal thoughts. Thoughts of death, suicide, and suicidal planning or suicidal attempts.

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A Family History Of Depression

We now better understand why some people are more likely to become depressed than others. One reason is a family history.

If you have a close relative who has had depression, you are more likely to get depressed yourself when faced with a period of stress.

Sometimes the chemical changes in the brain that go with depression are long lasting. This means that after recovering from an episode of depression, you are more prone to depression being triggered in the future.

Depressive Episodes Vs Sadness

Causes Of Depression

Like grief, depressive episodes are often linked to sadness. An emotional pain marked by feelings of longing or lacking, sadness can sometimes be hard to distinguish from the characteristics of a depressive episode.

But despite their similarities, depressive episodes are distinct from moments of sadness. For starters, sadness, like mourning, is not considered a mental health disorder, but a part of life.

Secondly, sadness usually lasts for much longer periods of time, compared to the minimum two-week requirements for a depressive episode diagnosis.

Sadness also lasts for a much shorter part of each day, as opposed to a depressive episode, which can last most and even the entirety of ones day.

Finally, while a depressive episode is considered a mental health issue due to the intensity of its symptoms and their detrimental effect on an individuals quality of life or daily functioning, sadness is a less severe experience, and normally passes without leaving a significant impact on ones well-being.

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What Factor Increases The Chances Of Having A Manic Episode

There is a risk of having an episode of mania in a person with a mental illness if they dont get enough sleep. A switch into a manic state may be triggered by the use of antidepressants, particularly when they are the only medication. The use of alcohol and drugs can cause the same symptoms as the other way around.

Enhancing Healthcare Team Outcomes

An interdisciplinary approach is essential for the effective and successful treatment of MDD. Primary care physicians and psychiatrists, along with nurses, therapists, social workers, and case managers, form an integral part of these collaborated services. In the majority of cases, PCPs are the first providers to whom individuals with MDD present mostly with somatic complaints. Depression screening in primary care settings is very imperative. The regular screening of the patients using depression rating scales such as PHQ-9 can be very helpful in the early diagnosis and intervention, thus improving the overall outcome of MDD. Psychoeducation plays a significant role in improving patient compliance and medication adherence. Recent evidence also supports that lifestyle modification, including moderate exercises, can help to improve mild-to-moderate depression. Suicide screening at each psychiatric visit can be helpful to lower suicide incidence. Since patients with MDD are at increased risk of suicide, close monitoring, and follow up by mental health workers becomes necessary to ensure safety and compliance with mental health treatment. The involvement of families can further add to a better outcome of the overall mental health treatment. Meta-analyses of randomized trials have shown that depression outcomes are superior when using collaborative care as compared with usual care.

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Dietary And Exercise Habits

Healthy eating and exercise habits are important for physical and mental health.

Diet

The results of a 2020 systematic review of the research suggest that some foods may reduce the risk of depression. Others may increase the risk, when considered as overall dietary habits.

Dietary habits that may lower the risk of depression include:

  • Balanced food choices

Diets that included higher amounts of these foods were associated with an increased risk of depression:

  • Added sugar such as soda
  • Processed foods
  • Foods that contribute to increased inflammation in the body

Exercise

A 2020 narrative review found exercise may be an effective treatment for major depression in some adults. The results varied, though, and more research is needed to understand the level of exercise involved and how well it works over time.

This review showed that three sessions of physical exercise per week for 12â24 weeks typically reduced the severity of depression symptoms a medium to large amount.

Exercise also was found to increase by 22% the chance that people would not fall back into depression symptoms, when compared with treatment as usual.

These results are promising but not conclusive. Exercise routines may need to be ongoing to continue the benefits they provide.

Breathe Deeply And Relax The Muscles

Depression Triggers Can Destroy Your Depression Recovery

Deep breathing techniques are an effective way to calm anxiety and soothe the bodys stress response. Slowly inhaling and exhaling has physical and psychological benefits, especially when done on a daily basis.

Anyone can practice deep breathing, whether in the car, at work, or in the grocery store. Plenty of smartphone apps offer guided deep breathing activities, and many are free to download.

Progressive muscle relaxation is another helpful tool for those experiencing depression and anxiety. It involves tensing and relaxing the muscles in the body to reduce stress. Again, many smartphone apps offer guided progressive muscle relaxation exercises.

We have reviewed some meditation apps that can help with depression and anxiety.

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Spend Time With Your Friends Or In A Support Group

Many people tend to isolate themselves during a depressive episode, which only tends to worsen the episode and sometimes also prolong the symptoms. It is a good idea to surround yourself with friends and spend some quality time with them from time to time. Make sure you have an arrangement with some friends who can check on you if they have not heard from you for some time. Depression does make it hard to stay in touch with your friends, but remember that being in the company of friends can help alleviate the symptoms of depression and improve your mood.

The other suggestion is to find a support group through your doctor or the local hospital. A support group is also known to help many people get the help they desperately need when going through a depressive episode.

Feelings Of Guilt Or Worthlessness

Depressed people may have feelings of guilt that go beyond a normal level or are delusional. These feelings of guilt and/or worthlessness are excessive and imagined. Major depressive episodes are notable for a significant, often inexplicable, drop in self-esteem. The guilt and worthlessness experienced in a major depressive episode can range from subtle feelings of guilt to frank delusions or to shame and humiliation. Additionally, self-loathing is common in clinical depression, and can lead to a downward spiral when combined with other symptoms. A lot of people with depression have distorted thought patterns, and genuinely believe that they’re not good for anything or anyone. They tend to have severe self-esteem issues and don’t recognize their value as a human being. They also begin to feel as though their life has no meaning or purpose.

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What Is Bipolar Disorder

We all have our ups and downs, but with bipolar disorder these peaks and valleys are more severe. Bipolar disorder causes serious shifts in mood, energy, thinking, and behaviorfrom the highs of mania on one extreme, to the lows of depression on the other. More than just a fleeting good or bad mood, the cycles of bipolar disorder last for days, weeks, or months. And unlike ordinary mood swings, the mood changes of bipolar disorder are so intense that they can interfere with your job or school performance, damage your relationships, and disrupt your ability to function in daily life.

During a manic episode, you might impulsively quit your job, charge up huge amounts on credit cards, or feel rested after sleeping two hours. During a depressive episode, you might be too tired to get out of bed, and full of self-loathing and hopelessness over being unemployed and in debt.

The causes of bipolar disorder arent completely understood, but it often appears to be hereditary. The first manic or depressive episode of bipolar disorder usually occurs in the teenage years or early adulthood. The symptoms can be subtle and confusing many people with bipolar disorder are overlooked or misdiagnosedresulting in unnecessary suffering. Since bipolar disorder tends to worsen without treatment, its important to learn what the symptoms look like. Recognizing the problem is the first step to feeling better and getting your life back on track.

Alcohol Abuse And Drug Intoxication And The Aftereffects

Bipolar Disorder Vs Depression / Comparison Of Depressive Episodes In ...

Abusing drugs and alcohol doesnt cause bipolar disorder, but it can cause an episode to suddenly occur, or it can worsen the underlying illness. Whats more, about one in five people with bipolar disorder have a substance abuse disorder, according to an analysis of data on young adults with mental illness from an article published in February 2015 in the journal Social Psychiatry and Psychiatric Epidemiology.

Intoxication with drugs such as cocaine and amphetamines can cause or worsen manic symptoms, while the aftereffects of cocaine or use of alcohol are associated with worsening of depressive symptoms.

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Definitions And Methodological Issues

Due to the fact that several different approaches have been taken to define both depression and recurrence, it is important to understand how these terms have been defined and what the methodological implications are of the different approaches adopted by investigators when studying recurrent depression.

Common Triggers For Depression

Many different issues can trigger depression, including medical problems, stressful life events, an unhealthy lifestyle or difficulties related to alcohol or substance abuse.

When depression occurs, it can have a negative impact on your quality of life. Because of this, being able to identify and avoid the specific things that trigger your depression symptoms is an important part of recovering and making progress.Weve listed seven of the most common triggers of depression below, along with information on how each factor may contribute to or worsen depression.

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Colorado Tms: What Can Trigger A Depressive Episode

Imagine this: you went through psychotherapy for your depression, and youve been symptom-free for years. Youre thriving at your workplace, and youre able to make and maintain fulfilling social connections. Youre taking care of your body, your mind, and your spirit.

Then, something happens maybe you get laid off from your job, or you experience an injury that forces you to stop working out for a while and your depression symptoms suddenly come back with a vengeance. Its like youve had the wind knocked out of you. What triggered this depressive episode, and how can you avoid triggers like this in the future?

In this article, well talk about the main causes and triggers of depression, and what you can do about them.

Key Points About Depression

What Is a Depressive Episode? Speaking of Symptoms Series
  • Depression is a serious mood disorder that affects your whole body including your mood and thoughts.

  • Its caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Some types of depression seem to run in families.

  • Depression causes ongoing, extreme feelings of sadness, helplessness, hopeless, and irritability. These feelings are usually a noticeable change from whats normal for you, and they last for more than two weeks.

  • Depression may be diagnosed after a careful psychiatric exam and medical history done by a mental health professional.

  • Depression is most often treated with medicine or therapy, or a combination of both.

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Minimize Your Daily Choices

Have you ever walked into a theme park and been overwhelmed at what you want to do first? Researchers think that having too many choices can actually cause significant stress that can lead to depression.

Psychologist Barry Schwartz, author of the book The Paradox of Choice, describes research that shows that when faced with too many choices, those who aim to make the best possible choice maximizers face higher rates of depression.

For many of us, our lives are filled with choices. Which outfit do we wear, and should we buy yogurt or eggs or bagels or English muffins or sausage for breakfast? The pressure of making the right or wrong choice is thought to contribute to depression.

If making choices stresses you out, simplify things. You can:

  • Learn to be decisive more quickly.
  • Reduce the decisions youll have to make during the work week: Plan out your outfits, and have your meals prepped and ready to go.

Illnesses And Other Health Conditions

Depression is often linked to illnesses and other medical conditions. In fact, an estimated 10 percent to 15 percent of all cases of depression are caused by illnesses or medications.

A large range of illnesses and medical conditions are associated with depression, including the following:

  • Heart disease. Both mild and more severe depression are common in people with heart disease, including heart attack survivors. Depression is also linked to a slower recovery process in people affected by heart disease.

  • Nutritional deficiencies. Several nutritional deficiencies may be involved in depression, including deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin B , magnesium and amino acids that are used as precursors to neurotransmitters.

  • Viruses and infections. Some people develop depression after learning that they have a virus or infectious disease. For example, depression is common in people affected by hepatitis and HIV.

Not all illnesses that are associated with depression are depression triggers. However, its likely that many cases of depression are either caused or made worse by the stress and difficulty that can develop from being diagnosed with a disease or other medical condition.

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Get To Know Common Triggers

When living with depression, it is essential to understand possible triggers. For some, the feeling may be gradual, which is why some may not recognize depression is settling in. Common depression triggers include the following:

Life changes: A life transition can affect your mood, even if the change is positive. Life is about change, but depression can make it challenging to accept when youve gotten comfortable with the way things were before the change. At times, a life transition can have a dramatic effect on a persons mental health. Sometimes transitions are stressful and take time to adjust. Maybe youre getting used to a new job, working with new people, or living in a different neighborhood. Physical changes such as menopause or learning about a medical condition that will alter your daily routine may bring depressive symptoms. An unexpected change, such as a loss of any kind, can be as difficult if not more as a positive change.

Feeling Stressed And Overwhelmed: Many people live a stressful life. Stress is commonly experienced in different forms, and it can have a significant effect on your mental health. Whether you are dealing with pressure from your job, family, or relationships, it can take a toll on you mentally and physically. A mental health study shows evidence that many people with depression experience hormone changes due to stress.

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