What Causes Depression?
There is a common thought that depression stems solely from a chemical imbalance in the brain, meaning you could have too little or too much of certain chemicals. But I believe it is much more complicated than that.
Life Traumas
Certain life events can have lasting physical and emotional consequences. Researchers have found that early losses and emotional trauma may leave individual more vulnerable to experiencing depression later in life. (Angie, again, I think it would be good if you could put an external link here to a piece of this research?)
Well, this is certainly true for me. I was eleven when my grandad took his own life. He had called the family home, but my parents were out. He asked me to tell my father that he had called and that it was important, but because I was only eleven years old, I had fallen asleep before my father returned home. By the time I remembered the following day, it was too late.
I will never forget the look my father gave me as tears ran down his face. He slid down the wall while receiving the call to inform him that his dad had taken his own life. I am sure he did not mean to blame me, but I felt it all the same. Research has shown that early traumas, such as the withdrawal of affection or death of a loved one may resonate throughout life, eventually expressing themselves as depression.
This came true for me on 17th February 2007. This was the day my brother and best friend was killed on the road while on his way to my home. It was a motorbike accident and it had been me who had introduced him to motorbikes.
Gaining An Understanding
Harvard Education states: “When an individual is unaware of the wellspring of his or her illness, he or she cannot easily move past the depression. Many researchers believe that early trauma causes subtle changes in brain function that account for symptoms of depression and anxiety. The key brain regions involved in the stress response may be altered at the chemical or cellular level.”
I completely resonate with this statement and thankfully now I have more of an understanding of how that one event left me feeling unloved, rejected and unworthy. I began therapy in 2015, a very difficult process. I quit a number of times because I couldn’t accept that the experiences I had been through were not all my fault. But now, looking back, I realise it has been great to be able to let go of the past and move forward with my life. Inwardly, I have thanked and forgiven my father, instead of thinking that he hated me. I have recognised that he was going through a lot of pain but did not know how to deal with it.
Managing Depression
Research has shown that stress can supress the production of new nerve cells, reducing the production of the chemicals we need to keep us well emotionally. Antidepressants boost concentration but in themselves are not an instant fix, in fact nothing is. I have found that doing the inner work has helped me to heal faster. Moreover, I am not as prone to being triggered.
If it is managed, depression does not have to stop you from living your daily life. It will just make things seem like more of a struggle. Sometimes, it can feel like pushing a snowball up a hill. But, if you take consistent action by taking one small step forward daily, working harder on your personal development than on anything else, you WILL achieve your goals.
Please do not try to fight this battle alone. Always remember that you are enough. You are loved. You are NOT alone.
If you feel ready to make a change for the better in your life, book your place on my seven-week Margjala Method programme.