In this brief article, we will be answering the question “Can living somewhere make you depressed?”. We will also discuss how moving in a new location and house affects our mental health and how living conditions cause depression. We will also answer frequently asked questions about the subject.

There are many factors that may cause depression and one of them is significant changes in one’s life. Examples of such changes are having a new job, getting a promotion, break ups, divorce, having a child and moving into a new house.

We all know that change is constant and inevitable and we are designed to adapt to that reality be it changes that occur within our environment, the society, career, our locale’s policy or in the smallest and basic unit of the society which is in our homes, our family.  

Some of us have opportunities that require or lead us to move into a new city, house or area. While this may be inevitable, for some of us and our family members who come with us in the moving, this may be an uncomfortable experience that may even lead to depression. Be it an older or younger individual.

Can living somewhere make you depressed?

Yes, it can. You and your body may have a difficulty adjusting to the new environment and the people in it, for example, Seattle or Portland. Moving into a new location can also be a stressful event because of the things that should be done. Living conditions may also be a factor that contribute to one’s biological and psychological condition. It may also be because of other medical conditions, one’s diathesis or genetic vulnerability.

Can where you live cause you depression?

You will find many studies that areas where you live, be it in a city or rural will make one depressed, others will say it will bring good to a person than bad. Due to many factors such as availability of goods, opportunity to meet and social with others, traffic, environmental conditions such as the quality of air and pollution can contribute to one’s mental health or may cause depression.

Rates of depression across different locations may vary depending on race, marital status, immigration status, age and working status. It may be less of geographical yet more on cultural factors.

Those who feel safe walking around their area is less likely to have depression.

A research from Penn State University found that people who live in the suburbs are less likely to have depression because they are close to their work, they have available amenities they need similar to what we can find in cities, but they are not too close from the stress you experience in the city. Weather, social support and living closely with families and relatives also contribute to the psychological wellbeing of a person.

Location does not necessarily make a person depressed. However, the biology, psychology and the social aspects of a person most likely contributes to depression.

In a global perspective, it is suggested that areas wherein continued military conflicts occur such as Honduras, Palestinian territories and Afghanistan have higher rates of depression.

However, others can benefit with relocation such as people with seasonal affective disorder moving in to a sunny area. It is better to find an area in which you find yourself and mental health in a better condition.

Relocation Depression

Moving in to a new location can be a stressful event for a person and depression might become a result.

Signs and symptoms:

·        Anhedonia or lack of interest in pleasurable activities

·        Significant weight loss or weight gain

·        Extreme insomnia or excessive sleeping

·        Lethargy and low in spirit

·        Having difficulty focusing and concentrating

·        Feelings of worthlessness, guilt and helplessness

·        Hostility or irritability

·        Increase in consumption of alcohol and/or drug use

·        Excessive time scrolling and facing your devices and social media

·        Unwilling to go outside and leave the house

·        No desire to socialize or meet new people

·        Decreased interest in sex

How to cope with depression

• Change in Diet – There are no specific diet that is found to relieve depression. However, a healthy diet, along with healthy habits and lifestyles, may help us prevent mood disorders and better our mood.

• Reduce stress when relocating to a new place – Moving itself and carrying with you your things can be a stressful event. Try being intentional and bringing in your essentials, sell or donate your just-in-case items.

• Slow down – Relocating might take a toll on you because of the many things that should be done for the moving. Allow yourself to rest, plan and list down the things you must do and prepare for the moving.

• Be optimistic – Although there might be a significant amount of change that will happen because of relocating, try to stay positive and see the good of what can primarily seem to be a stressful situation. If you think about it, moving to a new place allows you to have a fresh start!

• Establish support system – Relocating may mean being closer to your loved ones or being further away from them. Nevertheless, always keep in touch or build new relationships that will help you get through and move forward with the changes in your life and environment.

• Talk Therapy – Helps a person manage symptoms of depression gracefully. Talk therapy provides you a channel to process the stress you experience either be at work, home, school or your own anxiety.

• Explore your new living area – There are so many things you will discover in a place unfamiliar to you. Particular in a place where you are relocated. It is important to become familiar with where you live as this is a form of rapport building for a new resident.

• Expose yourself to new experiences – Be engaged with the newness of moving in. You may discover places you have never seen; experiences you have never been in and meet people that will make you feel at home and make moving easier than you expect it to be.

• Meditation – This facilitates a person by relaxing the mind through mindfulness and eases the neural activities that occur in the brain and the body when in a stressful state. Similar to a person who has depression or its symptoms. Cortisols normally are high during the morning and decreases at night. This also fluctuates according to our activities during the day. However, for a person with depression, this stays steady or even worse.

• Exercise – This increases the neurotransmitters serotonin and dopamine responsible for mood, sleep cycle, digestive system regulation, feelings of pleasure, movement and motivation. These are areas which affect someone with depression.

• Medication – Other recovering from depression improve better with the combining therapy or interventions with medications like SSRIs, sertraline (Zoloft), fluoxetine (Prozac, Serafram), paroxetine, fluvoxamine and citalopram. Note that medications among individuals may vary. Always consult your psychiatrist and disclose all factors that should be considered before taking these drugs.

• Psychotherapy – Therapies and therapists are able to help you find ways to cope with the challenging effects of depression. This also strengthens your prefrontal cortex which plays a role in personality, social interaction and decision-making.

• Self-care – Aside from therapies, medications and other interventions mentioned, remember that one of the keys but the most important is one’s willingness to help thyself. Avoiding alcohol and illicit drugs and other numbing activities are few preventive measures to avoid remissions and worsening one’s condition.

FAQs: Can Living Somewhere Make You Depressed?

BetterHelp: A Better Alternative

Those who are seeking therapy online may also be interested in BetterHelp. BetterHelp offers plenty of formats of therapy, ranging from live chats, live audio sessions and live video sessions. In addition, unlimited messaging through texting, audio messages and even video messages are available here.

BetterHelp also offers couples therapy and therapy for teenagers in its platform. Furthermore, group sessions can also be found in this platform, covering more than twenty different topics related to mental health and mental illness. The pricing of BetterHelp is also pretty cost-effective, especially considering the fact that the platform offers financial aid to most users.

Conclusion

In this brief article, we answered the question “Can living somewhere make you depressed?”. We also discussed how moving in a new location and house affects our mental health and how living conditions cause depression. We also answered frequently asked questions about the subject.

References

https://www.getbellhops.com/blog/relocation-depression/

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