Why is everyone so depressed? (7 reasons why)

In this article, we will be answering, “ Why is everyone so depressed? , a brief idea about depression, types of depression, signs and symptoms of depression, causes of depression, facts about depression, causes of people getting depression and few FAQs regarding the topic.

Everyone is depressed because

• Depression doesn’t have a good reason as always
• There are different reasons for depression
• Imbalances in brain chemistry
• Hormonal Imbalance
• Change in season
• Trauma and Stress
• Not everyone is immune to depression
• Lack of treatment availability
• Excessive use of social media and vulnerability
• Technological and development 

Depression

It is a mood disorder that is often called Unipolar Depression or Major Depressive Disorder. It is one of the most common and prevalent mental disorders. Depression if remains untreated gets worse and takes a toll on one’s life in some cases.

The three main symptoms of an individual battling with Depression are:

• Anhedonia: Loss of interest in all pleasurable activities.
• Fatigability: low energy and get tired easily.
• Depressed mood: low mood and depressed mood for a prolonged time.

Depressive Symptoms

Some of the symptoms experienced by people suffering from depression are:

• Aggressiveness and Irritability
• Restlessness
• Hopeless feeling
• Loss of Interest, Anhedonia
• Get tired easily, fatigability
• Lack of sexual desire
• Recurrent thoughts on suicide
• Difficulty in communication and interaction
• Disruption in the sleepy cycle: Insomnia and Hypersomnia
• Inability to concentrate
• Pain and Headache
• Change in appetite
• Excessive and Inappropriate guilt
• Diminished ability to concentrate
• Psychomotor agitation
• Significant weight loss
• Impairment in social and other major functioning.

Classification of Depression

Based on the severity of the symptoms and their duration, two major types of depression are Major Depressive Disorder or Clinical Depression and Chronic Depressive Disorder/ Dysthymia. Apart from these, there are Bi-Polar Disorder and Seasonal Affective Disorder.

Major Depressive Disorder

To be diagnosed with MDD, there should be five depressive symptoms that last for at least 2 weeks. Adding onto that, there should either be a depressed mood or loss of interest. MDD is a periodic or episodic disorder where the symptoms go on and off over time. Along with it, suicide ideation and thought of death are common. 

Persistent Depression Disorder, Dysthymia

One of the essential features of Dysthymia is a depressed mood that lasts throughout the day for at least 2years, in case of children the duration is for 1 year. Along with depressed mood, they should also experience two of the six symptoms (poor appetite, sleep disturbance, low energy, low self-esteem, trouble in concentrating and hopelessness)

Bi-Polar Disorder

Two types of Bi-Polar disorder are, BP-1 and BP-2. The manic symptom is the defining feature of the two and the severity of the two differentiate these. Bi-Polar 1 is known as Manic-Depressive Disorder where there is a single episode of mania during their lifetime however, they may or may not have a depressive episode. While Bi-Polar 2 is characterised by hypomanic (milder version of Manic) episodes with Major Depressive Episodes.

Cyclothymic Disorder. 

It is also a chronic mood disorder where the proposed symptom (numerous episodes of hypomanic symptoms and depressive symptoms) last for at least 2 years. They experience frequent alternating mild symptoms of Mania and Depression. People with cyclothymia have a high risk of developing Mania and Major Depression. 

Postpartum Depression. 

It is a blend of physical, emotional and behavioural changes that a woman undergoes after giving birth. The diagnosis is based on the length of time between their onset and delivery and the severity of depression. Some of the symptoms are difficulty in sleeping, appetite change, fatigue, decreased libido and frequent mood change. It generally begins within the 4 weeks after delivery

Seasonal Affective Disorder. 

It is known by recurrent depressive episodes occurring typically in winter.

The severity of the episode ranges from mild to moderate and in the worse case, have the risk of suicide as well. It is more prevalent in people in the northern part of the world than in summer. The change in melatonin is responsible for this episode, they show more change in melatonin than the rest. 

SAD Symptom is similar to those of Depression except that it coincides with seasons.

Facts about depression

Among all the people from varied age groups, teens are believed to be most vulnerable to fall in or suffer from depression. 

• Female teens are more vulnerable to depression than men.
• Teens with the history of abuse and neglect from their primary caregivers are actually at higher risk of depression. 
• Those teens with underlying chronic illnesses and medical conditions are also at higher risk of depression
• Teens with a family history of depression and any of their members with depression are most likely to suffer from depression.
• Tends with untreated medical or substance use are also at higher risk of depression and has another 

Reasons for people being stressed and depressed?

These are different reasons for people getting depressed and stressed. Many are already in the phase of depression, some in the phase of recovery while some are on verge of depression. 

And for each of them, there are different reasons that might have put them in depression. Some of the reasons are:

• Effective treatment is unavailable.

Since there is a lack of effective treatment for depression, people are more likely to suffer from depressive symptoms and thus remain untreated. 

• Relationship ties are weaker

As we know with the globalisation and digitalization, there is a substantial reduction in physical meetup and communication, everything has switched to online and digital-based. Despite the advantages that these growth and developments have to offer, there are also losses which can result in severe depressive symptoms in an individual. The sole reason behind that is lack of physical communication and limited social circle.

• Don’t give much importance on emotions and feelings

People in recent years are more focused on fame, money and running after the job compromising their mental health in broad, emotions and feelings to be specific. It is thus the prime reason for people to suffer from depression. Rushing after those materialism and consumerist culture results in more anxiety and depression-related symptoms. 

• High self-esteem and positive idea of self

When the individual has a higher sense of self which is unrealistic and unachievable, it results in people to suffer and undergo depressive symptoms. Setting high expectations and thus not being able to accomplish its results in depressive symptoms such as a low sense of worthlessness, helplessness and suicidal thoughts. 

• Sleep problem and mental health concerns

Disruption in the sleep cycle and associated problems such as insomnia and hypersomnia are the known depressive symptoms. When an individual undergoes such symptoms for too long and for a prolonged time, it results in other depressive symptoms as well. On top of that, battling with underlying mental health concerns can result in other depressive symptoms such as a low sense of self, helplessness, trouble remembering, the problem in seeking professional help, etc. 

• Use of social media

Constantly using social media and checking up on networking sites can be toxic and stressful to the individual. When one checks up on social media, they tend to develop an envious feeling and stress out when they are not able to live up like others. Thus, using social media for too long can be toxic for one’s health as well as hampers their growth and progress towards personal goals.

• Limited social circle and the absence of significant ones

People when they lack a significant person to share their problems and inner feelings, they experience symptoms of depression like a disruption in sleep cycles, isolation, reduced self-worth, etc. Not having a close one to reach out for moral support, help and extra boost can be distressing as well as stressful for the individual.

• Materialism 

When people dive in too much for materialistic concerns and growth, they feel empty and develop an envious feeling for others who have everything they want. This can be demotivating and they tend to live by the feeling of inadequacy and deprivation.

• Misdiagnosis

Depression is taken too easily among people resulting in misdiagnosis and mistreatment. It is different from ordinary sadness, however, people take it lightly and misdiagnose it. 

Depression is not only about prolonged sadness, moreover, but there are also other symptoms as well such as anhedonia, fatigability, disruption in sleep cycles, appetite change, etc.

• Stress and pressure about life

People are likely to fall into depression owing to the stress and the pressure about life. When one fails to overcome and effectively cope up with pressures in life and stress, they are more vulnerable to depression and the symptoms associated with it.

Because of the mentioned reasons, people are more vulnerable to suffer from depression and to deal with depressive symptoms. 

FAQs: Why is everyone so depressed

BetterHelp: A Better Alternative

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Conclusion

In this article, we had answered, “ Why is everyone so depressed? brief about depression, types of depression, signs and symptoms of depression, causes of depression, facts about depression, causes of people getting depression and few FAQs regarding the topic.

Further details 

https://www.verywellmind.com/depression-facts-you-should-know-1067617

https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-changing-culture/201410/why-so-many-people-are-stressed-and-depressed

Depression Symptoms in Teens: Why Today’s Teens Are More Depressed Than Ever

Bibliography

Mood and Anxiety Program. (2016). Why today’s teens are more depressed than ever. Discovery: Mood and Anxiety Program. https://discoverymood.com/blog/todays-teens-depressed-ever/

Petty, A. (2017, 12 21). Why Is Everyone I Know Depressed? greatest. https://greatist.com/live/why-is-everyone-i-know-depressed#1

Shahin, S. (2020). Why do so many people have depression nowadays? Quora. https://www.quora.com/Why-do-so-many-people-have-depression-nowadays

Twenge, J. M. (2014). Why So Many People Are Stressed and Depressed. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/our-changing-culture/201410/why-so-many-people-are-stressed-and-depressed