Depression. According to observational data, about 18 percent of citizens suffer from feelings of depression and anxiety. About 80 percent of them do not seek medical help. This usually happens in the pre-holiday periods, as well as at the turn of the year.

Depression, the main causes and factors.

Many people deny that they have depression, especially if they cannot think of a specific reason that could make them feel depressed.

Let’s look at nine scientifically proven factors that can cause depression. Friends, I know that you are in for some surprises.

Seasonal mood disorders.

Lack of sunlight during the winter can cause more than just an emotional downturn. Scientific studies confirm that it can cause depression.

Some of us are more sensitive to sunlight than others, and they have to make an effort to maintain their emotional balance.

Getting enough sunlight in the morning is important because it helps synchronize your circadian rhythm with the hours of daylight. This, in turn, helps maintain a regular sleep schedule.

If your daily schedule makes it difficult to get sunlight in the winter, try purchasing a special lamp designed to mimic the effects of sunlight.

Due to the lack of sunlight, many people may lack vitamin D. In winter, this is one of the prerequisites for depression. Fortunately, this problem is easily solved with vitamin D supplements.

If this is the case, you just need a daily capsule containing this vitamin. By the way, taking B vitamins, especially folic acid and vitamin B6, is associated with an improvement in mood.

Depression, negative self-talk.

Often we do not notice the fact of how cruel we are to ourselves. We scold ourselves for the smallest mistakes and sometimes even for neutral events.

If our thoughts could be embodied in a person who constantly follows us and says out loud what we say to ourselves in our inner monologues.

Then believe me, such a person would be deeply unpleasant to us. However, since the dialogue is internal, and we are so used to our inner voice.

Then all the insults disappear into your essence and this increases anxiety and dissatisfaction in the subconscious.

Try to talk to yourself the way you talk to your best friend.

Depression and heredity.

Depression can be caused by genetics. Approximately sixty percent of people diagnosed with depression have specific causes.

These are usually related to external factors, the remaining forty percent can be attributed to the genetic origin of the disease.

People whose parents, brothers or sisters suffer from depression are three times more likely to suffer from this disease.

Scientists are not sure whether this disorder is mainly caused by heredity or mainly by general environmental factors and external influences.

Stress and anxiety.

Stress and anxiety are very important factors contributing to depression.

When we are overwhelmed by negative and worrying thoughts, our brain is under the pressure of thoughts. We are unable to enjoy a full life.

In the modern world, stress is long-term and gradually forms a chronic syndrome. This is especially true for those whose work does not end at the workplace.

It is bad that thoughts about work have to be “taken” home.

Often there is simply no time to recover and regroup to reflect on the next possible stress, which gradually leads to nervous exhaustion.

Depression, mood disorders.

If the symptoms of depression last for several weeks and do not seem to improve, despite lifestyle and behavioral changes. It is possible that there is a health problem in your brain.

This is in no way your fault, and you should not face difficulties alone. If you have come to the conclusion that you have a depressive disorder, seek the help of a qualified doctor.

If your suspicions are justified, your therapist may prescribe medication to improve your mood.

Hormonal fluctuations.

Levels of certain hormones, such as thyroid hormones, can affect your mood and make you feel depressed.

In women, hormonal imbalances during the menstrual cycle can cause mood swings. Some people are more sensitive to these changes than others, and taking hormonal medications may be a way out for them.

Lack of social or emotional contact.

A person may feel overwhelmed by the lack of social or emotional interaction with others. Loneliness is one of the most common causes of depression.

Most of our daily contact with colleagues or other people is superficial. It is problem-oriented and does not fill the need for human interaction.

Sometimes even those we live with and rely on for emotional support withdraw or do not feel our sympathy, causing us to suffer in loneliness.

Sometimes it can take a special effort to fill that void and get the right dose of social interaction.

Depression, Environment, and Lifestyle.

One of the most important factors that trigger depression is the environment and events in our lives. Whether it’s problems at work or even the loss of a job, the loss of a loved onems, worries about a divorce.

Sometimes the situation is beyond our control. Depression is a natural psychological reaction to such events.

All we can do is try to maintain a positive outlook on the world, reminding ourselves that all bad things will pass sooner or later.

Psychological trauma.

Depression can be the brain’s response to trauma, regardless of whether it happened in the recent past or many years ago.

Sometimes life events are more than just everyday ups and downs. In such cases, psychological trauma occurs.

This is especially true of painful childhood events, which can cause the developing brain to get stuck in a loop of anxiety.

The result is often reduced cognitive flexibility, which can make it difficult to cope with future stressors.

The impact of psychological trauma can be somewhat mitigated by psychotherapy, and often a doctor can help find the root of the problem that is causing the depression.

Existential crisis.

Do you see the meaning of your life? Are you sure that your existence is the great thing that can bring something positive to your surroundings. Every new day is similar to the previous one, and fate seems gray and meaningless?

Maybe you think that the whole world is a matrix?

Congratulations, you have an existential crisis!

Existential crisis and how to deal with it?

How to deal with a depressed mood? An existential crisis is a psychological disorder caused by severe psychological trauma.

It can be prolonged isolation from society, acute sleep deprivation, or disappointment in a certain belief system, such as religion.

We know that we will all die someday, so what is the meaning of life?

Existential anxiety or crisis tends to occur during times of transition and reflects difficulties in adapting, often associated with a loss of security.

If you are struggling with existential anxiety, you might be asking yourself the question: “What is the point of living?”

As you move through your life and lose the security of a familiar context and structure, you may question the meaning of life if the end result is that you will die. Why do anything, for yourself or for others?

The ability to be passionate about what might otherwise be considered a meaningless life reflects an appreciation for life itself.

If you can stop trying to live to the end or “purpose” and start to live with the very act of “being,” then you will begin to live your life to the fullest.

In fact, dissatisfaction with your life and the search for its meaning are thoughts that have disturbed the peace of humanity since ancient times. To this day, psychological disorders are becoming widespread and are already causing concern among scientists.

Usually, the crisis spreads among those people who have already satisfied the basic needs of survival, have acquired free time and have not been able to find a use for it.

According to the Danish philosopher Soren Kierkegaard, if people were not distracted by everyday activities, momentary pleasures and other external factors, then a deep depression would cover all of humanity.

Consciousness and high intelligence are a curse that makes us the most miserable creatures among mammals.

Existential crisis, what to do?

According to the German psychologist Karl Jaspers, a crisis occurs whenever a person finds himself in a borderline situation – at the moment of a threat to life, at the moment of the death of a loved one, with a deep sense of guilt, etc.

For comparison, Hamlet’s existential search – to be or not to be in William Shakespeare’s play is triggered by the death of his father.

As a result of such stress, a person suddenly begins to ask himself philosophical questions.

Atheism and disbelief in the existence of God only exacerbate the situation.

A person faces a paradox – he understands that he was not born in vain, but does not see a deep meaning in his own existence and, moreover, does not see a meaning in the existence of all mankind.

Existential crisis, you compare yourself with more successful friends.

Yesterday you were not interested in what happened to your former classmate Zita. Today you suffer from the fact that she, unlike you, has a huge apartment in the center of the capital, and she travels abroad four times a year.

Moreover, your own successes seem completely insignificant, and you are ready to admit yourself to being a failure.

You do not believe in the support of other people.

Everyone has their own worries, that’s true. But this does not mean that no one will help you in a difficult situation.

When experiencing a crisis, we lose the objectivity of judgments, we cannot adequately assess the situation in order to understand who to turn to for help.

Existential crisis, resolving the paradox.

Most people try to cope with cognitive dissonance using some ready-made concept – religion or a harmonious worldview system.

There is an idea that religion exists to provide people with ready-made answers to all questions.

Belief in the existence of a higher power, an afterlife and a specific purpose. Perhaps such an approach to beliefs can save society from conflicts and cultivate humility.

However, what to do with people who are far from religion?

Norwegian philosopher Peter Zapfe described four psychological defense mechanisms – isolation, fixation, distraction and sublimation.

1. Isolation – fantasizing, avoiding the problem in another psychological state in the eye.
2. Fixation is a constant dedication to the search for the meaning of life.
3. Distraction is a return to everyday activities.
4. Sublimation is the redirection of impulses, for example, into creativity (writing songs, poems, paintings, etc.).

It is necessary to slow down the pace of life, learn to relax and unwind. This is not easy, especially if you persistently strive for some goal. But if you do not slow down yourself, life will do it for you.

Sometimes a day of rest is enough or, even better, going on vacation for a week. You can use this time for informative detoxification.
Turn off your smartphone, do not use the Internet. Then, accepting yourself as you are, return to your priorities.

The main rule for overcoming another life crisis is not to hide your “head in the sand”.

After a reasonable self-analysis, try to transform your “findings” into a specific achievable result.

Be that as it may, the best remedy for a psychological crisis is work. As one elderly peasant woman said after a brief presentation of Anna Karenina’s problem:

“I wish she had a cow. Better yet, two.”

Good day and no stress!