Common beliefs about Depression
Many of our common and accepted beliefs about depression are no longer supported by the current research. These beliefs often misdirect people in their efforts to overcome depression symptoms.
We have come to believe that depression is a “chemical imbalance” caused by genetics. We often believe that the solution is a medication that “corrects” the deficiency.
Yet the increased availability of antidepressant medication correlates to a very rapid rise—not a decrease—in the rate of depression occurrence in the US. In addition, the United States and other developed nations have a very high rate of depression compared to undeveloped nations. Citizens in developed countries have the most access to antidepressants—yet the rate of depression is higher. Does this suggest that depression is related to lifestyle choices? Does it suggest that antidepressants are less of a solution than we may have come to believe?
Depression and a new solution
Research indicates that depression is correlated to a number of lifestyle risk factors. Most of these risk factors can be changed when we understand what they are. Clinical studies also show that, although antidepressants can be helpful in the short term, using medications to treat depression creates a high rate of relapse—higher than most other treatments. In addition, medication treatment does nothing to address the risk factors that lead to depression in the first place.
A variety of other treatment options are available for depression, and many of them help us to improve our coping skills and resources so that depression episodes can be avoided in the future. There are many treatment options that produce long-term gains and lower relapse rates. Some are as simple as exercising several times a week, which a study at Duke University showed to be as effective as medication in the short term, and dramatically better than medication in the long term.
Risk Factors for Depression
Some of the well-known risk factors that can lead to depression include:
Attitudes and thinking patterns that are pessimistic, critical and self-defeating.
Insomnia, irregular sleep, night jobs that require daytime sleep, or interrupted sleep patterns.
Unresolved trauma and repressed emotional pain.
Patterns of anger and blaming others
Negative, critical or conflict-filled relationships.
Poor eating habits.
Lack of exercise
A lack of purpose, hope and sense of meaning in life.
Long term emotional stress
Many, and often all of these risk factors can be changed or managed in healthy ways. Find out more about these and other risk factors that drive depression, and the many simple steps that can be used to resolve depression.
