#7 10 Causes of Depression - Why It Happens
What causes Depression? How much do you want me to say that one single thing causes it, which means one single thing can fix it?
I bet you do.
I do too.
But unfortunately, Depression doesn’t work like that.
Bugger.
What actually causes depression is …
a BUNCH of interactions between genetic vulnerability, thought patterns and life circumstances ….
….all mixed together in a pot full of sad-ness.
It’s okay though - because we’ll get to treatment options tomorrow.
But today - let’s figure out WHY we get sad, because understanding the causes can help guide treatment and support options to get better.
Allright let’s get into it - I’ll keep it short and sweet today, and down the track we can do a deep dive into each one.
The list of 10? Here’s the quick run down. Genetics, neurochemicals, hormones, thinking patterns, trauma, other mental health issues, social/environmental stress, substance abuse and lifestyle choices, chronic illness, and cultural/societal factors.
WHEEEEW. It’s okay - we’ll go through them one by one and explain what they actually mean.
Genetics - it runs in the family.
If depression runs in your family, you might be more likely to experience it too - it doesn’t guarentee it, but it does mean your risk is higher.
I always really like the quote “mental illness ran in the family, until it ran into me”.
Essentially, this one is out of our control.
Blame mum and dad and nanna and grandad, because it’s built into our genes.
—> BUT REMEMBER it doesn’t mean you WILL get depression if they’ve had it, it just means it makes you more LIKELY to.
You are still in control.
2. Neurochemical imbalances - brain chemicals are out of whack.
We talked about this the other day (go back for a peek if you want) but these are the special chemicals to help us feel happy, motivated or calm.
When these chemicals are out of whack (like serotonin and dopamine) you can feel tired, down or empty.
This is what I thought I had originally. Nope - no issues with my thinking. Nope - no trauma. Nope - no issues living in the closet as a catholic lesbian. Strictly must be a chemical imbalance and just wanted some meds to balance them out.
Boy was I wrong. Turns out there was a bit more to do with it than just the biological stuff….
3. Hormone influences - mood changes from hormones.
Changes in our hormones during puberty, pregnancy, after giving birth, menopause (or even if you have thyrioid problems) affect our mood a lot, and can make us feel more depressed.
That’s why it’s really important to know before/during these events happening, so we can be more prepared to deal with the possibility of lower mood if it comes.
4. Cognitive and Psychological patterns - our negative thinking habits.
If we often think very negatively about ourselves, our future, or the world in general - or even if you’re just really hard on yourself (hello perfectionism), it can make us more likely to become depressed.
Again, there’s the MORE LIKELY wording - not guarenteed - but more likely.
You can see how some of these can stack up on each other right?
5. Trauma and Adverse Childhood Experiences - hard things that happened earlier.
Going through really really rough times (expecially as a child) can make your body and brain more sensitive to depression later in life.
Again - doesn’t mean you WILL, you’re just more likely to develop depression - after going through things like neglect, abuse, bullying or losing someone close.
5. Co-occuring mental health conditions - other mental healh struggles too.
Won the mental illness lottery and have more than one thing going on?
Unfortunately this was the case for me too - it took a few years for my doctors to realise the underlying cause of ptsd causing depression - and feeding off each other.
Depression can show up alongside things like anxiety and PTSD - and these conditions can feed off each other and make everything feel heavier.
7. Social and Environmental Stressors - stress from life and surroundings.
Life stress can really wear you down, especially if it goes on for a long period of time.
Things like money problems, losing a job or relationship issues can lead to depression over time.
8. Lifestyle and Substance Abuse - what you do daily matters.
I feel like I’m writing a checklist for all the things that contibuted to my own depression and fueled it - hello substance abuse.
Using alocohol or drugs can (and does) mess with your mood and brain over time. I know at times numbing it out seems like the only option to deal with the thoughts in your brain - I get it. But by slowly building your toolbox of OTHER mood-management tools, you can gently ween yourself off the drugs and alcohol. I’m now fully sober. Not always as much fun, but I love not crying hungover or stoned in bed.
What about lifestyle? Even things like poor sleep, not moving our bodies, and not eating well (hello the depressed summer of just consuming up & go, toast, and pink and blue gummy bears) can increase the risk of depression - and keep it going for longer.
9. Chronic illness and pain - ongoing health issues.
Living with constant pain or long term health problems can understandably be really exhausing and frustrating, making depression more likely to occur than if you didn’t have the chronic illness or pain.
This one I luckily don’t have, but really feel for those who do.
10. Cultural and Societal Factors - feeling different or under pressure.
Feeling like you don’t fit in, need to work harder to “keep up with everyone else”, and facing discrimination also contributes to the causes of depression - epecially in minority or marganised groups.
I always felt so guilty that I had such a privileged lifestyle - and still had the audacity to be sad. I would lie in bed thinking, fucking hell brenna, get a grip. People would kill for your level of comfort in this life, and you’re here being sad about it.
It was a guilt thing that took a long time to work through, like I didn’t deserve to be sad because others had it worse. It still comes up now and then, especially with the fucked up shit that’s going on in the world in 2025.
If I think about it too much it makes me feel useless and I start to spiral - but then I can’t just ignore it because it feels like then I’m accepting it as okay? What can I do from little old Invercargill in New Zealand?
All I can do is stop the spiral downwards, put my energy into a project that can help - which is this.
If people in those situations can get access to free therapy, it will help.
That’s what I’ve got to beleive anyway.
That this whole club will work. That the tools will raise money for the free therapy lottery fund. That I’ll keep up the work on it, day in and day out, even if it feels like noone is listening - until together we can help. I dunno.
Anyway - this is way too long once again.
I’ll go back and add some headings and try make it easier to read.
If you got this far, thanks for sticking around and I hope the causes of depression make a little more sense now.
As always,
I’m really proud of you for staying alive.
Talk again soon,
lots of love
bren
xx
