Recognize depression and treat it in good time

Every year five million people in Germany contract depression. In the course of their lives, 23 percent of Germans are directly affected by depression, 37 percent are also affected by sick relatives. However, errors and ignorance of the serious illness are still widespread. Many believe that depression is caused primarily by stroke of fate, stress at work or a wrong lifestyle. Advice such as "go on vacation" or even "pull yourself together" is completely unsuitable for depressed people. And: Depression is dangerously underestimated as a potentially fatal illness.

1 / Widespread mental illness:

Depression can affect people of any age - from childhood to old age. Depression affects women about twice as often as men. It is believed that women are more susceptible to the disease because of hormonal fluctuations. However, depression is less common in men. They often shy away from showing weakness and looking for help. They also show other symptoms than women, such as aggressive or excessive behavior.

2 / Age-specific triggers:

Depression in older people often has age-specific triggers. The entry into retirement age with the termination of the employment relationship goes hand in hand with many changes in the area of ​​daily structure, employment and above all also your own appreciation. The increasing loss of physical and social independence can also have a negative impact on mood. If, for example, long-time hobbies can no longer be pursued and the reduced mobility increasingly restricts the range of movement, there is a risk of social isolation for those affected.

3 / Trauma can be a trigger:

The loss of a partner or a relative of the same age, of friends and acquaintances goes hand in hand with a strong emotional burden. In many cases, the losses leave a distinct feeling of sadness and desolation. Wounds and traumas such as war experiences or other physical and mental injuries are often reactivated.

4 / causes and risk factors:

The causes of depression are not yet fully understood. Depression can come suddenly - almost overnight. It can affect anyone, just like any other disease. Apparently, internal and external factors play a role in the development, for example biological, genetic and psychosocial factors.

1. Genetic disposition: The risk of developing depression is increased if the disease has already occurred in the family.
2.  Disrupted brain metabolism: Some experts believe that a low level of noradrenaline or serotonin is partly responsible for depression. The disrupted exchange between nerve cells can lead to listlessness, poor appetite and insomnia.
3. Stress: Psychosocial stress plays a crucial role in the development of depression. Negative life events are often accompanied by stress, for example the death of a close person, separation, loss of job or a serious illness. However, positive events such as the birth of a child, marriage or a promotion also create stress and increase the likelihood of developing depression. The risk of depression generally increases in phases of life with larger, far-reaching changes, for example puberty or the start of retirement.
4. Vulnerability: People who have had traumatic experiences such as abuse or neglect in childhood have a particularly high risk of depression. It can be difficult for you to deal with stressful situations.
5. Attitude to life: People who think badly about themselves, about the world and the future are at higher risk. On the other hand, positive self-esteem and optimism can protect against depression.
6. Physical diseases and hormone dysregulation: Brain diseases and hormonal disorders such as hyperthyroidism or hyperthyroidism affect the emotional world. Many depressed people have elevated levels of the stress hormone cortisol, which is produced in the adrenal cortex. From a physiological point of view, they are under constant stress. There are also indications that inflammatory hormones from abdominal fat (visceral fat tissue) fuel depression. There is a striking correlation between depressive illnesses and obesity: People who are extremely overweight develop depression more often. The same goes for people suffering from diabetes, cardiovascular disease or cancer. Type 2 diabetics are twice as likely to become depressed as healthy people.
7. Medications: Cardiovascular drugs (beta-blockers), cortisone, hormonal contraceptives and some neurological medications such as anti-epileptics and anti-Parkinson's medicines can promote depression.