Everyone experiences fluctuations in their moods, especially when life gets hard. Mood swings are perfectly normal and can be caused by multiple factors including grief, financial hardships, relationship issues, and so on. However, when a person experiences persistent, low mood, sadness, and loss of interest in activities they once enjoyed, this is called depression. Depression is a mood disorder that at least 21 million Americans (8.3%) reported experiencing in the year 2021 alone. This is a growing area of concern because depression affects a person's ability to perceive their own life through a positive lens. As one can imagine, this can lead to worse outcomes such as suicidal ideation, chronic pain and fatigue, illnesses, and much more.
What Causes Depression?
Genes
Alcohol/Drug use
Chronic stress
Grief
Abuse
Poor physical health
Depression in PeOpLe Depression is a personal experience and means something different to everyone. Children, adolescents, and adults all experience depression differently therefore causing the physical signs to be slightly different in each case. Although there may be many similarities on one hand, take a look at this chart to see the slight differences at each stage of life.Â
Men and Depression
Research shows that there can be hormonal links to depression in men and women. For example, research studies show men with lower testosterone levels are more likely to have depression. This is because it is believed that testosterone activates serotonin which is a vital hormone in controlling your mood. Ask your doctor if you are experiencing depression and possibly request to have your testosterone levels checked. It may be as simple as taking a daily testosterone booster to allow your body to provide the optimal environment for testosterone.Â
Women and Depression
Women, on the other hand, are more susceptible to having lower vitamin D levels especially as they age. Vitamin D is involved in creating dopamine and norepinephrine. These are neurotransmitters that regulate everything from mood to blood pressure and sleep cycles. Speak to your doctor about checking your vitamin D levels regularly.
As you can see, depression meets everyone differently in life and reflects differently as well. However it may come, we can always learn new ways to combat the turbulent symptoms of depression. Promoting optimal mental stability and wellness begins with what you consume. Changing your diet to include more whole foods and water along with adding supplements can boost your moods and keep them there longer. Supplements are a great way to correct deficiencies that can aid in low moods. For those struggling with depression and/or damaging mood swings, feel free to check out a list I made of supplements that I use to aid my body in promoting the best environment for mental and physical wellness.
References
Visit www.versefromanurse.com for more work written by Missy Doucet, RN
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