Certain causes of depression are pretty well known, and they are easy to recognize and treat. Examples of such are abuse, trauma, bad relationships, divorce, grief, and other such triggers. In fact, a lot of people attribute depression to these physiological factors. They are not wrong. Depression is a severe mood disorder caused by the factors listed above.
On the other hand, some people feel depressed and can’t pinpoint the factors causing them to feel depressed. That doesn’t mean your feelings are not justified.
There may not be a solid reason for why you feel depressed. This means you have to dig deeper into other factors causing your depression. I’ve compiled a list of 6 surprising reasons why you feel depressed. Your depression may be caused by one or more of these factors.
6 Surprising Reasons Why You Feel Depressed
Check out these 6 surprising reasons why you feel depressed:
1 | You don’t get in any physical activity
Several studies show that lack of physical activity is directly tied to the prevalence of mood disorders in people. When was the last time you went out for a jog? Physical activity is a great coping mechanism for mood disorders such as depression, anxiety, stress and others. Rather than bottling up violent emotions, exercise helps you to release your emotions by exerting physical activity. That’s not all; exercise releases endorphins that make you feel exhilarated and happier.
2 | You probably have a bad diet and nutrition
You know you shouldn’t eat too much fast food. It’s bad for your health, and can get you to add pounds. However, there are other reasons why you shouldn’t eat too much take-out. Processed foods like bread, cheese, pizzas, you name it—can cause microbial imbalances in your gut. In addition to that, gorging on refined sugars doesn’t help. These generically unhealthy foods cause inflammations in your gut that are translated into cognitive problems such as bad moods, poor focus, poor memory and other such symptoms of depression.
3 | You don’t get enough sleep
You’re in a low mood and can’t figure out why? Did you stay up late last night binge-watching a TV show on Netflix? Sleep is a time to rest and replenish your body. You need a minimum of 8 hours of sleep a day. Lack of adequate sleep causes cognitive vulnerability to mood disorders such as depression, anxiety and stress.
4 | You’re physically sick
When was the last time you were jolly and cheery when you had a cold or a headache? If you’re feeling moody while fighting an infection, that’s totally normal. In fact, some medication can get you feeling under the weather due to it’s side-effects.
5 | Hormonal changes
How many times have you been emotional for no reason only to get your period the next day? This is completely normal. An influx of hormones in our systems can cause depression, stress and anxiety. Other hormonal cycles such as developmental changes in adolescence can impact our moods. Pregnancy also causes production of certain hormones that have similar symptoms to depression, stress and anxiety.
6 | Mood altering substances
Substances such as alcohol and drugs can give you short-term relief from stress and anxiety. However, they are not a reliable coping mechanism and can cause you to be more vulnerable. It’s common to feel worse than you did before consuming such substances. You can control feelings of depression by getting better and more reliable coping mechanisms.
Now, to stop feeling depressed
These are the common elusive causes of depression. If they resonate with your own lifestyle, it’s time to start counter-measures against them. If you’re not getting enough sleep, start focusing on getting a good night’s rest. Eat healthier, and work out more. These lifestyle changes will help you to feel better about yourself and they will help you to stop feeling too depressed.
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