It’s uncommon for people to feel blue from time to time. Whether you’re ten years old or in your retirement years, it’s perfectly natural to feel depressed. For some people, it might just last a few hours, and for other people, it might last a few months. In order to bring yourself up from a dark place, sometimes it helps to identify what’s causing it in the first place.
If you’re not sure why you might be feeling out of sorts, take a look at some of the biggest causes of depression.
Lack of Social Connection
It’s no surprise that more people across the world are feeling more depressed than ever. Due to recent lockdowns, people are getting less interaction with others. The problem with less social time is that you start to feel disconnected from the world around you. The last contact you have with other human beings, the more susceptible you are to feelings of depression and hopelessness.
It’s important that you try to stay as social as possible even when it’s impossible to go outside. Try to schedule Zoom meetings with family and friends, and if conditions are appropriate, consider having social visits in a socially distanced environment.
Weather
As many as three out of four people say that they feel more depressed during the winter than they do in the summer. Warm weather doesn’t mean a total absence of depression, however, you’ll find that fewer people experience the blues when it’s sunny outside. If you’re someone that gets depressed during the colder and grey months, you should consider getting a solar lamp. A bit of vitamin D can boost your mood and leave you feeling more hopeful in general.
Drugs and Alcohol
Drugs and alcohol are a slippery slope. A lot of people turn to them in order to feel better, and in turn, end up feeling worse. Even though alcohol is associated with celebrations and having fun, it can often have the opposite effect. It’s important that you consume alcohol in moderation in order to avoid extreme lows. The same goes for consuming drugs, and even legal ones. Taking any kind of substance can alter your body’s chemicals and, in turn, affect your ability to regulate your moods.
Birth Control
A little known side effect of birth control is that it can actually have emotional consequences. Some contraceptives contain progesterone, which is known for causing depression in some women.
While experts aren’t sure why yet, it is known that if you have a history of depression in your family, you should be careful about which contraceptive you choose to take. If you’re someone who is prone to depression, then you may want to opt for other forms of birth control like the IUD.