Depression is one of the most common mental health problems in the United States. As per the latest statistics released by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), approximately 16 million adults suffered at least one major depressive symptom in 2014.
A number of studies conducted across multiple generations have established that depression is highly familial. Individuals whose parents and grandparents suffered from depression are three times more likely to experience major bouts of depression during their lifetime. Psychiatrists also believe if parents have experienced any symptoms of depression before the age of 20 years, their children’s risk to develop the disease may increase four to fivefold.
Those in the high-risk group also have to deal with the associate stigma, which in turn aggravates their condition by initiating a vicious circle of despair and dejection. This association between depression and family history has raised the question whether depression can be passed on to generations just like heart disease and diabetes.
Helping children from families with a history of depression
Children who are genetically vulnerable to depression constitute the high-risk group. Parents of children who are predisposed to depression must ensure that they consult a mental health professional before their children manifest any symptoms of depression. It is incumbent on adults with a history of depression and other mental health problems to educate themselves about related symptoms in children in order to identify and cope with such conditions, if necessary.
A 2015 study published in the American Journal of Psychiatry tried to analyze the effects of treating mother’s depressive symptoms on her child’s well-being. There are higher odds that depressed mothers would provide less care and attention to their children due to their ongoing mental battles. Such an environment can be stressful and nerve-racking for the children during their early years. The only possible remedy to handle such a situation is to treat the mother for depression. The welfare and well-being of the child is directly linked to the mental health of the mother.
Learning coping strategies to deal with depression
Depression is a treatable disease, but the treatment may vary from one individual to the other. There is no “one size fits all” when it comes to mental disorders. Here are some tips to help a person lead a stress-free life:
Taking healthy diet: Unhealthy food could aggravate one’s existing mental illness. Moreover, it could create obstacles on the road to recovery. Deficiency of vitamin B is generally associated with depression.
Doing daily exercise: Moderate exercise on a regular basis can work wonders to improve the mood and can influence the way depressed people feel about themselves.
Getting sufficient sleep: Insufficient sleep can drastically affect someone’s physical and mental well-being. Sleep-related problems may trigger or contribute to depression. It is widely observed that insomnia is a major outcome of depression.
Sharing problems: Sharing problems with someone trustworthy is an effective therapy in itself. It is an effective way to offload anything that seems to be a burden on the mind.
Avoiding stressful situations: Stress is useless as it can have a negative impact on the mind causing depression and other mental health disorders. There could be times where avoiding stress becomes impossible, but there is always a way to minimize the impact.
You are not destined to be depressed
While these depressive disorders are still being studied, thankfully there are ways to deal with them so that one may continue to live a normal life. Many people have been using a combination therapy that involves medication and psychotherapy for regular mental illness. Seeking counseling and professional help can treat depression in an effective way.
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