Depression: The Epidemic of the 21st Century

Although depression can make you feel isolated and alone in your suffering, it is far more common than you may realize.

"We are living in an epidemic of depression. Depression is now ten times as prevalent as it was just a generation ago, and the average age of onset has gone from 30 to just 15 years old.

Every indication suggests that more people are depressed, more of the time, more severely, and starting earlier in their lives, than ever before."

- Richard 'O Connor, PhD

But what has led to this dramatic increase in the number of people suffering from depression.

There are no easy and simple answers, because depression is a complex condition that has a number of contributing factors.

"There is no simple "one-size-fits-all" reason for depression. Depression is partly in our genes, partly in our way of thinking, partly in our brains, partly in our ways of handling emotions....Depression is a complex condition that blurs the Western mind and body, nature and nurture, self and others." - Richard 'O Connor, PhD

There are a number of contributing factors that make some people more predisposed to depression than others.

If one, or both, of your parents or someone in your close family suffered from depression, you are more susceptible to the depression as well.

Early childhood experiences affect the developing brain and may sometimes lead to trouble in adulthood.

If your primary caregiver was emotionally out of tune with you as a child - perhaps because of their own depression - the child may never develop a healthy sense of self-esteem, or feel worthy of love.

They may also be unable to fully trust others and even be unable to control their own impulses.

The death of a parent, sexual, verbal or emotional abuse or neglect or some other traumatic incident in childhood is another risk factor for depression.

Emotional abuse especially, is one of the most common occurences in depressed patients. Things like name calling, constant criticism, and undermining and the withdrawal of love and affection just because the parent is in a bad mood.

Childhood problems with sibings including feeling that a sibling was favored or that a sibling rejected or bullied them.

Shyness and social anxiety are linked to depression. The social isolation caused by the lack of interpersonal skills makes the depression even worse.

Lack of a proper social support structure make any existing depression even worse.

People with depression tend to think in a much more negative, self-critical and pessimistic way than people who are not depressed.

Rejection or criticism cuts deeply while good things only result in fleeting good feelings.

Any major or chronic illness can set off a major depressive episode.

Any major or chronic illness can set off a major depressive episode.

Losing money, your job or position can lead to depression because people start to question their sense of sense of self-worth.

Grief can feel like depression and it can lead to depression unless we move on.

Losing your status can also lead to depression. For example, aging and losing your beauty or getting divorced and no longer being a wife or kids leaving home (empty nest syndrome).