IDAHO FALLS, ID (KIFI) – Almost 34% of Idahoans report symptoms of anxiety or depression, higher than the national average of 32%, according to KFF.
Depression and anxiety are often linked, but not always. Each may exist alone.
The Mayo Clinic describes depression as a “mood disorder that causes persistent sadness and loss of interest.”
“When you think about the word depression, it means to subdue. And for some people, depression is an adaptive response of the brain. They’ve been doing too much for too long, or they’ve been doing too much for too long. “So their brain wants a kind of stagnation,” said Stephanie Westover, a licensed clinical social worker.
There are many potential causes of depression, including stress, traumatic events, loneliness, drug use, and some are genetic.
“If their parents had a lot of stress, they would be more likely to get depressed because their brains would be that way and their genetic material would have shifted in that direction,” Westover says.
However, determining whether you have genetic material that causes depression can be difficult.
“So many of these genes are activated by our environmental experiences,” Westover says. “But if you have a family history of depression and have symptoms of depression, you may be in a group that is more susceptible to depression.”
Symptoms of depression include feelings of hopelessness, irritability, loss of interest, trouble sleeping, and changes in appetite.
Depression comes in many forms, ranging from mild to severe. Professor Westover said: “We’re looking at whole-body responses, not just thoughts.”
As with any mental disorder, there are ways to improve and get help. Some people choose to take medication under the guidance of a doctor. On the other hand, some people choose the natural route, such as exercising, socializing, and enjoying a healthy diet. Both are effective.
“To overcome depression, you really need to retrain your brain to say, ‘I know it doesn’t feel good to do all the things I don’t want to do anymore, but if there’s something,’ You have to tell your brain that you’re going to change and you have to start somewhere.”
If you think you may have depression, contact your health care provider and seek treatment as soon as possible.
