If you have ever struggled with feelings of sadness, but they don’t go away, and they don’t seem to be caused by any particular life event, it’s normal to wonder if you have depression. When most people think of the word depression, they just think of feeling sad, but depression can be much more than just feeling sad because of job loss or a death in the family. Severe, chronic depression, called major depressive disorder or clinical depression, can be a genetic condition that requires proper mental health treatment.
What is Major Depressive Disorder?
What is major depressive disorder, and is depression genetic? Many people have wondered that over the last few years. Researchers have concluded that inherited depression is real.
Major depressive disorder, sometimes called clinical depression, is a mood disorder. It is a real mental health problem with which many people struggle. Major depressive disorder is when you have problems regulating your mood, the way you feel, think, or even act. Major depressive disorder can cause such strong feelings of sadness, anxiety, and depression that it interferes with your ability to do everyday tasks. Major depressive disorder is not something that you can just turn on and off with the sheer force of will. It requires legitimate mental health and possibly medical treatment.
What are the Signs of Depression?
Given the high rate of depression signs among American adults, it is no wonder many people ask: is depression genetic? No matter the cause, the signs are similar:
- Difficulty concentrating, making decisions, or remembering details
- Feelings of worthlessness, helplessness, or guilt
- Overeating or undereating
- The loss of interest in activities, including sex
- Insomnia, waking too early in the morning, or sleeping too much
- Suicidal thoughts
What are the Causes of Depression?
There are many causes of depression, but can depression be genetic? Yes. Depression is very complex and can be caused by many different factors. Depression usually happens when there’s a chemical imbalance in your brain.
- Some people struggle with clinical depression brought about by their medications to fight a more serious medical condition like cancer. In these cases, depression might be a side effect of their medication.
- Some people struggle with depression after serious life events like the loss of a family member, the loss of a job, a divorce, or serious trauma.
- Some people struggle with depression because of hormonal changes, particularly postpartum depression.
Chemical imbalances in your brain can be caused by genetics, diet, the amount of stress in your current environment, medications you were on, and even medical problems or drug and alcohol abuse.
Some people are more prone to major depressive disorder if they have suffered abuse or trauma. Individuals who struggle with drug or alcohol addiction can change their chemical makeup and leave them much more susceptible to clinical depression. Even genetics can leave you at a much higher risk of clinical depression without you even realizing it.
Is Depression Genetic?
So, is depression genetic? Yes, it is. In fact, a lot of research has identified which genes cause genetic depression. For people who struggle with inherited depression, without proper medical testing or genetic sequencing, it can be difficult to know that you have a genetic condition.
Now you know the answer to “can depression be genetic?” But what can you do about it if you have inherited depression?
How to Find Depression Treatment
Is depression genetic? Yes. We know it is, and we know that you deserve help with your inherited depression. Finding a depression treatment center means locating a facility that focuses on individual treatment. If your condition is genetic, that doesn’t mean that your inherited depression is not also exacerbated by things like medications, major life events, the stress in your workplace, unresolved trauma, or co-existing medical conditions. The right depression treatment will take all of this into consideration and develop personalized treatment programs for you.
At Laguna View Detox, our team offers comprehensive dual diagnosis. Each patient receives a personalized evaluation to determine the best course of action for recovery. This can extend to things like medications, particularly for inherited depression manifesting with severe symptoms, family therapy, one-on-one counseling, and holistic treatments to give you the skills you need to manage everyday symptoms.
If you are ready to get treatment for your inherited depression, let Laguna View Detox help.