EP 40: The Root Cause of Depression

There are over 20 million documented forms of depression in the United States.

“Depression is one of the world’s most common health conditions. It’s estimated that one-in-three women and one-in-five men have an episode of major depression by the age of 65.” (Dattani, Our World in Data, 2022)

“Depression is technically a mental disorder but also affects your physical health. It may impact everything from your heart, kidney, nervous system, and immune system health.” (Healthline)

“depressive symptoms are associated with (1) spending less time in social interaction, (2) spending time with similarly depressed others, (3) spending time in pair-wise interactions rather than group interactions” (Elmer, Nature, 2020)

There is also a stigma that comes with depression where people don’t want to talk about it. Today, we help break down that stigma by discussing:

What causes depression?
What’s the youngest age children are diagnosed with depression?
The impact depression medication has on your body.
Is depression a disease or a symptom of another disease?
The different types of depression.
The type of diet that helps decrease depression.

There are several ways to overcome the stigma of depression. One way is to get treatment and not let stigma create self-doubt and shame. It’s important to not isolate yourself and to reach out to people you trust for compassion, support, and understanding ¹. Joining a support group can also be helpful as it can provide a sense of community and support ¹. Speaking out against stigma and educating others about depression can also help reduce stigma ¹