Unfamiliar Causes of Depression
Underactive thyroid gland and depression
https://www.health.harvard.edu/press_releases/sometimes-depression-results-from-an-underactive-thyroid
Low Testosterone May Cause Depression
https://www.webmd.com/depression/news/20040203/low-testosterone-cause-depression
An underactive thyroid or hyperthyroidism can cause depression, as can chronic pain and chronic illnesses in general. Certain pain medications and antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications can cause depression as well. Any sort of hormonal imbalance - whether caused by aforementioned thyroid, low testosterone or estrogen, etc - can cause depression. So can a lack of Vitamin D, although this seems to be relatively well known. :)
Omega 3 fatty acids in the right combination with Omega 6 fatty acids can play a role against depression.
Omega-3 fatty acids and major depression
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC533861/
Seasonal affective disorder
"Seasonal affective disorder(SAD), also known aswinter depression,winter blues,summer depression,summer blues, orseasonal depression, was considered amood disorderin which people who have normalmental healththroughout most of the year experiencedepressivesymptoms in the winter or summer.[1]"
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_affective_disorder
Smoking may cause depression
"Researchers have made bold claims about cigarette smoking leading todepression. It has long been known that smokers have higher rates of depression than nonsmokers, but researchers from the University of Otago in New Zealand investigated the link further, and say they have found a causal relationship."
https://psychcentral.com/lib/can-smoking-cause-depression/0007153
What about existential depression?
Interesting point. So many people are moving away from religion and this might affect our sense of purpose. I have went through that, and still do to a degree.
Interesting concepts on this is discussed via Humanism. I still have to read a lot about it.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humanism
"Humanismis aphilosophicalandethicalstance that emphasizes the value andagencyofhuman beings, individually and collectively, and generally prefers critical thinking and evidence (rationalism,empiricism) over established doctrine or faith (fideism). The meaning of the termhumanismhas fluctuated, according to the successive intellectual movements which have identified with it.[1]Generally, however, humanism refers to a perspective that affirms some notion of a "human nature" (sometimes contrasted withantihumanism).
In modern times, humanist movements are typically aligned withsecularismand with non-theistic religions.["
-poor sleep habits
- media overload
- location of where you live
- too many choices of everything!
- lack of fish in diet
-poor relationships with siblings and parents
- birth control pills ( very rare)
Great points Kristey! I will google some of these points in due course and add some links.
