Am I likely To Develop Depression?

Sweeping statements have been made about the type of person most likely to get depressed. The truth is susceptibility to depression is based on many factors and sometimes how they relate to each other. Statistics show that you are more likely to experience depression if you fall into one or more of the following categories, but just because you fit a category does not mean you will ever experience depression in your lifetime. Remember statistics are numbers and they simply show trends.

You are more susceptible to depression if you are...

1) Female – Women have 2x the likelihood of experiencing depression than men. This may be due to a statistical problem that women are more likely to report feeling sad, depressed or unhappy they do not necessarily suffer from depression more than men. It may also be the case that the hormonal changes women experience during their menstrual cycle, pregnancy and menopause have a considerable effect on their tendency to become depressed.

2) In A Family With A History Of Depression – This is sometimes called “genetic vulnerability�. If someone, particularly in you immediate family has had depression it is more likely that you may suffer from it also.

3) A Perfectionist – If you are never happy with yourself, not just striving for excellence, but kicking yourself about when you don’t live up to your own unrealistically high expectations.

4) Under Stress – trauma, sudden life changes, death of a relative or friend, illness, and work problems can all lead to some level of sadness or confusion. This is quite normal, but for some people these emotional responses become overwhelming and they can then become depressed.

5) Suffering or Have Suffered from another serious medical condition such as cancer, stroke, heart attack, chronic illness or chronic pain.

Many people who fall into these categories or even fit into all five of these categories never experience depression in their lives. Just because you are a woman under extreme stress it does not mean you will get depressed only that the likelihood of this happening is a little higher. Many people who fail to fit into any of these categories still get severely depressed.

The most important thing is that if you are aware of these categories then you might be able to identify danger times for yourself or those close to you and/or know what is happening and manage to take action before the depression gets too bad. If you think you have depression speak with friends or family and seek professional advice.