Determining whether depression is psychological or biochemical can be challenging, but certain symptoms can provide clues. While depression stemming from negative life events may fluctuate with changes in circumstances, biochemical depression tends to persist despite alterations in one's life. If you find yourself consistently depressed over a long period, even when positive changes occur, biochemical factors may be at play.
Furthermore, the effectiveness of talk therapy can indicate the nature of depression. If traditional psychotherapy fails to alleviate symptoms and leaves you feeling perplexed rather than enlightened, biochemical depression may be more likely. Unlike situational depression, biochemical depression often leads to an inability to react to good news, along with early morning awakenings and difficulty returning to sleep.
Another distinguishing factor is the inability to pinpoint a specific triggering event for your depression. While situational depression can often be traced back to a particular cause or stressor, biochemical depression may arise seemingly without reason. Additionally, if your moods oscillate between periods of depression and elation in a cyclical pattern, this could suggest a mood disorder like bipolar disorder rather than a reaction to life events.
Furthermore, it's essential to note the impact of substances on depression. Heavy drinking exacerbates symptoms of depression, particularly in cases of biochemical depression. Therefore, monitoring how substances affect your mood can provide valuable insights into the nature of your depression. By considering these markers, individuals can gain a better understanding of whether their depression is primarily psychological or influenced by biochemical factors.
Depression: Psychological vs Biochemical
