When are you most vulnerable to depression?
You are most vulnerable to depression at some particular times of life and major life events. These may include any of the following:
- Death of the spouse
- During and after pregnancy
- During the menopause
- After the diagnosis of a major illness
- Separation and divorce
- When facing a major financial problem or disaster
- Nursing and caring for a close relative over an extended period of time
- Any major change or upheaval in life circumstances
Sometimes the cumulative nature of these events may be the triggering factor of depression. You may feel that you cope very well with the pressures of life and relationships until you face bereavement or some major change in life circumstances, when you may find that things too hard to handle.
If you have a past history of depression or close family members who have suffered from the same problem, just one of the above factors may also trigger depression.
It also bears remembering that there is a broad spectrum of potential experience of depression. Some people may experience mild, fairly short-lived episodes of these problems that they can handle by themselves once they understand why the symptoms are there and what they can do to support themselves through the phases of emotional upheaval.
Others may find that they move into a state of severe clinical depression that leaves them feeling frightened, lost, disoriented and unable to cope with the regular demands that they need to meet their day-to-day lives. This is a situation where professional guidance, reassurance and support are needed; so that the sufferers understand that they are not alone in suffering in this way (feeling isolated can be one of the most alarming aspects of depression).
In addition, once support is at hand in the form of professional medical help such as medication, cognitive therapy or psychotherapeutic approaches, sufferers are likely to feel a huge sense of relief that something positive and practical can be done to support them through a very traumatic experience. This is especially important, since despair can set in when people feel there is no possible way out of their problems. Feeling that practical options for change are available can make all the difference in such a situation.
Leave a Reply