Depression Etiology
By Eliot LeBow LCSW, CDCES
There are several different ideas as to the cause of depression that have been identified. These include genetics, social and environmental factors, and neurobiological factors. One or all of these may play a role. Regardless of exact cause, depression is a chemical imbalance predominantly seen in those with childhood trauma.
Other causes may relate to traumatic events in life that have a devastating impact on an individual. Like people who experience a traumatic loss may develop symptoms similar to depression. When the loss is the death of a love one the symptoms although the same as depression it would be diagnosed as mourning, unless it last longer then 2 months at which time it would be considered depression.
Reasons it is more prevalent in individuals with Type 1 diabetes:
- Unstable Blood Glucose: Having unstable blood sugar during childhood can lead to brain issues such as developing a chemical imbalance, reduced gray matter and frontal lobe damage. Reasons it is more prevalent in individuals with Type I and Type II diabetes:
- Life Style: For many it’s a loss of freedom, to live life free of constrictions and without having to worry about management of an illness. No longer being able to eat what you want or leave your home without thinking about your blood sugar needs.
- Anger: When a person lives with a chronic illness many things get internalized usually in the form of self-blame. Depression is anger turned upon oneself. Everything from internal statements of “I did this to myself. I caused this!” to “This shouldn’t be that hard so, why am I always messing this up! I am stupid because I should have remembered to test my blood, take my pill or count the carbs!”
- Family Stressors: When someone gets diabetes, family members start acting differently, which can cause relationships to fall apart while causing extreme levels of anxiety and arguments within the family. The person with diabetes may take on the family stress and blame themselves for everyone’s behaviors and see it as their fault.
- High Blood Glucose: It mirrors the symptoms of depression (see symptoms below.)
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