The primary psychological and mental causes of depression are largely centered around the loss of emotional and cognitive balance between positive and negative feelings and thoughts. The relationship that links the mind and psyche to the body plays a crucial role in balancing brain chemistry and the mechanism of translating messages from neurotransmitters into feelings of depression and profound sadness, leading to the generation of cognitive distortions.
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| Psychological and mental causes of depression |
Mental and psychological causes of depression
The psychological and cognitive causes of depression are closely linked to the biological causes of depression, according to researchers and neuroscientists. They work on finding a physical and biological cause for depression, which forms the basis for the search for depression treatments in the form of antidepressant medications. On the other hand, another group of psychologists is trying to prove the idea that depression has psychological and mental causes related to a person's inability to control and manage their positive and negative emotions and thoughts.
In the perspective of the materialistic school, the patient bears no responsibility for the causes of psychological and cognitive depression. Neuroscientists view this mental illness and the depressed individual as victims of genetic mutations and biological disorders that affect the unconscious mind and force the person into depression. The ability to control and manage emotions and thoughts holds no significance for materialistic biological scientists. In contrast, psychologists attribute the occurrence of depression to the patient themselves, stripping them of the victim role. They primarily involve the patient in the journey of searching for depression treatment, accompanied by psychological assistance, and empower the patient with the ability to control and manage their emotions and thoughts independently.
The psychological and mental causes of depression, personally for me, Abdelhadi El-lyazghi, the owner of this website, have been a significant dilemma. Especially because I couldn't reconcile the theory of materialistic biological scientists with the theory of psychologists. Therefore, I decided, through this blog post, to present intermediary solutions that can help you understand the psychological and cognitive causes of depression and their relationship with biological problems and disorders, considering that the body is the home where the mind and soul reside.
Psychological and mental causes of depression in detail
1) Nervous Tension and Psychological Pressure: Numerous studies and recent scientific research in neuroscience, such as those mentioned on the psychiatryonline website, confirm that continuous and chronic exposure to nervous tension and psychological pressure increases the likelihood of developing various physical and mental disorders over time. One of the most prevalent psychological disorders affecting a significant number of people worldwide is depression, which is often attributed to psychological pressure and chronic nervous tension. These conditions elevate the levels of adrenaline and cortisol hormones in the blood, resulting in the destruction of neural structures and an imbalance in brain chemistry. Furthermore, chronic stress not only affects human emotions but also alters the thought processes of individuals suffering from depression. As a result, the frontal lobe of the brain becomes disconnected, causing the person to perceive life in a negative manner, further immersing them in the depths of depression.
2) Panic Attacks and Severe Fear: Psychological causes of depression can be closely related to panic attacks and intense panic. Some individuals may experience these during their lifetime. While fear is an instinctual response that cannot be entirely eliminated, as it has evolved with the human species and served to protect individuals from various dangers, it has now transformed into a pathological form that restricts the person and subjects them to a range of physical, psychological, and behavioral problems and disorders. Experiencing panic attacks represents the highest degree of fear and is often a consequence of continuous and chronic exposure to nervous tension and psychological pressure. This condition affects the neural-endocrine pathway connecting the amygdala, hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland. Consequently, high and persistent secretion of adrenaline and cortisol hormones occurs, shrinking the size of the "hippocampus" memory center. The disconnection of the frontal lobe of the brain makes the patient constantly ready to plunge into the depths of depression.
3) Trauma or Psychological Shock: Scientifically known as Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), it is a rapid and sudden psychological disorder caused by external factors and unexpected events, such as the death of a loved one, job loss, involvement in an accident, or failure in an exam. These factors and others lead individuals to experience psychological shock or trauma, resulting from excessive and unregulated secretion of adrenaline and cortisol hormones. These hormones overstimulate certain neural structures, such as the amygdala responsible for generating feelings of panic and fear, as well as the hippocampus, responsible for information storage and memory. Consequently, an imbalance occurs in both physical and mental functions, particularly in the inability to forget the moment of psychological shock and the accompanying feelings of terror, which affect vital brain functions such as sleep patterns and appetite regulation. This ultimately affects the production and release of neurotransmitters responsible for generating feelings of happiness and mental comfort, ultimately leading to depression.
4) Failed romantic relationships: Love and depression have been strongly linked since ancient times, especially in the context of emotional relationships between two individuals. Recent studies and scientific research confirm that these relationships contribute to the release of a range of addictive chemicals such as oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, etc. This perfectly explains what happens to lovers when they separate, experiencing physical, psychological, and behavioral symptoms similar to those of drug addicts. Additionally, feelings of anger and intense sadness may arise due to the cessation of communication or the desire to get closer to the other party. In general, failed romantic relationships can have consequences that go beyond depression and may lead to high-dose drug addiction. This, in turn, plunges the patient back into the depths of depression, and sometimes some individuals may even contemplate self-annihilation.
5) Emotional control and management: Many people struggle with significant difficulties in controlling and managing their emotions, which frequently leads to recurrent bouts of depression. While emotions are generally not entirely controllable, they can be expressed and released to avoid their accumulation through mechanisms of emotional suppression. Failure to release emotions can lead to the emergence of various physical problems, psychological disorders, and an increased likelihood of experiencing depression. As Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis, pointed out, depression is nothing more than the accumulation and psychological suppression of emotions that individuals have carried since childhood. Eventually, this leads to the presentation of depression, which Freud considered a mere indication that the mechanism of emotional suppression has reached its maximum limit. The individual becomes unable to bear burying any more emotions. Moreover, Freud regarded depression as a state of pleasure for the patient, relieving the intensity of emotional suppression.
6) Poor control and management ofthoughts: One of the mental causes of depression faced by many individuals is related to their thinking patterns. Negative thinking patterns characterized by envy, grudges, and hatred towards society and the people around them can contribute to the development of depression. This was highlighted by the pioneering cognitive psychologist Aaron T. Beck, who acknowledged that depression is a state characterized by the accumulation of negative thoughts in the human unconscious, which are not expressed or discharged, thus adversely affecting physical and mental health. Conversely, according to Aaron T. Beck's theory, these thoughts can deviate from conscious thinking and give rise to a set of cognitive distortions and false beliefs about individuals and society, ultimately leading to distance and severed communication between individuals.
7) Perfectionist Personalities: The pursuit of perfection and idealism can be a cause of psychological and mental depression for some individuals, especially those who are influenced by prominent and famous figures in the fields of cinema, sports, finance, etc. Perfectionists do not tolerate major mistakes and punish themselves for trivial matters. They scrutinize every detail and expend significant energy and effort in striving for excellence. They often work and stay awake for long periods of their lives in pursuit of their dreams, to the extent that they may neglect their physical and mental health, making them more susceptible to diseases and disorders. Although many of them may experience depression, they continue to work and scrutinize without stopping. Some may reach a stage of depression where they despise ordinary people and prefer to live a simple life like them. This leads to a loss of the desire to continue living, and thoughts of suicide may arise, especially if they fail to achieve their ambitious aspirations and goals.
8) Optimistic and Pessimistic Outlooks on Life: Psychological and mental depression can be related to an excessively optimistic view of life and the reality experienced by some individuals. These individuals expect the best in everything and anticipate miracles without adequately preparing themselves and rolling up their sleeves to face the worst. Overcoming difficulties and adversities, regardless of their outcomes, tends to reveal the naivety and childlike nature of their thoughts, making them highly vulnerable to depression. The physical and psychological symptoms of depression become acute and painful as they discover the extent of their exaggerated optimism. On the other hand, psychological and mental depression can also be related to an excessively pessimistic view of the facts and events that life presents. Even if some events do not deserve such pessimism, there are generally two types of pessimistic individuals. The first type is positive, as their pessimism prepares them psychologically for the worst, allowing them to prepare alternative plans and strategies to cope with unfavorable and unfavorable circumstances. The second type is negative, as their pessimism leads them into the trap of depression, resulting in despair, frustration, and a loss of hope in continuing life, which may lead to thoughts of suicide.
9) Distorted Thoughts and Beliefs: The causes of depression can be closely related to a person's thinking patterns and the beliefs they hold, particularly regarding certain things. This is especially true if they grew up and were raised in an environment that encourages the acceptance of ready-made and stereotypical ideas about specific matters, such as certain cities, countries, practices, customs, or standards of beauty, intelligence, and stupidity within certain communities. In addition, various racist practices targeting certain human races, such as women, people with dark skin, and individuals with chronic illnesses like mental disorders, contribute to depression. These individuals frequently experience episodes of depression whenever they try to change these preconceived and stereotypical thoughts and beliefs or when they face a chronic illness. This situation keeps them trapped in the cycle of depression for extended periods of their lives.
10) Excessive Love for Money and Work: Excessive attachment to money and work can be a significant cause of depression. This is particularly prevalent in industrialized countries like China and capitalist societies like the United States. In these places, individuals have become so fixated on money and positions that they have forsaken personal and societal values and principles. As a result, communication and social relationships have collapsed, and individuals have become solely focused on their personal interests, even at the expense of others. This has amplified the capital of individuals, especially those who own giant corporations, and granted them high social status. However, as researchgate suggests, this has also made them vulnerable to depression because they start to realize that their social relationships and close acquaintances do not genuinely love them. Their connections are based solely on personal gain, leading individuals to prefer isolation and introversion, making them more susceptible to depression and even thoughts of suicide, despite having all the necessities for a comfortable and prosperous life.
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