How Chronic Stress Causes Depression

Depression may be caused by several underlying reasons like genetics, change in life situations, disbalance in brain chemicals. But among various possible causes, stress is one of the most common causes of depression in humans. Chronic stress when left untreated, can over years lead to depression. Mental health experts have also found evidence of a link between stress, depression, and physical illness. 

Stress, although is a normal psychological condition, can sometimes lead to depression and other health issues.  Stress itself is not abnormal or bad till you know how to cope with it. Certain positive and negative life situations like the death of a near one or getting a new job can trigger your stress. But it won’t possibly cause any harm or lead to depression till you know how to handle it.

But when you are having problems coping with stress and continue to remain in the same stressful situation, chronic stress can overwhelm and put you down. When you continue to be in a bad mood for a longer time, you will start experiencing problems like a sudden decrease in productivity, relationship problems, sleep disorder, etc. as a result, your overall wellbeing and normal daily routine will be disrupted. 

Ways to cope with stress and depression

Sometimes it’s our lifestyle and wrong way of living that give rise to stress. So, making small changes to your everyday life can help break the stress-depression cycle and help you live a happy and healthy life. Trying a few self-help stress relievers can help reduce your stress and maintain a healthy life. Here we will discuss a few ways that can help you deal with everyday stress leading to depression.

Exercise daily

Exercising for at least 30 minutes a day either indoors or outdoors can be helpful to make a big difference to your mental health in the long run. Physical activities like yoga, walking, cycling, swimming, etc that help you slow down and feel relaxed are really good ways to reduce stress.

Quit smoking

People often have the wrong belief that smoking can help them reduce stress.  The concept is an absolute myth. While nicotine can help you deal with stress and make you feel relaxed for the time being, it can cause more stress over time through cravings. 

Limit caffeine

While drinking a cup of coffee can make you feel fresh and energized, too much of it can intensify your stress. Hence it’s better to cut down your caffeine intake by limiting the consumption of coffee, soda, and other caffeinated drinks.  

Sleep well

Many people have the habit of cutting down their sleeping hours to meet other life needs. This practice can turn out to be extremely dangerous for your mental health and overall wellbeing. As, it is during the sleeping hours that your body repairs cells, release hormones, and restores energy. Therefore, people who get a sound sleep for at least eight hours a day can go a long way to easing stress and depression. 

Consult a mental health professional

Another way you can help ease stress is through consulting a mental health expert. Finding the best online counseling and getting the advice of mental health experts over the internet is one of the easiest and effective ways to handle stress and depression. Before that, you must understand the meaning of online therapy or online counseling. By online therapy, you can refer to psychotherapy or counseling services that are conducted over the internet. The procedure is equally helpful to that of in-person therapy except in a few cases.  For more serious mental health problems like schizophrenia or behavioral disorder, in-person or face-to-face therapy is necessary. As it allows the therapist to observe the physical behavior of the patient. But with most psychological conditions like stress, anxiety, depression, or panic attack disorder, online therapy can be most effective.