Agoura Hills, CA – BNI Treatment Centers, a mental health and substance use disorder treatment facility for adolescents, recently released a blog covering depression triggers. Their goal was to educate readers on what causes depressive episodes in hopes of a more supportive environment for individuals with the condition.
BNI Treatment Centers lays the foundation of the piece by addressing what causes depression. The conclusion: it’s complicated. “Persistent stress, trauma, substance use, genetic factors, poor physical health, and a turbulent upbringing are all known to make depression more likely. Still, the presence of these factors doesn’t guarantee depression,” the blog shares. It also mentions that certain parts of the brain are smaller in those with depression, but clarifies it’s just a correlation relationship. No one part of the brain is responsible for depression.
The real meat of BNI Treatment Centers’ blog are the details of depression triggers themselves. They start by defining triggers: “Anything that causes a distressing feeling or memory to resurface. Just like the causes of depression, triggers for depression vary depending on each individual. A certain smell may trigger memories of a traumatic event for one person, and a certain sound may trigger another. Certain objects, people, songs, and sensations can all be triggers for depression or other mental distress.”
The article mentions grief as the first trigger of depression, and some of the grief teens may experience: loss of friendships, loss of neighborhoods when moving, and grieving a failed class. It also highlights the difference between grief and depression. Grief is a temporary feeling, while depression is a persistent feeling of sadness and hopelessness. BNI Treatment Centers still recommends therapy for both.
Next, the blog covers lack of sleep as a depression trigger. Teens need 9-10 hours of sleep, and often stay up late studying or trying to extend leisure time, the article says. This can create a cycle of depression and unhealthy sleep because depression can also cause insomnia.
Another concern the blog brings up is financial problems. While one might not consider this issue to be something teens are concerned about, financial trouble impacts teens’ futures and can cause pessimism. The can, by extension, eventually cause depression, BNI Treatment Centers says.
A turbulent family environment and major life changes can also trigger depression in teens, the blog informs the audience. Divorce, frequent fighting, and abuse can all cause extreme stress in teens that may lead to depression. Divorce is a major change that can trigger depression, but so are positive changes, or neutral ones, like moving, entering or leaving high school, or starting a new job, BNI Treatment Centers explains.
The blog also points out the relationship between substance use and depression, each of which can trigger each other.
Another potential trigger the blog mentions is hormonal changes, though it admits scientists are still studying hormones’ influence on teen mental health.
As the article nears its end, BNI Treatment Centers says, “Sometimes, depression triggers are unavoidable. Financial problems don’t disappear overnight. A teen having a hard time adjusting to a move can’t just move back to their previous city to fix it. Instead, individuals need to learn to cope with depression triggers, and not react as strongly.” One suggestion the blog offers is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), and it adds regular exercise, nutrition, healthy sleep habits, and building positive relationships as more ways to avoid triggering depression.
The blog ends by reminding the audience, “It’s unrealistic to expect teens to be able to recognize and deal with their depression triggers on their own,” and leaves one final recommendation of treatment for teens experiencing depression.
BNI Treatment Centers empowers teens ages 13-17 to heal from substance use disorders and mental health conditions and live healthy and fulfilling lives. Psychiatrists are intimately involved in developing and executing adolescents’ treatment plans. This makes BNI Treatment Centers able to quickly diagnose any mental health condition, no matter how complex. For more information, visit their website or call them at (888) 522-1504.
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