Why Depression Keeps Coming Back?

When we are depressed, an avalanche of feelings, thoughts, physical sensations, and behaviors comes into play. The sadness and negative thinking generate tension, aches, pains, fatigue, and turmoil in our bodies. It can lead to dysregulation of our eating habits, sleep, and energy levels. The physical changes that occur during depression can profoundly impact how we feel and think about ourselves. It can activate old themes of how inadequate and worthless we are, then even minor and temporary changes in the body can make our low mood deepen and persist.

Our Mind and Body Feedback Loop 

Because of the close links between the body and mind, our bodies function as highly sensitive emotion detectors. So they are giving us moment-to-moment readouts of our emotional state. But, of course, most of us aren't paying much attention.

The mind and body feedback loop also impacts our daily behaviors. Being "down" can make it hard to do much of anything or make decisions that will get us where we want to go. We may begin to give up activities that normally nourish us, such as getting together with friends and family who may be a real support to us. This, in turn, further feeds the depression.

As the cycle continues, any part of feelings, thoughts, physical sensations, and behaviors can set off the downward spiral, with each component feeding into and reinforcing the others. This process strengthens the state of mind that makes us unhappy or vulnerable to depression. 

Why Depression Keeps Coming Back 

As we continue to navigate life, spells of depression will often be triggered by new life experiences such as loss, rejection, disappointment, or failure. Every time a person gets depressed, the connections in the brain between mood, thoughts, the body, and behavior become stronger, making it easier for depression to reoccur. Over time, these downward spirals become so easily triggered by minor events or mood shifts that they appear to come out of nowhere. 

This is why when we have been depressed, it is much easier to slide back into depression again. In fact, at least 50% of those experiencing depression find that it returns, even though they appear to have fully recovered. After a second or third episode, the risk of recurrence rises to between 80% and 90% percent. People who first became depressed before they were twenty years of age are at particularly high risk for becoming depressed again.

There is Hope

If you've been struggling for a while, you've probably discovered that worrying or suppressing your feelings doesn't help. Redoubling your efforts to turn off your troubled mind may give temporary relief, but it can also make things worse.

Therapy, as opposed to temporary relief, can assist you in making radical and lasting changes in your life and well-being.

Learn More About Depression Therapy.