Sometimes this is triggered by a life-changing event such as bereavement, or loving a job and giving birth. Individuals with a family history of depression are also more likely to experience it themselves.
In relation to what causes depression, an individual may be diagnosed with a specific type of condition. For example the following are specific depression disorders:
- Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) – depression that occurs at a particular time of year, or during a particular season. See our page on SAD for more information.
- Dysthymia – continuous mild depression that lasts for two years or more. Also called persistent depressive disorder or chronic depression.
- Prenatal depression – depression that occurs during pregnancy. This is sometimes also called antenatal depression.
- Postnatal depression (PND) – depression that occurs in the first year after giving birth.
Luckily for the actress, Bonham Carter was able to overcome her depression, despite saying that therapy did not really help. Instead she said that depression “just passed”.
She added: “I had therapy. I’m not sure if the therapy helped. It just passed. It was fine. You find a way through it, but it is hard, still, to talk about it.”
For others, therapy is extremely successful in treating depression. Talking therapies such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) focuses on an individual’s thoughts, feelings, physical sensations and actions and how to challenge negative thoughts.