Common Depression Questions and Their Answers

Depression is one of the most expensive and persistent medical conditions to strike American employees, costing businesses more each year than obesity, smoking, and diabetes added together. Depression episodes are more costly for employers, on average, than if an employee suffers a heart attack. Additionally, depressed employees spend billions on depression medications each year. Because depression is such a costly and persistent malady, it’s important to understand the answers to a few common depression questions.

Is depression hereditary? To a certain degree, it certainly can be. Just like other genetically-influenced traits, having a family history of depression is generally an indicator of elevated depression risk, for two reasons. First, there are biological factors that predispose a person to experience depression that are passed down from generation to generation, and second, if you witness depressed adult behavior in your family during your younger years, you’re much more likely to exhibit similar behavior yourself later in life.

Are alcohol and depression connected? Absolutely. Alcohol and depression are very strongly correlated, and it is extremely rare that someone who suffers from alcoholism doesn’t also suffer from moderate to severe depression. There is even a term, called alcohol depression, that is used to describe depression brought on by the drastic reduction in b-vitamins as a result of heavy, chronic alcohol use. If you’re experiencing symptoms of mild or moderate depression, you should avoid alcohol use altogether.

What are some common depression symptoms? Symptoms vary with each person, but they frequently include lingering feelings of sadness or anger, lethargy, loss of appetite, lasting changes in sleeping habits, loss of interest in job, hobbies, and relationships, and lack of appetite for sexual activity. While we all experience these feelings on occasion, what separates depression from normal mood fluctuations is the persistence of depression symptoms. They can last for weeks, months, and even years in some rare cases. If you experience persistent depression symptoms, seek professional help soon.