Interestingly, anxiety also seems to be the counterpart of depression. As it is known as comorbid (occuring together). Often times we see that anxiety creates depression...for various reasons.
Not necessarily. There are plenty of people who don't suffer from mental health issues that can have anxiety or panic attacks. Some maybe due to stressors.
Also, there are several types of depression. Seasonal Affective D/O, Cycothymia, manic depressive, etc.
Studies have also shown that depression can have it's root in childhood trauma. Brain scans of abused infants and children are markedly different than those who have not experienced trauma. The brain itself is permanently changed.
We know however, that if a person suffers from anxiety it's probably best for them not to consume stimulants like nicotine, caffeine, illicit drugs etc... Alas we usually treat the depression with stimulants through our self-medicating rituals. It's all quite cyclical unfortunately.
True - but if you have lived with depression all your life and don't know any different how would you even know that you are self-medicating?
And then our physiology takes it to even a further crazy step, by taking traditonal depressants and turning them into euphoric highs! Such as the use of alchohol, and pain medication.
Not true. Medications affect the CHEMICAL part of the brain. And I can guarantee you that I don't get euphoric highs from the use of traditional depressants, alchohol or pain medication. If anything, it dulls the senses so that you don't feel the pain. A person is looking to numb themselves out. There is no enjoyment out of it.
Bottom line: our brains are definitely not perfect. Attempting to strike a balance in all aspects of our lives is probably the best thing we can do. Easier said than done eh?
I'll second that. It takes 5-10 years before a person is diagnosed with depression. The usual diagnosis is substance abuse, PTSD. When a person is finally diagnosed with depression, then starts the medication trial and error. It takes another 2 years to finally get the right combination of medication to treat the illness. That's if everything falls into place.
Again, me as an example. My depression hit when I was 4 years old. My first suicide attempt was at that age. Yes, 4 y/o. It wasn't until I was 29 that I was diagnosed with depression and that was secondary to PTSD. Despite going to counselors and all the other crap I was described as "moody".
Went on Prozac. 
LIfe was good. Well, Prozac will cause psychosis in an undiagnosed Bi-Polar person. At 31, a trip to the psych unit. From 31 to 38, was a long list of medications. Trial and error. I'm a rapid cycler, ie. many mood shifts during a 24 hour period, which cycles out every 3 months. Plus, I metabolize meds fast. (Which is the same problem with kids - they are constantly needing med adjustments because they cycle through medications.) Every 2 years, complete med change.
Which brings us back to self medicating with nicotine, or substances or with prescription. Any of the 3 will kill you. Any of the 3 alters the chemistry in the brain.
For me, I'm praying that the e-cigs gets me off analogs and eventually nicotine. I figure that'll add 10 years to my life. That's 10 precious years bonus for me. Because the side effects of the medications I take, it's slowly killing my liver, it's killing my heart, it's killing my kidneys, my pancreas, atrophy of the brain. I have 16 years left - 16 years to spend with my husband, 16 years and my son will be 28, 16 years and I might have grandbabies, 16 years to age 65.
Now I'll have that drink and vape till I pass out.
