Depression After Age Of 35, Why?

Q: I didn't have depression or anxiety until after I had my daughter. Now I'm 50 & when something stressful happens I struggle with it. ( Ex: grandmother's death & daughter's illness) I asked the psychiatrist but didn't get an answer. Or I didn't hear him. Does this mean I'll be struggling with it the rest of my life? How does the brain work like that? Is it really chemical or is it my thoughts & the way I look at things?

A:The reason you didn't get an answer most likely is that he didn't know. And, no, it doesn't mean that you'll be fighting with it the rest of your life. You may, or may not. The chemical vs thoughts thing doesn't make too much sense, they affect each other. Problems can start on one side or the other, but the physical and mental aspects of the brain, or body, are really parts of a whole, everything affects everything. It is well to have an examination for other physical problems, lots of things can lead to the symptoms of depression. also, in my opinion, it is well to treat it as aggressively as you can, with medication as well as talk therapy. Your complaint is normal, even at age thirty seven I can't get myself above the things around me. Maybe there is a chemical imbalance that causes your depression, testing might prove benificial. An MRI or EEG could provide data. You could also attend therapy, a diagnosis of PTSD might lead to more answers. Maybe medication needs to be adjusted. I hope that this is helpful. For me it comes from both sides of the family. I was noticing things "were not quite right" at 38, now at 40 I don't have a lot of interest in anything. I likely will be affected for the rest of my life. In my mothers side of the family there were two grandfathers who bordered on insane. I think my great grandfather was put into an institution for the rest of his life. I have a cousin who got treatment for depression on the other side of the family. For me I know be talked at is not going to change anything, meds might, however I've tried a couple and they didn't really do anything. Glass of beer motivates me more. That's not to say that you should not go and see a different pdoc that might understand better.

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