Depressing statistics: the number of people regularly suffering from depression is increasing yearly. Surprisingly, a recent study indicates that loving one’s work may be one of the reasons for this annual increase.
Traditionally, people have always believed that enjoying work not only helps us to feel happier, but also helps us to solve our personal problems, such as misunderstandings or conflicts with family members. Throughout life we are trying to find our “favorite job”, but does finding it really prevent depression and save us from stress?
Causes of Depression
American psychologists in a recent study found that a favorite job may cause us — instead of happiness — additional pressure, negative emotions and embarrassment, all of which contribute to feeling depression.
During the research, scientists found a very interesting pattern. In the experiment, people who were satisfied with their private lives also felt satisfied with the jobs they have, even if it wasn’t exactly the job of their dreams. On the other hand, people who were working at their favorite job were still reporting feelings of stress, nervousness and bad moods. Researchers argue that this indicates having wonderful work does not necessarily mean a person feels wonderful.
Depression has long been considered a disease rather than a simple consequence of over-exhaustion. Thousands of people are trying to find out the reason for feeling depression — especially since they have everything they want, and their favorite work has become a part of their personal achievements.
British scientists have gone in a different direction by proposing a theory that all the secrets of depression are hidden in our genes. Specialists from Kingston College claim that they have found a gene that is responsible for our tears, nervousness and even suicidal thoughts.
The official name of this gene is 5-HTT, and since 2003 scientists have been doing various experiments to prove their hypothesis. Their research indicates that 5-HTT activates when a person is struggling to overcome personal misery such as a break up, sudden death or terminal disease of loved ones.
After their exploration of 5-HTT, scientists still cannot definitely name all reasons for stress, but what they know for certain is that the activity of this gene helps to indicate the tendency for depression. The function of 5-HTT points to who is more likely to feel clinical depression, and who is more likely to be resistant to depression.
The various studies make it difficult to name a sure reason for depression: is depression from your favorite job that keeps you under pressure? Does a bad combination of genes in your cells activate depression? Is it both?
Dealing with Depression
Without knowing the exact causes, we can still think about possible treatments. To overcome stress, psychologists recommend a myriad of activities.
Sports writers and psychologists often inform people about various types of sport activities that help us cope with depression — such as swimming, skiing, running and others.
For many years, researchers have also demonstrated the beneficial influence of listening to classical and lyrical music. A great variety of experiments performed by scientists from all over the world have proven this. For example, American specialists found that listening to music for relaxation during just half an hour positively influences the immune system. They found that relaxing music assists immunoglobulin production.
In addition, various reports come out about modern technologies created in order to cope with stress. Scientists from Finland recently introduced an innovative device – light headphones, which the researchers argue is another great treatment for depression. The high-tech headphones send a light impulse into the ears, which somehow raises the mood. Their research showed that depression significantly decreases after a few months of its usage.
Scientists have concluded that if you feel stressed because of your job, you definitely should switch to other activities and find a way to relax from time to time. If you don’t have any signs of depression, remember that it still might happen to you in the future. Try to practice common methods against it. You don’t want to join the statistical number of “people under permanent stress”, do you?
