Why do I feel depressed even when my life is going great?

Sometimes you can feel overwhelmed even if you don’t notice it. Or you can get mad at someone and then just push it aside. Being depressed can happen at any time; it can happen when you are happy or sad. When I feel depressed it’s usually because I feel like my life isn’t perfect or I don’t have great friends even though I do. And I wallow in those thoughts until I just become plain out depressed. And if you feel like you don’t have great friends, go and talk to them about it to figure out what is setting you off. Or if you feel like your family is letting you down, go and talk to them about it. But don’t sit by yourself and contemplate things all alone. That is not what helps. Go surround yourself with people who care about you.

There's no one reason why anyone feels depressed when life is going great. Depression can be caused by a multitude of factors, what many call "biopsychosocial" factors. Biologically, some people are predisposed to experiencing depression due to a family history of depression, genetics, and brain functioning. Psychologically, some people may have a pessimistic style of thinking, are more emotionally reactive, or have issues with self-esteem and identity. Socially, people may be under the stress of finances, relationships, the workplace, education, and experiences of prejudice and discrimination. All of these various levels interact to influence the likelihood for feeling depressed. In summary, there is no one real cause for why you are feeing depressed even when your life is going great. What I would recommend is to talk to someone you are close to (or even one of our listeners or therapists!) to help you get to the root of what is making you feel depressed. Don't be afraid to talk to someone, reaching out is the first step!

Hi there and thank you for your question. Depression is not always caused by a life that isn't going great, as you put it. When depression is caused by something specific going on in our lives it is called situational or reactive depression and will often clear up when the situation has been dealt with. But depression can also be caused by trauma that we've experienced earlier in our lives or a chemical imbalance. In these cases, where there is a root problem or chemical imbalance, you can feel depressed even though your life is going great. Most often when there is a problem with serotonin or norepinephrine/noradrenaline (the feel good chemicals) in the brain a person can feel depressed. If that is the case antidepressants could help and it might be a good idea to discuss it with your doctor or a psychiatrist. But there are also other options like therapy. Often a combination of therapy and medication works well. Good luck on your journey and I hope you will remember to take good care of yourself during this difficult time.

Sometimes we just have that overwhelming feeling of being useless and unwanted. It is okay to feel like that, we can't just be happy the whole time. But you have to remember: There always is an exit, just keep searching for someone who can help you. You are not alone. And even when your life is okay, you sometimes just have to feel sad and scared. It is completely okay, too. But you have to remember: There always is someone who needs you, who will help you. So don't give up, keep searching and you will find the solution.

Depression isn't always a rational thing, and this can be really frustrating. I kind of get where you're coming from. In many ways I have a very successful life. I grew up in a good family, friends to stand by me, I have a job that I love and a home to come back to after my shifts. And yet I have struggled with depression all my life. There are many theories about what causes depression. Sometimes it's circumstantial, caused by something that happened in your life. However sometimes it just happens. Sometimes a person's brain just doesn't produce the right chemicals. There isn't any shame in it, just like you wouldn't blame a diabetic for having a pancreas that doesn't produce enough insulin.

Depression isn't always related to what is really going on. Often for many, it is a biological chemical imbalance. This, in general, is corrected through proper medically advised medicine to help the improper balance in your brain. If you feel this way, consider talking to a therapist or psychiatrist if you are interested in meds. Your PCP can also help you with meds if you can not get to the psychiatrist. In the meantime do what you can to distract yourself from these feelings and try to just take it one day, moment at a time. Remind yourself that life is going well and that this feeling doesn't match. If it doesn't match, think of it as a lie from your brain and again do what you can to distract from it and try to move on, but do take it seriously enough to seek help.

Human beings are complex, annoying and it's hard work to be one. There may be something affecting you that you don't realise, for example, stress can take your life over without you realising, and this can cause you to feel depressed even if you are doing well in your career, school etc. You need to ensure you are exploring your feelings and dealing with them head on, as hiding them inside your head will not do you any good and isn't healthy. Always seek help if you think you need it and never let anyone tell you otherwise! Good luck :)

Because even when everything may seem great it could be the vision everyone want us to see. You can be successful but feel like your work is not the one for you. You can have so many friends but they may not be able to give you what you actually need. Sometimes we feel just because we are who we are and world is affecting us more than one way. No matter how small is the matter or the situation we are allowed to feel. Not everything has to fall down for us to deserve some kindness and warmth from others.

Sometimes, people feel that because they have what others would consider to be a "priveleged life", then they have no reason or even a right to be depressed. Mental illness does not discriminate based on race, gender, or socioeconomic status. It can hit anyone, regardless of who they are or where they are from. And even if your depressed feelings don't come from a clinical depressive disorder, those feelings are still valid. You are completely normal. Please do not ever doubt yourself, or invalidate your feelings and lived experiences, and also, please reach out to either a family member or counselor if this keeps going on.

Even though things may be fine presently for you doesn't mean that you've solved the underlying problem. We can have unfilled voids from past experiences. It's like having a cut and putting a band aid over it. You think it's fine only because you can't see it. The only way to know for sure is to take the band aid off. Sometimes the present doesn't affect us as much as we think it does. In order to find genuine happiness we need to take a closer look at what could be causing us pain. Only then will we be able to move forward.