When you're struggling with low mood or depression, it's natural to ask yourself:
“Was I always destined to feel this way?”
“Why am I depressed for no reason?”
“Is something wrong with me?”
You’re not alone in wondering. The long-standing debate of nature vs nurture has evolved into a more compassionate, science-based understanding:
Depression is rarely caused by one thing. It’s a combination of many.
This article explores both biological and environmental causes of depression — and why some people experience depressive episodes even without trauma or obvious triggers.
Nature: The Blueprint You Inherit
Your genes play a significant role in your vulnerability to depression. Research suggests that if a close family member has experienced depression, your likelihood of experiencing it too increases — sometimes by two to three times (Sullivan, Neale & Kendler, 2000). This answers the common question: “Is depression genetic?”
The answer is: partially, yes.
Your biology can influence:
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How your brain regulates serotonin and dopamine
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Your natural stress response
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Your sleep patterns and hormonal cycles
But it's important to remember that genes aren’t destiny.
Your genetic predisposition could be thought of as the script of a play — providing the framework for how your story might unfold. But it doesn’t dictate the final performance. That’s where nurture steps in as the director.
Nurture: The Environment That Shapes the Story
Your environment — how you were raised, your emotional support systems, culture, schooling, even social media — deeply impacts how your mind responds to life.
Key factors in these environmental causes of depression include:
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Childhood attachment and emotional availability
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Role models for emotional regulation
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Cultural or family messages around expressing vulnerability
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Past experiences of emotional neglect, criticism, or pressure
And yes — if you’ve ever wondered “Can you have depression without trauma?” — the answer is still yes. Because not all trauma looks like trauma. Sometimes, it’s the absence of safety, validation, or being truly seen.
But What If It Doesn’t Make Sense?
You might have had a happy childhood. No major losses. Supportive relationships. And still feel low. Still cry for no reason. Still wake up exhausted or numb.
Here’s why that might happen:
1. Depression isn’t always reactive.
Some episodes arise from within — due to brain chemistry, hormonal changes, or seasonal patterns. Just like diabetes or asthma, it doesn’t always need a trigger.
2. Modern life is emotionally exhausting.
From constant digital noise to the pressure to “always be achieving,” our nervous systems are overwhelmed. We're wired for connection and simplicity — not 200 notifications a day and five-year life plans.
3. Beliefs formed in childhood can block emotional expression.
Beliefs like “I must always cope,” “My needs don’t matter,” or “I should be grateful” are often shaped in early environments where emotional needs weren’t fully validated.
These internalised beliefs develop because:
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Being “easy” or independent earned praise
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Expressing sadness was discouraged or ignored
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Gratitude was weaponised to suppress negative emotions
Over time, these beliefs become unconscious rules. And when emotion can't be expressed, it doesn’t disappear — it transforms into numbness, sadness, anxiety or burnout.
4. It might be neurodivergence, not trauma.
If you’ve always felt “too sensitive,” overwhelmed, or misaligned with the pace of life — there’s a chance you’re experiencing burnout from being neurodivergent in a neurotypical world.
Conditions like Autism, ADHD, or Sensory Processing Sensitivity often go unnoticed in adults — especially women and those socialised to mask — and can easily be misdiagnosed as depression or anxiety.
And the opposite...
You might wonder “Why do some people thrive despite childhood trauma?”
The answer lies in early-developed survival strategies like emotional detachment, people-pleasing, or humour. Resilience can come from hardship but it’s not always what it seems. People who grew up in chaos may have had to build emotional armour to survive. That can look like resilience, but may also mask pain.
On the flip side, people who were protected from early discomfort may feel unprepared when adversity comes later in life. This doesn’t mean they’re less capable — just less practised.
If you’re worrying that others can see your depression, while you think others have it all together (and still no one’s reaching out?!) you’re not imagining the pain, but the perception might be off.
Research shows that we tend to overestimate how visible our emotional struggles are to others:
The Illusion of Transparency
Gilovich et al. (1998) found that people believed their nervousness or sadness during a task (like public speaking) was obvious, but observers rated them as far more composed than they felt.
We see our own struggles more clearly than we see others’
Kraus et al. (2011) found that we tend to underestimate the emotional struggles of others while overestimating how obvious our own are.
This can make depression feel isolating — but also explains why others may not know to offer support unless you speak up.
If you're not sure When to Ride it Out and When to Seek Help then check out this previous post, or reach out to Happy Citta for help in getting on top of your emotions.
References
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Gilovich, T., Savitsky, K. and Medvec, V.H., 1998. The illusion of transparency: Biased assessments of others’ ability to read one’s emotional states. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 75(2), pp.332–346.
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Kraus, M.W., Horberg, E.J., Goetz, J.L. and Keltner, D., 2011. Social class rank, threat vigilance, and hostile reactivity. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 37(10), pp.1376–1388.
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Sullivan, P.F., Neale, M.C. and Kendler, K.S., 2000. Genetic epidemiology of major depression: Review and meta-analysis. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(10), pp.1552–1562.
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