Reactive depression, also known as situational depression, refers to depressive symptoms that arise in response to external stressors or challenging life events. While not formally recognized as a distinct clinical diagnosis, it encapsulates the adverse psychological reactions individuals may experience when facing difficult circumstances. The symptoms often resemble those of major depressive disorder.
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What Is Depression?
Depression is a mood disorder impacting an individual’s thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. While many people may occasionally feel down, a diagnosable depressive disorder involves symptoms persisting nearly every day for at least two weeks. These symptoms include persistent sadness, diminished pleasure in activities, low energy and motivation, changes in sleep and appetite, and significant interference with daily functioning.
What Is Reactive Depression?
While it’s normal to experience emotional responses to stress, reactive depression refers to difficulties that surpass typical reactions.1 In some cases, people with these symptoms are diagnosed with an adjustment disorder with depressed mood, which is a generalized condition used to define mental health symptoms believed to be stress-related.
In some cases, these symptoms will resolve as the situation improves, and in others, symptoms can persist, even progressing into a more chronic condition like major depressive disorder.
Causes of Reactive Depression
Reactive depression typically arises from stress induced by external circumstances. Events such as job loss, a challenging breakup, or receiving a medical diagnosis can trigger this form of depression.
The circumstances and events that can cause reactive depression are not always negative. In some cases, even positive life changes and transitions can be stressful enough to cause a person to experience reactive depression. These might include changes like moving away for college, getting pregnant, or coming back home after a military deployment. While these positive changes bring excitement, they can also cause stress and conflicting feelings like fear, loss, and sadness.
It’s important to understand that all types of depression are believed to be caused by a combination of internal and external risk factors. It is possible that an adverse event or situation could trigger the onset of major depressive disorder in a person who was already at risk for the disorder because of genetic or biological factors.
Reactive Depression vs. Grief & Trauma
While adjustment disorders are diagnosed when symptoms occur in response to a wide range of adverse experiences, there are a few exceptions. When a person’s symptoms occur in response to the loss or death of a loved one, their symptoms may be diagnosed as persistent complex bereavement disorder, a separate condition used for prolonged and excessive grief.2
Certain traumatic events can cause symptoms that differ slightly from depression or adjustment disorders. Experiencing or witnessing a life-threatening incident or being the victim of sexual or physical assault are examples of traumatic experiences that may lead to a diagnosis of acute stress disorder or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
These conditions are characterized by the experience of unwanted memories, flashbacks or nightmares in addition to intense emotional distress.2
Signs & Symptoms of Reactive Depression
The signs of reactive depression mirror typical depression symptoms, such as persistent sadness or irritability, alterations in eating or sleeping habits, and social withdrawal in response to adverse events or ongoing stress.
People all respond to stress and change differently, but common signs and symptoms of reactive depression include:
- Emotional changes like feeling sad, irritable, or moody
- Reduced energy, motivation, and interest in people and activities
- Changes in eating, sleeping, or other daily habits like hygiene or exercise routines
- Social isolation or withdrawing and shutting down with close friends or family
- Opting out of normal routines, responsibilities, or enjoyed activities
- Impaired performance at work, like being late on deadlines or making careless errors
- Changes in thinking like brain fog, rumination, or thinking pessimistically
- Hopelessness, wanting to give up, or having suicidal ideation
- Lifestyle changes like drinking or smoking more, or other unhealthy choices
- Physical aches or pains like headaches, GI upset, muscle pain
- Changes in appearance like rapid weight gain (i.e., depression & weight gain) or weight loss, looking overly tired, or not adhering to normal standards of grooming
When these symptoms are fleeting, intermittent, or mild, they are typically not cause for concern. When symptoms become more serious and interfere with a person’s routine or their ability to function, this can be an indication of reactive depression.1
Getting a Diagnosis For Reactive Depression
Depressive symptoms that occur in response to an external cause are most often diagnosed as either major depressive disorder or as an adjustment disorder with depressed mood:
- Major Depressive Disorder (MDD): Major depressive disorder is often diagnosed when a person’s symptoms outlast the stressful situation or persist for several months and is characterized by periodic depressive episodes. It is considered a chronic condition and can cycle through active periods and times of remission. A stressful event could trigger depressive symptoms that were previously in remission, possibly even when these symptoms were gone for several years.
- Adjustment disorder: adjustment disorders are usually diagnosed when there is a clear external cause for the symptoms and when they are expected to resolve as the situation improves.2
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Causes & Triggers of Reactive Depression
Any stressful event, situation, or circumstances that overwhelms a person’s current ability to cope can cause symptoms of depression, anxiety, or other mental health issues.
More common causes and triggers of reactive depression include:
- The conception, birth, miscarriage, or death of a child
- A change in relationship status or loss of an important relationship
- A job loss or being in a high-stress job
- Legal or financial stress
- A chronic health problem, new diagnosis, or depression after surgery
- A change in living situation or location
- New physical, cognitive, emotional, or social impairments
- A loss of independence or control
- New restrictions or limitations that impact normal routines
- A major life choice, decision, or pressure of an unsolvable problem
- Current events, tragedies, or traumatic events
Protective Factors That Make It Less Likely for Depression to Develop
Not all people who have these experiences will develop lasting symptoms of depression, but some will. The factors that help determine how a person copes with and overcomes a situation are often referred to as “protective factors” or “resiliency” factors. Protective factors include having strong supportive relationships, advanced problem-solving skills, adaptability, and an optimistic outlook.3
In addition to getting professional treatment and making positive changes to lifestyle, routine, and self-care, it’s also important to identify and address root causes of the depressive symptoms. Unlike major depressive disorder, reactive depression stems primarily from external causes. Sometimes the cause of the depression is obvious, but other times there can be more than one cause, or the cause might be ongoing.
Here are five questions to ask to narrow down root causes of reactive depression:
- What are the main sources of stress in your life?
- Are you experiencing conflict, strain, or doubt in an important relationship?
- Have your circumstances changed in ways that add more pressure or stress?
- Do you have certain unmet needs in one or more areas of life?
- Have you experienced a recent loss or difficult life transition?
Once the source of depressive symptoms has been identified, the next step is to begin working to make changes or improvements to this area of life, or to find solutions to the underlying problems. Often, the situations that cause reactive depression won’t have “quick fixes,” but actively working to improve or find solutions is usually possible and can have a direct effect on a person’s symptoms.
Treatment of Reactive Depression
Although reactive depression lacks a formal diagnosis, treatment approaches align with those for other depressive disorders, such as major depressive disorder. Psychotherapy serves as the primary treatment modality, with medication considered in certain cases.
Common methods for how to treat depression include:
Therapy
Depression therapy might include individual, group, or couples counseling with a licensed mental health professional. Therapy works by helping people develop new coping skills for stress, anxiety, and depression.
CBT for depression and interpersonal therapy have the most documented success in treating depression, but other therapy modalities like acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT) are also used. These therapies all use different methods to help a person better understand, track, and respond more skillfully to their depressive symptoms.
In cases where the depression is in response to trauma, trauma-informed treatments like EMDR for depression, trauma-focused CBT, or cognitive processing therapy can also be effective in working through traumatic memories.
Problem solving therapy and solution-focused treatments can also support people in addressing root causes of reactive depression.4
Psychiatric Medication
Medication for depression like SSRIs or SNRIs which can be prescribed by a psychiatrist, doctor, or other prescriber. These medications work on specific receptors in the brain to increase levels of chemicals like serotonin and norepinephrine known to be involved in mood regulation. Medication is normally recommended in conjunction with counseling, instead of as a standalone treatment.4
Support Groups
Support groups are not considered a formal treatment for reactive depression but can be a helpful addition to other forms of treatment. Support groups are offered in most communities for a variety of issues like divorce, chronic pain, grief, or other common issues that can cause reactive depression.
These groups can be a great way to form connections with other people who have had similar experiences, receive and provide helpful tips, and to have an emotional outlet. If you can’t find a great fit in your community, online support groups can be incredibly helpful resources.
Online Therapy & Medication for Depression
Together, medication and therapy can help you feel like yourself, faster. Brightside Health accepts United Healthcare, Anthem, Cigna, Aetna, and other major insurance. Appointments in as little as 24 hours. Personalized plans unique to you. 1 on 1 support from start to finish. Start your free assessment.
How to Get Help For Reactive Depression
If you or a loved one is experiencing symptoms of reactive depression, several effective support options are available. Connecting with a licensed therapist in person or through an online therapy platform for depression can be a helpful first step. Many providers offer virtual sessions, making access to care more convenient and flexible.
Those with mental health insurance can search for in-network mental health professionals through their provider. Primary care doctors can also assist by prescribing medication or referring you to a mental health specialist. Online therapist directories allow you to search by specialty, treatment approach, and availability.
For additional support, consider joining local or online support groups that focus on grief, relationship issues, health concerns, or other common triggers of reactive depression. Organizations like hospice centers and community churches often offer specialized groups, while virtual support communities provide accessible, 24/7 connection and encouragement.
Finding Help For a Loved One
The best thing to do to help a loved one dealing with depression is to encourage them to get professional help. While it can be uncomfortable knowing what to say to someone who is depressed because of stigma or fear of upsetting the person, not saying anything makes it more likely that their symptoms will worsen. The best way to approach this uncomfortable conversation is from a place of care and concern, and to ask about how you can help support them through this difficult time.
Living & Coping With Reactive Depression
In addition to getting professional treatment, there are also some lifestyle changes and ways to cope with situational depression. Many people who become depressed feel less interested and motivated to do things, causing them to isolate themselves, opt out of activities they usually enjoy, and even stop doing the things they need to do.
While it can feel counterintuitive, the best thing to do in these situations is usually to push yourself to follow your normal routine and to do the things you normally enjoy. However, don’t smile through depression (i.e., smiling depression) or hide it from loved ones. Having people in your life who can encourage you to stay active can make a huge difference.
Ways to reduce depressive symptoms include:5
- Social interactions can help improve mood, reduce stress, and reduce depression
- Physical exercise boosts brain chemicals that help balance mood and improve energy
- Mindfulness and meditation for depression help to manage stress and its negative impacts
- Take advantage of the benefits of nature on mental health (e.g., decreases stress, improves mood, and boost energy
- Yoga can be helpful in improving physical and mental wellbeing
- Setting and working towards goals can help to feel more hopeful about the future
- Setting boundaries with people and improving work/life balance can be instrumental in reducing stress
- Finding positive emotional outlets like journaling, art, talking with others
- Being consistent with sleep schedule and ensuring you get 7-8 hours per night
- Practicing self-compassion by stopping negative self-talk and self-care and staying attuned to needs
Depression Workbook
Our workbook contains our best depression worksheets to help you understand your depression, develop effective coping skills, and manage challenging moments.
In My Experience
“Dealing with any type of depression on your own can be incredibly challenging and isolating. Don’t be afraid to reach out to trusted loved ones to help you find the treatment that can alleviate your symptoms.”
Reactive Depression Infographics
ChoosingTherapy.com strives to provide our readers with mental health content that is accurate and actionable. We have high standards for what can be cited within our articles. Acceptable sources include government agencies, universities and colleges, scholarly journals, industry and professional associations, and other high-integrity sources of mental health journalism. Learn more by reviewing our full editorial policy.
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Maj, M. (2011). When does depression become a mental disorder? British Journal of Psychiatry, 199(2), 85-86. doi:10.1192/bjp.bp.110.089094
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American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596
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Connor, K. M., & Davidson J. R. (2003). Development of a new resilience scale:
The Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC). Depression & Anxiety, 18, 76-82. -
ADAA. (2016). Clinical Practice Guidelines for Major Depressive Disorder. Retrieved 4, August, 2020 from https://adaa.org/resources-professionals/practice-guidelines-mdd
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American Psychological Association. (2019, November 1). Healthy ways to handle life’s stressors. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/topics/stress-tips
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Personalized Treatment for Depression
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