Causes Of Depression

Depression is an extremely complex disease. It occurs for a variety of reasons. Some people experience depression during a serious medical illness. Others may have depression with life changes such as a move or the death of a loved one. Still others have a family history of depression. Those who do may experience depression and feel overwhelmed with sadness and loneliness for no known reason. In other words, the causes of depression are some mixture of ‘pressure’ combined with a vulnerability to depression which too can range from mild to severe. In other words, the causes of depression are some mixture of ‘pressure’ combined with a vulnerability to depression which too can range from mild to severe. And also for each ‘type’ of depression, differing ‘mixtures of causes’ have differential relevance.

Medical research has contributed much to our understanding of depression. However, scientists do not know the exact mechanism that triggers depressive illness. Probably no single cause gives rise to the illness, and researchers continue to piece the puzzle together. In the past, doctors believed that depression was the result of thoughts or emotions that were troubling for a person. More recently, experts realize that there can be several factors working together that will lead a person to become depressed.

The three most common causes of depression according to medical experts are as follows:
1. Psychological Factors
2. Environmental Factors
3. Biological Factors

1. The most usual psychological factors are the ones brought about by our own minds. Personal dilemmas, stressful situations, and unbearable circumstances that get out of hand are very stimulating to a person's mind. However, the psychological factor does not scientifically prove anything. It only shows how a person's mind affects his emotions.

2. Lack of support from family can also reflect be a cause of depression. In the United States, most people are very independent; they often solve problems on their own and not ask anyone for help. In doing this, people become very stressed and troubled. Certain environmental situations, such as stress or breakup of important attachments, also may precipitate depression, especially in vulnerable persons. Another environmental factor would include the weather. Studies show that in places where there is less sunlight, people usually suffer from depression. This is because serotonin, a neurotransmitter, changes levels. Again, the environmental factor is not a proven fact by medical experts.

3. Medical experts explain that body's emotions are governed by three leading neurotransmitters, and these are: serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine. If any of the levels of these neurotransmitters changes, then it becomes now a cause of depression. Scientists think a deficiency in serotonin may cause the sleep problems, irritability, and anxiety associated with depression. Likewise, a decreased amount of norepinephrine which regulates alertness and arousal, may contribute to the fatigue and depressed mood of the illness.

4. Causes of depression are 40 – 70% hereditary and children of depressed children are more likely to be depressed.

5. Seasonal affective disorder is also one of the causes of depression, and it has been shown that those who are deprived of light and warmth in the wintertime and become depressed as a result are not merely suffering from the “winter blues” but have a problem caused by the shorter days and longer nights.

6. Hormones may also play a role as one of the causes of depression, especially among those women who suffer from Pre Menstrual Syndrome or post-partum depression.

7. One of the major causes of depression is stress. Many are stressed from personal conflicts with their loved ones, associates in employment or friends.

8. Long periods of emotional, sexual or other physical abuses can result in depression.

Proper medical treatment should be undertaken as soon as possible and with the help from a psychiatrist. What causes depression may be something that most people cannot be agrees upon, but that doesn’t mean each and every case should not be taken seriously as this is the matter of life and death. Although the causes of depression are numerous, do not despair, when you suffer from depression, find out the causes according to your symptoms and condition, then with the help of doctor, you will recover soon.