What Causes Depression

Depression is a disorder that affects a person both physically and mentally. It can affect mood, thoughts and the entire body. It can take control of different aspects of a person’s life including their ability to eat, sleep, think and even function. Feelings of depression are often persistent and chronic, making it difficult, if not impossible, for a person to pull themselves out of the feelings of sadness, lack of energy, decreased motivation and overall thought processes that accompany depression.

This is one of the most common health conditions in the world. It is more than a simple case of “the blues.” Depression, often called major depression, affects how a person thinks and behaves. Symptoms of depression can include fatigue, feelings of emptiness, negativity or hopelessness, feelings of guilt, worthlessness and helplessness, insomnia, loss of appetite, trouble concentrating, loss of interest in activities that are pleasurable, and suicidal or death-related thoughts. All depression suffers are affected by the condition differently, but due to its nature, it can cause more than just a few sad days in a person’s life.

There is no single cause of depression. It is likely that it is caused by a combination of factors including genetics, biochemistry, environment and psychology. Depressive illnesses are illnesses of the brain, and they cause different types of reactions within the structure of the brain that affect mood and thinking as well as physical attributes.

Genetics:

It is believed that it is possible for depression to run in a family. This suggests a link to genetic factors. However, it is true that depression can occur in people that do not have any history of it in their family structure. Studies have shown that depression is a result of the influence of several genes acting with one another in conjunction with environmental and other common factors.

Gender also plays a role in the instances of depression. Women are twice as likely as men to develop depression. Women are more likely to suffer from anxiety as well. This could be due to a women’s genetic make-up, but it may also have to do with a combination of factors as well.

People that have a family history are two to three times more likely to become diagnosed with depression later in their life than those that have no history of the disorder in their families, and this number is even greater with those that suffer from bipolar.

Scientists have yet to find the gene responsible for depression, however, depressions studies are being conducted on identical twins since they share the same genetic make-up. The numbers lend themselves to the belief that developing depression does in fact have a strong correlation relationship with a person’s genetics.

Biochemistry:

Brain-imaging technologies such as MRIs have shown the differences in the brains of people that suffer from depression versus those that do not. The part of the brain that is responsible for regulating mood, sleep, appetite, thinking and behavior, appears to be functioning differently in people with depression than in those without. In addition, it is also important to note that the chemicals that the brain uses to communicate called neurotransmitters appear out of balance in those that suffer from depression. Another thought is that hormonal imbalances could also cause depression.

There are several things that could happen biochemically that could be a cause of depression. These include too little serotonin being produced in the brain, lack of receptor sites to receive serotonin, the reuptake of serotonin happening too quickly, or a shortened supply of molecules that produce serotonin. Other chemicals that may be affected and imbalanced in those that suffer from depression are norepinephrine and dopamine. When there is not enough norephinephrine in the brain, lethargy, lack of motivation and lack of excitement can occur. If there is a lack of dopamine in the brain, memory problems and sadness can occur.

Environment:

The environment plays a large role in depression. How people deal with life around them, relationships, work or family, and the coping skills that each individual has, can create a problem and a greater risk of a person developing depression. If someone experiences loneliness, lack of support from social groups, stressful experiences, marital or relationship problems, financial strain, alcohol or drug abuse, loss of employment, or other health problems, and he or she does not have the coping skills to deal with these factors, can often result in depression.

Everyone is taught a different definition of what constitutes “normal” from the environment in which they live and are raised. If a person is raised by people that are depressed or pessimistic the majority of the time, they will grow up having the same outlook as well. They will not possess effective coping skills, which can often create havoc on their emotions.

An example of an environmental factor that may affect whether or not a person will have major depression is the idea of perfectionism. People that have an unrealistically high standard for themselves and are often unable to reach these standards or are unsatisfied with the outcome, are more likely to suffer from depression. Perfectionists have a harder time dealing with stressful situations and have difficulty coping, thus increasing their risk for developing depression from these situations.

Illness:

A person that suffers from another illness or medical condition has an increased likelihood of becoming depressed due to the stress of being ill. There are certain illnesses that are linked to depression. They include underactive thyroid, heart attack, cancer and stroke. In some cases the depression may be a possible side effect to a prescribed medication.

Depression can be a debilitating illness that affects each person that suffers from it differently. It can cause mood swings, loss of interest, decreased sex drive, changes in appetite, weight loss, headaches, anxiety, and an overall feeling of hopelessness. Scientists are still trying to pinpoint the exact cause of depression, however, it is believed that depression is caused by different factors combined including genetics, biochemistry and other common attributes.