Thursday, April 12, 2012

What Causes Depression?

There are a lot of effects that can be generated from depression. Sometimes is often called as clinical depression, major depressive disorder, or major depression. It is a kind of disorder that can lead to loss of interest and more feeling of sadness. Even sometimes it also can lead to physical signs or physical symptoms. Generally, it can cause a wide range of emotional problems, and even physical problems, too. So, what causes depression?

You might also like to read about signs of depression in women and in men, about clinical depression, and can depression be cured, before continuing!

People with this disorder may not be able to do their daily activities as well (especially at severe stage). It can make them be hopeless and their life is not worth living!

You should never underestimate this disorder, because it is not only a kind of weakness! Sometimes, it can be a chronic disease or serious illness that needs serious assessment and medical treatment. Severe depression can take a lot of time in the treatment or needs long-term treatment.

Fortunately, most people with this disease are more likely to have a significant positive improvement after they get psychological counseling and the right treatments. Furthermore, it is relatively more common in women than in men. Many experts believe, more changes in hormones of women’s life may be the reason why women are more likely to have depression than men.

What are causes of depression?

Unfortunately, the exact causes of depression are still not known! According to a published article on MayoClinic -- the variety of factors that cause depression may be almost similar to factors that cause other common mental illness. Some of these factors may include:
  1. Differences in biological. Individuals who have this disease are believed also have some physical changes or alterations in their brain. Unfortunately, there is still unclearly answer what are these changes!
  2. Neurotransmitters, which are naturally chemicals in the brain that is linked to the mood.
  3. Changes in hormones! As mentioned before, these changes may be the key why women have higher chance of developing depression than in men. There are more conditions in women than in men that can generate more changes in hormones, like menopause, menstrual cycles, pregnancy, and so on.
  4. Inherited genes! The chance of depression to run in families is high. So, if you have a family member with mood disorder or family history of depression, your risk to get the same condition is pretty high.
  5. Certain problems in your life. These may include like divorce, loss of job, loss of a parent as a child (particularly before the age of 10), physical abuse as a child (early childhood trauma), financial problems, and so on.
Complications

Depression can be serious illness, and there are also some complications that can take a terrible toll on the patient’s families and patient itself. Some common complications of depression may include:
  1. Conflicts in the patient’s families. People with this disorder are also more likely to get difficulties to make a relationship.
  2. Problems in workplace or other activities of patient.
  3. Substance and alcohol abuse!
  4. If you have depression, you are more likely to isolate yourself.
  5. And other serious complications, like self-mutilation, suicide, anxiety, or even premature death that can be caused by other medical conditions.
Talk with a doctor or psychiatrist for more detailed information and advices about what is actually depression and what causes depression!
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Reference: MayoClinic
Image credit to ‘Getty Images’ for illustration