Causes of Depression

Depression is an emotional state characterized by an intense feeling of unhappiness and weariness. The cause of depression is idiopathic. Experts don’t clearly know the root cause of depression. Some clinical specialists theorize that depression may be caused by a combination of factors – biological, genetic or environmental.

This disorder is really unpredictable; you never know when depression will strike. Anyone is at risk of depression. Women have the highest risk of depression. They are twice as susceptible of depression than men. Women are easily affected by stress, especially single mothers who act both as the provider and caregiver. Women also experience hormonal imbalances that cause their unpredictable mood swings particularly during menstrual cycles and pregnancy.

Men, on the other hand, also experience depression but they are most likely to deny that they’re depressed. They tend to hide their feelings and divert their attention from their depression by drinking alcohol or using prohibited drugs. Therefore, assessment and treatment of depression among men is quite difficult.

This article will provide you with significant information about the causes of depression. It aims to promote awareness among people who may be on the brink of becoming depressed or who have someone in the family in that condition.

Biological Causes of Depression

The brain is the vital organ responsible for controlling all the movements in the body. It sends signals to all other organs of the body so that they will function or work the way they are supposed to. The neurons, which are the main components of the brain, use chemicals called neurotransmitters to transfer messages from the brain to the different parts of the body. These neurotransmitters are known to be responsible for the emotional state of a person.

There are two neurotransmitters that have been identified to have significant roles in the biological cause of depression. These brain chemicals are epinephrine (an excitatory or a chemical responsible for fight-flight response) and serotonin (an inhibitory which controls food intake, sleep cycle, wakefulness, temperature, pain, sexual behaviour, and emotions). If the epinephrine and serotonin supply in the synapse (site of neurotransmission) decreases, then there will be an incidence of depression.

We can also associate this phenomenon to the ability of the pre-synaptic neuron to release and reabsorb brain chemicals. If the pre-synaptic neuron does not release enough brain chemical, there will be an insufficient amount of the chemical at the synapse. If it reabsorbs the chemical even when there’s an insufficient amount of it at the synapse, then the condition is exacerbated.

Cortisol levels may also be another cause of depression. Cortisol is a hormone in the body which reacts and is produced in great amounts during anger, stress or fear. In a normal person, the cortisol level rises in the morning and decreases in the afternoon. In a depressed person, however, the cortisol level increases in the morning but does not level off as the day progresses.

The low supply of the neurotransmitters in the synapse and the higher-than-normal level of cortisol may somehow contribute to or trigger depression.

Genetic Causes of Depression

Scientists have long been linking depression to genetic factors. They believe that genetic factors play an important role in solving the mystery of the cause of depression.

Researcher support that someone who comes from a family with a history of depression will likely transfer this disorder to the next generation. Studies show, furthermore, that if both parents are vulnerable to depression, the greater their children’s susceptibility or vulnerability to depression.

Other researchers have implicated the transmission of depression to first-degree relatives. For instance, if the male child in the family has depression, the other members of the family may have a 70% chance of developing the disorder too.

Nevertheless, these studies do not prove that the genetic factor is the only cause of depression. There may still be other causes which can trigger depression such as environmental factors; namely physical condition, personality, trauma and stress.

Environmental Causes of Depression

As people go on with their lives, they encounter certain situations that make them feel sad, weak and helpless. Here are some of the environmental causes of depression:

Trauma and Stresses - these are instances in a person’s life when he encounters problems he cannot overcome. Things like financial problems, divorce, accidents, broken relationships, or the death of a loved one may trigger depression. Unexpected changes in a person’s life – say, moving house, graduating from school, looking for a job, or starting a family can also precipitate depression.

Pessimistic Personality - people who always think negative thoughts and people who have low self-esteem may be at a higher risk for depression than people who are optimistic and people who have high self-esteem.

Physical Problems - severe medical disorders like cancer, heart diseases, HIV, AIDS and other communicable diseases can contribute to depression. Since people with these diseases are vulnerable and weak, they get stressed and are easily prone to depression. Depression can make the person weaker and weaker everyday and this can exacerbate their medical condition. Some medical treatments for the above mentioned ailments also have side effects that may trigger depression.

Mental Disorder - mental instability can also cause depression. Some of these disorders are anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and substance abuse. People with these disorders have great tendencies to become depressed.

Conclusion

Depression is a devastating condition so everyone must learn how it affects the body. It can be induced by many factors (e.g. hereditary, biological and environmental). But the “universal” or definite cause of depression still remains unknown.

There are diverse causes for different people. Every person has a unique perception of his environment. Every person has his own way of coping with his problems, and people who are experiencing depression should use effective coping methods to fight depression. Today, numerous treatments like medicines (antidepressants) and modification therapy are being used to alleviate the symptoms of depression.

We cannot find the exact solution for depression but we should support each other to prevent the occurrence of this debilitating disorder. Stressful situations we encounter each day are really inevitable. We cannot prevent these situations from happening. However, if we know the causes of depression, we can be better prepared to face them and prevent ourselves from developing depression.