Causes of Depression

Signs of suicide, causes of great depression, symptoms of depression

Depression is a mental illness that causes a person to constantly have a sense of sadness and/or hopelessness. It is an illness that any can suffer from but usually is hereditary. Although a person with depression can return to a normal life, there is often a chance that the illness can return.

Depression is caused by a number of factors. Sometimes depression will set in even for something as small as a medical illness. Other times, depression reoccurs throughout one’s life due to sudden changes in activities or the death of loved ones. In any case, depression runs in the family.

As mention previously, depression can stem from a variety of factors. Some can lead a person will the illness to eventually suffer from major depression if a swift diagnosis is not made or if a person does not seek medical attention. Some of the other factors include but are not limited to: abuse, medications, personal conflicts, and death of a loved one, hereditary, major events, illnesses and even substance abuse.

Genetics
Depression can be hereditary, meaning it runs in the family. Science has shown that this is possibly due to a genetic link. Quite often, children, relatives, and even parents of people with depression will suffer from depression before anyone else. Although it is known that there is a link between genetics and depression, the exact gene that causes depression is not yet known.

Medications
Medications can also lead to depression due to the dose, drug, etc. Some medications such as barbiturates, beta-blockers, and benzodiazepines have also been known to be a link to depression especially for older adults taking the medications. Other medications such as codeine, and morphine have also been known to cause bipolar disorder which is associated with depression.

Chronic illnesses
People who suffer from a chronic illness and are limited to their regular activity, or their daily activites are eliminated all together often suffer from depression as well. Illnesses such as diabetes, hear disease, kidney disease, AIDS/HIV, lupus, Multiple Sclerosis, and even arthritis all require a person to either eliminate or limit their activities to those that do not cause pain. Sufferers of these diseases are often prescribed medications that also may lead to depression.

Grief
The loss or separation from a loved one also leads to depression. Loss can exist in the form of death or even the loss of a job or position in life. Loved ones can consist of siblings, parents, or even a pet. Separation could be divorce or even when the children move out of the home. Not everyone experiences depression when these events occur in life. It depends on how they actually cope with the change and how they control their feelings.

There no single cause for depression. People that suffer from depression don’t even know the illness will hit them until it does. It does not just involve the state of one’s mind. It is also closely related to the brain and the chemical imbalances that are sent by neurotransmitters that carries signals to the brain and nerves. Either way, it is vitally important for anyone who closely resembles any of the symptoms mention to seek medical help immediately as it could lead to major depression and even death.