What Causing Depression?

Depression can occur in all age classes. In teenagers lack of interest in school work, withdrawal from social life and difficult mood can be signs of depression.The causes of depression are many. Depression is a complex disease that can occur as a result of a multitude of factors.Even though depression is now known to have serious effects if it persists for a long length of time, the actual causes of depression are not well defined. It is possible that depression occurs due to a number of reasons which combine to give that feeling of helplessness and inability to cope. These reasons, can involve both internal and external factors.

Traumatic events that make our lives stressful such as the death of a loved one, a failed relationship or maybe the loss of a job can lead to depression. In rare cases, even positive stress can lead to the development of clinical depression such as a move, getting married or even a new job.

There are times when we all must struggle with very painful situations in our lives. The level of stress that might cause depression really does vary for each individual. Some people can handle an enormous amount of stress and there are others that sink into depression at the first sign of trouble.

The Physiological Changes That Produce The Symptoms

Depressed people have low levels of certain neurotransmitters. Neurotransmitters are little messenger chemicals that carry signals from one nerve cell to the next in the brain. There are several different kinds that are involved. One is serotonin which helps regulate emotion, sleep, and appetite.Another one is noradrenalin which is linked to arousal and alertness. The third neurotransmitter is dopamine: associated with pleasure and reward.

Serotonin and noradrenalin cause nerve cells to send impulses along to other nerve cells, and thus increase the activity in the brain. Deficiency of these substances causes slowness in parts of the brain, and that again causes the depressive symptoms.

Gamma-Amino Butyric acid (GABA) is an amino acid which acts as a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system. The role of GABA is the opposite, namely to slow down some nerve impulses, mainly those causing anxiety and panic response. Lack of GABA causes higher anxiety and easier panic response. Yet, lack of this transmitter also seems to cause depressive symptoms. This is because a too high activity in some brain processes may slow down other processes.

Causing depression:

- Chronic diseases, such as arthritis, heart disease, or cancer
- A history of depression in the family
- Personal disputes, like conflict with a family member
- Physical, sexual, or emotional abuse
- Infections, such as viral infections or infections in the liver or brain
- Major events that occur in everyone's lives, such as moving, graduating, changing jobs, getting married or divorced, retiring, etc.
- Serious illness: depressed feelings are a common reaction to many medical illnesses
- Certain medications
- Social stressors, such as the death of a loved one.