Causes of Depression
The causes of depression are complex and sometimes difficult to pinpoint. The problem is that each type of depression has a set of favoring factors or triggers. The main aspects that can get the name of depression ’causes’ include:
– genetics;
– personality;
– stress;
– gender;
– illness;
– biochemistry;
– aging brain.
Understanding the main causes of depression
Genetic predisposition
Studies have revealed that there is a predisposition towards developing depression that may be inherited. The genetic risk is 40%, while the remaining 60% are due to the stressors in the individual’s environment. Scientists have so far not been able to identify the exact genes or traits that are inherited, although the genetic predisposition to depression is now considered proved fact.
Personality is believed to contribute significantly to the evolution of non-melancholic depressive disorders. People who are highly self-critical, those that are sensitive to rejection and those who show social avoidance have a higher risk of developing depression. Yet, there are usually more causes of depression. Life stressing events often interact with the personality style making one more depression-prone than others.
Stress plays a major part in the onset of depression. Everybody goes through tough times every now or then, but there is a rapid resolution, and one gets back to normal in days or weeks. When depression persists and time does not solve it, you need to ask for professional help. There are sometimes past or long-standing stresses that increase the chance of depression in adult years. As past stressors we can mention abusive or uncaring parents.
Certain types of stress also affect people by lowering self-esteem and self-confidence. When someone feels devalued, chances to develop depression increase. This usually happens due to breakups, divorce or job loss.
Gender only partly and incompletely explains why a person develops a certain mood disorder. Women for instance are affected by the postpartum depression or the baby blues, following the birth of a child. For serious depression cases, there are no clear indicators that a gender is more exposed than the others. Besides personal structure, a number of social and emotional factors play an important part. There are multiple causes of depression in most cases.
Illness with pain, discomfort and confinement often leads to depressive moods. However, there are serious diseases like cancer for instance that can trigger a mood disorder.
Biochemistry
Many depression cases are associated with imbalances of the neurotransmitters’ function. Serotonin, noradrenaline and dopamine are the brain chemicals with a direct impact on mood. If these fail to function normally, the signal sent from one nerve cell to the next is disrupted or depleted. There still remains much to explain about brain chemistry. Scientists can’t tell precisely what causes depression from a biochemical point of view.
The aging process disturbs the brain chemistry and the function of the neurotransmitters which explains for the depression cases in the elderly.
Understanding mood disorders is problematic most of the time, because there are numerous causes for depression that often act together. Brace up for a tough fight!