Depression

Depression is an illness which can be triggered by a wide variety of causes. Knowing these depression causes can help you have a clearer understanding of this complex disease. Depression is a sinister and sneaky condition.  It manifests itself differently in almost every person, often making it difficult for family members to be confident in their suspicions.

Here are 7 common causes of depression.

1-Over medications can sometimes be the raeson for increasing the depression. Some of the medications which have been shown to trigger depression are sleeping pills, beta blockers used for treatment of blood pressure, certain antibiotics, and even birth control pills.

2-Some medical conditions have exhibited a higher incidence of creating conditions leading to depression.Heart disease and strokes can trigger a start to depression. Other conditions shown to co exist with higher levels of depression are cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

3-Family history and genetics play an important role in the susceptibility to depression. The exact genetic reason for this connection has yet to be determined, but with generation after generation of families, showing a propensity to depression, a genetic cause is considered to be a strong possibility.

4-Personality traits play an important role in chances of facing depression.People with a negative outlook on life, with pessimistic thinking, are more prone to slide into depression.Other traits associated to increased risk of depression include, excess worrying, low self esteem, and over dependence on others.

5-One cause of depression is alcohol or drug usage. Often the use of these believed to come after the onset of depression, but many studies are now showing the abuse of alcohol or drugs can actually be the trigger which starts depression. Often the abuse will continue or increase after depression has set in, making it difficult to determine which came first.

6-Improper nutrition and diet has been shown to cause the onset of depression in some people. Most significantly has been low levels of folic acid and certain B vitamins.

7-Life circumstances are one of the most common depression causes. The loss of a family member or close friend can move from grief to depression. This loss is not necessarily associated to a death, but often times just due to relocation, divorce, or loss of a friendship. Children leaving home to start their own lives

have caused many parents to drop into depression as they experience an empty home. On the reverse side, postpartum depression is common among young mothers, who suddenly are dealing with major hormonal changes, the stress of dealing with a new baby, and the empty feeling of no longer experiencing the child inside.

Symptoms Of Depression

Following are common symptoms of depression.

1-inability to focus or concentrate

2-Hopelessness and Pessimism 

3-Fatigue and a general lack of energy 

4-Sleep disorders 

5-Loss of interest in things they once enjoyed

6-Irritability and restlessness

7-Persistent aches and pains

8-Thoughts of sadness, anxiety, and even feelings of emptiness

9-The most extreme symptom of depression is thoughts of suicide

Diagnosing depression can be difficult since the depression symptoms described are not consistent in all people.  Most people will have a variety of these feelings in different levels of intensity.