Depression is a natural response to certain situations in life and has many causes depending on what an individual is currently experiencing, has experienced in the past, and their predisposition to the disorder. Many people in the United States are afflicted with some form of depressive disorder. As many as fifteen percent of all people living in industrialized nations - according to the statistics listed by the National Institute of Mental Health - suffer from depression. But what causes depression?
No one ever said that life was fair, and it certainly is not. Loss through death, divorce, illness, war and a myriad of other trials and tribulations are an unfortunate and uncontrollable part of human existence. Every generation is forced to deal with its set of hardships and internal struggles. Depression is a natural phenomenon. It is a cue from the body that all is not well and is meant to serve as a self-righting check in the system.
However, sometimes, this natural response to illness or sad events in life can sometimes run riot, wrecking havoc on the body and the mind. Depression becomes an illness at the point when the person experiences not a few days of feeling down, but instead, a persistent state of feeling down, worthless, and hopeless. Thoughts of suicide or other serious symptoms of self-harming depression or self-neglect illustrate the importance of effectively treating depression so that individuals can return to a healthy life.
Environment plays a major role in determining who will experience depression - as do genetics. Some people have more strikes against them when it comes to depression. Individuals whose family history is dotted with relatives who suffered from clinical or chronic depression or who came from a home environment where abuse was a norm have a higher likelihood of experiencing the condition than other people.
Additionally, some physiological conditions outside of psychological factors can induce depressive symptoms. Illnesses that damage the heart, brain, nerves, or other organs can lead to fatigue or other depressive symptoms. For this reason it is very important to be seen by a trained professional if depressive symptoms arise that do not abate over the course of a few days or weeks. Depression, and what causes depression, is no small matter and must be addressed by people trained to take a holistic approach to finding a resolution for the problem.
