causes of depression?
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I found some good info here.
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Depression is more than just the normal, temporary feelings of sadness and hopelessness associated with difficult life events. The symptoms of depression are often subtle at first. It can be hard to recognize that symptoms may be connected and that you might have depression. Common symptoms include:\n\nDepressed mood.\nInability to enjoy activities.\nProblems concentrating.\nChanges in eating habits or appetite.\nWeight gain or weight loss.\nChanges in sleeping habits.\nDifficulty going to work or taking care of your daily responsibilities because of a lack of energy.\nFeelings of guilt and hopelessness; wondering if life is worth living (common).\nSlowed thoughts and speech.\nPreoccupation with thoughts of death or suicide.\nComplaints that have no physical cause (somatic complaints) such as headache and stomachache.\n\nAll of these symptoms can interfere with your quality of life. Even if you don't have major depression, if you have experienced a few of these symptoms for at least 2 weeks you may have a less severe form of depression that still requires treatment.
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Yes.\n\nSometimes your brain may send chemical signals that cause a feeling of depression.   Sometimes this is affected by environment or diet.  If the symtoms last longer than two months, see a doctor.
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Depression is a common condition, 15% of the population will suffer from clinical depression at some point in their lives.\n\nEverybody has periods where they feel low, or down. These are normal emotions, and appropriate after bad news, bereavement and so forth.   However, depression – the illness, is persistent, and help is required to recover. The difference with depression is when the unhappiness is without cause, or lasts much longer and is out of proportion to circumstances, or seems beyond the sufferers personal control to manage.\n\nDepression affects people differently.  Some are mildly affected – often known as dysthymia,  and manage to function despite their condition.  Others may be severely depressed and find it very difficult to carry out even the most basic tasks., such as washing and dressing.\n\nThere are also different types of depression, such as the episodes of depression, followed by elation in manic depression  (bipolar affective disorder, SAD (seasonal affective disorder) and PND (post natal depression).\n\nSpike Milligan and Winston Churchill were two famous manic depressives.  Depression is not selective of class, status or upbringing.\n\nSYMPTOMS\n\nSymptoms are many, varied and not all sufferers will exhibit the same problems. They may include:\n\nContinual low mood\nFeeling of inadequacy\nFeeling “tearful” and “emotional”\nIrritability\nAnger / aggression\nAnxiety\nLack of motivation\nLack of social interest\nPoor personal care\nIrrational / guilty thoughts\nFeeling of hopelessness\nSuicidal thoughts\nTired all the time\nLoss of appetite / weight\nComfort eating\nInability to sleep\nDisturbed sleep\nLoss of concentration\nSleeping too much / not waking refreshed\nLoss of libido\nAvoiding people / social situations\nLack of energy\nFeeling physically ill\nExtreme lethargy\nBleak and pessimistic view of the future\n\nN.B. Anxiety and depression are closely linked. Anxiety can cause depression, and depression can cause anxiety.\n\n\n\nSO WHY DO I FEEL LIKE THIS?\n\nDepression is a complex illness, and can occur for several reasons.\n\nIn a person suffering from depression, levels of neuro-transmitters are lowered. One of these is serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine or 5HT).\n\nIt can be triggered as a result of a number of causes:\n\nSocial Circumstances\nUnemployment, divorce or break down of relationship, bereavement, redundancy, sudden/dramatic change to personal circumstances\n\nPhysical Conditions\n\nGlandular fever, influenza, anaemia, diseases such as multiple sclerosis, severe arthritis,  and treatments such as chemotherapy and radiotherapy\n\nHormonal Changes\nPregnancy, resulting in PND – about 10% of all women experience significant PND.  Depression presents more commonly in women (this may also be because men are more reluctant to visit their doctor)\n\nPsychological Conditions\nSufferers of anxiety may also find they develop depression. Unresolved psychological issues also contribute. About 60% of people suffering chronically with anxiety and panic will also develop associated depression.\n\nDrug and Alcohol Abuse\n\nWHAT TREATMENTS ARE AVAILABLE?\n\nEach sufferer is an individual, and treatments vary.  Many people combine treatments for optimum effect, i.e. medication and counselling. The preferred choice at present is SSRI’s along with CBT. The medication is to lift the mood enough to be able to take on board and learn skills needed to overcome the condition long term.\n\nThe first step is to visit your GP. They can confirm your diagnosis and ensure your depression does not have a physical cause.  You must be prepared to be honest with yourself and your GP. If you have some unresolved issues, medication alone will not provide a cure, and your GP can recommend you for  some form of therapy.\n\nTherapy\nThis may include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy or counselling.  All health authorities have a Community Mental Health Team, who will be able to select and provide appropriate trea
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There are two main types of depression - for some folks, even if they have a wonderful life, a neurochemical imbalance, thyroid problem, or other physical problem causes depression. For other folks, their past and present experiences, their current situation, past trauma and/or their current environment causes depression. A combination of anxiety & depression is quite common. You may simply not have found the right therapist for you or you may be holding back from discussing past or present experiences that drive your depression/anxiety. I'd strongly recommend learning and actively using coping skills and strategies. Meds can give support - but they will not change you. I strongly recommend to my clients that they become mindful of the ways in which they treat themselves - are you your own best friend or your own worst enemy? Notice your own feelings and thoughts and take control of them - be kind to yourself - don't beat yourself up - journal your feelings - ask yourself if you are being active or passive in your therapy? Personally, I'd recommend an LCPC or LCSW - psychologists tend to focus on behavior - I prefer therapists who treat the whole person from a "strengths perspective." Good luck
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as far as information goes the best I have encountered outside of medical texts is The Noonday Demon by Andrew Sullivan. It discusses all aspects of depression including causes, medications, and other therapies.
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Are you depressed by chance? \n\nOK, I erased all of that. I am now going to copy and paste several opinions on depression and energy. I am including the web address with each statement.\n\nThese are directly copied from the sites as noted...\n\nDepression can spring from many places, but no matter the source, the effects are profound. Depression drains your energy, diminishes your interest in everyday activities, and if serious enough, leads to thoughts of despair or even suicide.\ntroubledwith. \n\nhttp://www.med.umich.edu/depression/pregnancy.htm\n\nLearn about depression symptoms, the types of depression, depressive disorder causes, and available treatments such as antidepressant medications, electroconvulsive therapy, and psychotherapies. ... Hippocrates referred to depression as melancholia, which literally means black bile ... and/or weight loss, or overeating and weight gain. Fatigue, decreased energy, being "slowed down   www.medicinenet.com/depression/article.htm\n\nMajor depression is a serious medical illness affecting 9.9 million American adults, or approximately 5 percent of the adult population in a given year. ... severe depression. TCAs elevate mood in depressed individuals, re-establish their normal sleep, appetite and energy www.nami.org/helpline/depress.htm\n\nThe symptoms of depression during pregnancy are: two or more weeks of depressed mood, decreased interest or pleasure in activities, change in appetite, change in sleep patterns, fatigue or loss of energy, difficulty concentrating, excessive feeling of guilt or worthlessness, thoughts of suicide, extreme restlessness and irritability. \nhttp://www.med.umich.edu/depression/pregnancy.htm
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the main reason is depression, try to think whts the cause of her depression, is she in some kind of pressure. take her for outing wherever she likes the most, tell her that u love her very much. Speak n act naturally. Talk clearly abt her problems n try to sort them out. If this doesnt work, then consult her close friends, thy might help.
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It sounds like depression probably caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.  If the feeling persists for much longer or keeps coming and going, I would speak with a doctor and maybe they would perscribe you some kind of medication to help.
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There's a list of the ten signs of depression.\n\n1. I have deep feelings of sadness.\n2. I have lost interest and pleasure in things I used to enjoy.\n3. I have had changes in my weight and appetite.\n4. I am having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.\n5. I have strong feelings of guilt.\n6. I have trouble concentrating, remembering things and making decisions.\n7. I feel tired and out of energy all of the time.\n8. Others have commented that I am restless or less active.\n9. I feel hopeless and worthless.\n10. I have thoughts of suicide or death.\n\n\nIf you have more than about 8 of these, you're probably clinically depressed.
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I personally feel that it is something that affects everyone at some point in their life. There are, however some people that it affects more than others, and in different ways. There are also, I believe, several different reasons for it. \n\n   One reason might be genetics. There are studies and organizations that claim it is a result of genetics (google "depression"); some people are pre-disposed to feeling depressed, and these reasons are out of the victim's control. \n\n   Another reason might be environmental. A person might simply exist in a place where sad things happen all the time, and this causes them to be depressed (it's a possibility). \n\n   Another might be drugs. There are many drugs (legal and illegal) that have been known (especially those that replace/act upon serotonin) to bring out latent psychological issues. If a person or thier family has a history of depression, this can be true. \n\n   Another might be diet. Sometimes a poor diet can cause chemical imbalances in the brain, causing a person to be depressed, and this can be easily corrected by the person.\n\n   Another reason may simply be the person themself, or thier behavior (which they do have some control over). This requires some clarification. I think that some people get depressed with life when things don't go their way, or when other people patronize them, or when they choose not to acknowledge things that they feel/think in their subconscious. If a person is constantly doing the same routine day in and day out (boredom), or if they are not particularly interested in that which they do with their time, or if they think that they should feel a certain way based on what other people say, then they can become depressed, and impotent (no, not like E. D.) If it is this reason that they feel depressed, then it is somewhat the "victim's" fault. They can change their routine and their behavior, they can pursue things that truly interest and astonish them, they can choose to accept that they think a certain way and stop trying to live for other people. I am no expert by any means, but I have spent a fair amout of time being depressed, and a lot of time thinking about why. I have realized that I am (and have always been) as happy as I am ever going to be. Sure there may be those moments that I feel extreme elation or sadness, but those are just spikes on the graph. Some times depression can be a usefull tool to guage whether you truly are happy with the way that your life is going and who you are. \n\n   Keep in mind that this is just me personally. There are people who have messed up brain chemistry, and who cannot control their emotions at all, and this phenomenon warrants  further study, however I think that what most people call "depression" is more malaise (general discontent) than anything else. It is the gap between what they know they are capable of and what they do. \n\n   There is no reason to stay pissed off at things you cannot control/won't do anything about. There are some facts of life that one must simply accept. It is possible to be happy when you decide what happiness truly is. It sounds cliche, so take it how you want to. There is no bottom line when it comes to depression, so one must formulate their own conclusion.
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Depression can be experienced differently, depending on the individual; generally it is a really soggy, heavy feeling of lethargy, stuck, unmotivated, or hiding; you may or may not experience it as sad.\n\nMedically, it is important to rule out possible physiological causes, including hypothyroidism, anemia,  low testosterone or other hormone imbalances, yeast/candida overgrowth, some kind of other low-grade infection (including teeth).\n\nAside from that and psycho-spiritually speaking:\nDepression comes from holding yourself back from the Truth:  \nIt's like a chronic lie we tell ourselves, until the only thing that becomes apparent is how numb we are...\nAnd then we dig ourselves even deeper to intensify our feelings, just so we can feel something!\n\nHow do you bail out of this stuck, dark, mess??\n\nDismantle your ego!\n (this is the part of you/us that lies to you to keep you feeling safe).  \nRelease the fear and Love (healing) will come in to take its place.  \n\nSurrender to the impossibility of (your ego or self-preserving, reactive self) trying to manage everything  on your own \n\n-- it is too far out of your control --  and surrender to whatever is. \n\nThen allow your (Higher, Knowing, True) self (and God) to guide you into the truth, and give into it  --\n\nStrangely enough, it is your resistance (or defense) that causes you such misery, disconnection, and fear.\nYour misery comes because you are neither happy nor present with what is going on right here and Now...your thoughts are trapped up in worry about the future, or grief/resentment about the past --\nneither of which are here, right NOW. \n   BE PRESENT NOW.\n\nI know this sounds contradictory to what you want -- relief from what you believe you are experiencing now -- But truly,  (because I've have experienced this also) I sincerely promise you, that the pain engulfing your Mind and Heart is about not being available to what is right now in front of you...in this moment.  Whatever you don't like about what is going on, can only be possible to change in the Now.  YOU ARE NOW. GOD IS NOW. And this now is the only moment that you can possibly ever deal in.\n\n"But I feel so much pain when I bring my mind into the here and now."\nI understand.  \nYour pain is like annoying, barking dog or crying child who is desperately trying to get your attention: if only you would get up to see what the problems and move toward the painful noise, you would know how to better handle it.\n\nBreath! \nAsk yourself, what are you really feeling/ thinking here?\nRespond to the call: what have you been ignoring in your life? \nSurrender to the unknown by feeling how deep those feelings go.\nThere is a bottom to the pit, \n  and the bottom of the barrel, is the Top of the Light! \nSit with it.  Be curious.  Observe.  Be in the Now.   These are all good first steps.\n\nRemember to tell yourself the truth, and stop lying to yourself.\nDig in and be brave enough to have the doctor reset your broken leg so you can Heal.\n\nSecondly, get involved with others, and give.  In so doing, you are allowing Love to flow through you, as well as to others.\n\nRelease the fear and false illusions of how things are,  \n   Dissolve your attachments to how things should be,\n      Allow yourself to be present without criticism of failure.\n         Participate in what is happening in the here and Now.\n\nSurrender to Love now.  \nGod/ Universe /Life is waiting to catch you.
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some of the symptoms of depression are sleeping too much or not enough, eating too much or not at all, crying or getting angry over what would usually be little things to you,Feelings of sadness, tension or irritability, decreased interest or pleasure in usual hobbies or activities, loss of energy, restlessness or feeling slowed down, thoughts of suicide or death, thoughts of worthlessness, hopelessness, or guilt. If you have any of these symptoms for 2 or more weeks then you are at risk of having depression and need to seek professional help. Going to a counselor will help. There may be a chemical imbalance in your brain making you depressed. If you have any of the above symptoms for more then 2 weeks please seek help. Hope this helps you and good luck! The remedys may vary from speaking to a counselor to getting on medication to both. They also my suggest other things as well.
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Hi Boo2U. A poor diet can definitely worsen depression. At many times depression is even caused by lack of vitamins ex: vitamin B, Folic acid and selenium. Also omega 3 fatty acids are key to prevent depression
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1. Depression is far too complicated a subject to role it all up in a single answer.\n2. Aim to work on the causes of your personal depressive feelings and thoughts.\n3. Most of the time finding someone that you can trust to talk with helps.\n4. Faith helps many people and it gives them something to take their minds off themselves.\n5. Some depression, but by no means all, is caused by chemical imbalances. Get to the doc and try some antidepressant an drug.\n6. Sometimes this can be caused by brain tumors or gland disorders.\nIn short you are due for a complete check up and be sure you tell the Doctor about the depressed feelings.\n7. I worked in a gas station at 16. How about a job. That will keep you busy.\nloligo1@yahoo.com
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anxiety,depression,tension,\nfears\nsecrets.
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Depression can cause physical pain. You can find help and treatment options at http://depressionhurts.com/index.jsp