So, what causes depression?

Let there be no doubt that depression is a serious mental illness that requires months and sometimes years of treatment on the path to a cure. Every year, millions of Americans feel the symptoms of depression. The situation becomes worse because only one third of those who suffer depression ever get treated.

Because depression is considered a mental affliction,
many sufferers shy away from seeking help from a doctor. Rather than being stereotyped, people would rather try to deal with the problem themselves. Depression is more common- place than you might think and it will not go away on its own.

So, what causes depression? There are many factors to consider, so the answer isn't simple.

Depression can be a long story because of many issues.
Here are a few of the parts of depression. A chemical imbalance is widely considered to be the main cause for depression. This may be the case, but what causes that imbalance? Generally the causes are internal – biological issues, genetic disposition, mental problems – but there are external causes as well. In many cases the underlying cause is never identified.

If diagnosis of another serious medical condition happens, sometimes people become depressed.

The loss of a loved one or treasured possession can have a tremendous impact resulting in depression. Long periods of emotional, sexual or other physical abuses can result in depression. Substance abuse, either drug or alcohol, can also cause depression. People's mental states are fragile. If exposed to the wrong pressures, depression can result.

Depression is often passed along in the DNA. Those afflicted have a family history of the disease . Many prescription drugs can cause depression. Studies and tests show a casual relation between many high blood pressure medications and depression.

One of the major causes of depression is stress. Stress can derive from many different areas in our life.

Even positive events such as a marriage, a new baby or winning an award can cause stress. The unknown is often the root cause of this stress, whether it be positive or negative. When friends or loved ones come into conflict with an individual – a co-worker or loved one – the result is stress.

Just trying to make ends meet is stressful for some people. Doctors first look for cause when seeking a treatment for depression. If you or someone you love suffers from depression-please seek medical assistance.

Barry