The causes of depression are many and varied.
They depend upon the individual and his particular life experiences.
It would seem that anything and everything can be the trigger.
However, these events do not set off the chain of circumstances leading to depression in everyone.
Something of the personality and make up of the person plus his environment and lifestyle.
So what are these triggers? Some of them involve the following: illness, redundancy, divorce, bereavement, stressful job, debt.
All these can set some people reeling.
These causes can be divided into three main groups: Physical/chemical The levels of hormones/chemicals in the brain vary from time to time but generally keep within a workable band width.
However, if this balance is upset then mood change is experienced.
We all have mood changes but depression is extreme mood change.
It is most clearly seen in some women and dependent upon menstrual cycle, pregnancy and the menopause.
These mood swings are accepted as normal within certain limits.
Serious medical conditions can contribute to depression due to the stress they engender and also because the patient is in a low state.
Depression will also make the physical illness worse due to the weakening of the immune system and the inability to bear pain.
Social This comes down to two way interaction.
Inactivity and a lack of social interests can lead to depression.
Conversely depression will lead to the sufferer pulling out of all outside events.
Once into this downward spiral it is very difficult to get back on course.
For many, spending great lengths of time alone leads to introspection and low moods.
Psychological This is the area which is upset by life events leading to continuous low mood, loss of self esteem and feelings of hopelessness and despair.
It is also quite common for other disorders to appear, such as anxiety disorders, panic attacks, eating disorders, substance abuse and schizophrenia.
Why doesn't everyone suffer from Depression? It would seem that certain people have a propensity to develop this illness.
It has been shown that a particular gene (5-HTT) has an effect on the chemical serotonin within the brain and this is what changes our mood.
For those who have the short variant of 5-HTT there is an inbuilt tendency to develop depression due to a stressful episode in life.
However, it is usually a combination of factors and often a build up of events which lead to depression.
So some people with or without the short 5-HTT gene will suffer depending upon other happenings.
There are other things which will add to the unavoidable life events, such as excessive intake of alcohol, the use of so called recreational drugs and some types of prescription medication.
Depression in the elderly should be treated in just the same way as in younger age groups.
It is NOT a normal part of aging.
Of course, the particular reasons behind an individual's depression will dictate the types of treatment and medication.
The understanding of the episode of depression and the specific causes in an individual case will in itself help to overcome illness.
The advice of qualified medical practitioner should always be sought.
They depend upon the individual and his particular life experiences.
It would seem that anything and everything can be the trigger.
However, these events do not set off the chain of circumstances leading to depression in everyone.
Something of the personality and make up of the person plus his environment and lifestyle.
So what are these triggers? Some of them involve the following: illness, redundancy, divorce, bereavement, stressful job, debt.
All these can set some people reeling.
These causes can be divided into three main groups: Physical/chemical The levels of hormones/chemicals in the brain vary from time to time but generally keep within a workable band width.
However, if this balance is upset then mood change is experienced.
We all have mood changes but depression is extreme mood change.
It is most clearly seen in some women and dependent upon menstrual cycle, pregnancy and the menopause.
These mood swings are accepted as normal within certain limits.
Serious medical conditions can contribute to depression due to the stress they engender and also because the patient is in a low state.
Depression will also make the physical illness worse due to the weakening of the immune system and the inability to bear pain.
Social This comes down to two way interaction.
Inactivity and a lack of social interests can lead to depression.
Conversely depression will lead to the sufferer pulling out of all outside events.
Once into this downward spiral it is very difficult to get back on course.
For many, spending great lengths of time alone leads to introspection and low moods.
Psychological This is the area which is upset by life events leading to continuous low mood, loss of self esteem and feelings of hopelessness and despair.
It is also quite common for other disorders to appear, such as anxiety disorders, panic attacks, eating disorders, substance abuse and schizophrenia.
Why doesn't everyone suffer from Depression? It would seem that certain people have a propensity to develop this illness.
It has been shown that a particular gene (5-HTT) has an effect on the chemical serotonin within the brain and this is what changes our mood.
For those who have the short variant of 5-HTT there is an inbuilt tendency to develop depression due to a stressful episode in life.
However, it is usually a combination of factors and often a build up of events which lead to depression.
So some people with or without the short 5-HTT gene will suffer depending upon other happenings.
There are other things which will add to the unavoidable life events, such as excessive intake of alcohol, the use of so called recreational drugs and some types of prescription medication.
Depression in the elderly should be treated in just the same way as in younger age groups.
It is NOT a normal part of aging.
Of course, the particular reasons behind an individual's depression will dictate the types of treatment and medication.
The understanding of the episode of depression and the specific causes in an individual case will in itself help to overcome illness.
The advice of qualified medical practitioner should always be sought.