Causes of Depression

Depression is a psychological condition that affects a multitude of people whether directly or indirectly. It is hard to pinpoint was causes depression. As many things can trigger it, and it is not the same from individual to individual, we cannot say with absolute certainty what the causes of depression are.

Changes in life, a loss of a loved one or job, or even genetic predisposition can all attribute to clinical depression. Generally it is a number of things that causes the depression and it is not always noticeable by the individual. What causes depression in one individual may have no affect on another. Often our socialization and how we deal with stress plays a role in what it takes to cause depression for us. If we do not have a support group or an outlet, we become more susceptible to the disease.

More specialized areas of depression such as bipolar disorder are believed to be more genetically prone whereas other forms are believed to be caused by our circumstances. Even times that are considered happy times can be known as causes of depression. A new job, a new baby, graduation, or even getting married are considered happy milestones for many, but can trigger depression in others.

People that have a negative outlook on life anyway are prone to depressive states as well. Their pessimistic personality is just a breeding ground for this clinical state. It is even believed that it is actually a low-level form of depression known as Dysthymia that causes these negative outlooks and low self-esteem. Which comes first is unclear.

Serious medical conditions can also be considered as causes of depression. Heart disease, cancer, or any other (possibly) terminal illnesses that can weaken the immune system can also wear on our emotional defenses. Often the depression can make these conditions worse by weakening our immune system further. It is like a cycle in that one onsets the other which in turn magnifies the original problem! Depression can be brought on by medications we take for those medical conditions as well.

Depression is a psychological condition that can often go unnoticed. While the causes of depression are not clear, there are several known triggers. What depresses one may not depress another, but how we react in a given situation may affect our chances. Knowing the causes of depression can be the first step to preventing depression.