Causes of Depression For those of you in the counseling/MH field, you can pass on this post!

From: http://www.depression.com/causes_of_depression.html

Causes of Depression
Depression has no single cause; often, it results from a combination of things. You may have no idea why depression has struck you.

Whatever its cause, depression is not just a state of mind. It is related to physical changes in the brain, and connected to an imbalance of a type of chemical that carries signals in your brain and nerves. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters.

Some of the more common factors involved in depression are:

• Family history. Genetics play an important part in depression. It can run in families for generations. Hmmm... Let's see. I remember my mother and grandmother staying in their bedrooms for long, long periods of time. It is very hard for me to get up and get going, too.
• Trauma and stress. Things like financial problems, the breakup of a relationship, or the death of a loved one can bring on depression. You can become depressed after changes in your life, like starting a new job, graduating from school, or getting married. THIS is a no-brainer!
• Pessimistic personality. People who have low self-esteem and a negative outlook are at higher risk of becoming depressed. These traits may actually be caused by low-level depression (called dysthymia). I had low self-esteem all through high school (and I guess I still do...), and not so much a negative outlook after my father died, but more of a fatalistic outlook - is that just semantics?
• Physical conditions. Serious medical conditions like heart disease, cancer, and HIV can contribute to depression, partly because of the physical weakness and stress they bring on. Depression can make medical conditions worse, since it weakens the immune system and can make pain harder to bear. In some cases, depression can be caused by medications used to treat medical conditions. Chronic ankle pain can be included, I think. Can't help but be down when even just walking the dogs causes pain and swelling...
• Other psychological disorders. Anxiety disorders, eating disorders, schizophrenia, and (especially) substance abuse often appear along with depression. Lucky for me substance abuse is not a problem (does excessive carb intake count?).

I think that because I have always put on the funny face and been the entertainer it is hard for those who have known me a long time to realize how depressed I've been and am now. "Tears of a Clown" could be my theme song, I guess!

From now on, when someone asks "How are you?" I'm going to tell them my truth. They might not like to hear it, but burying your depression under the rug helps no one, from what I can see. So, put up with me, dear friends and rellies!

  ¶ 3/29/2006 01:59:00 PM