Your opinion on depression?

Question

The condition of depression seems to be higher than ever. Do you believe that our way of thinking contributes to our neurotransmitters being out of balance or do you believe that our neurotransmitter imbalance leads to our way of thinking (resulting in depression)?

or do you think there is another cause as in lifestyle, environment, lack of spirituality, etc.

Just curious on anyone's input on this one.

Answer 1

All of the factors that you have listed play a role in depression. Depression can also be hereditary. No matter what is causing depression in your life it is treatable. Like many diseases depression is not necessarily curable. It is something that has to be treated consistently. Focusing on a positive environment can help depression.

You could also read this article: http://www.planetpsych.com/zPsychology_101/thinking.htm
It can help to provide some insight on the power of the mind.

I hope this has helped.

BEST WISHES & HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

Answer 2

There are different kinds of depression with different reasons.

I believe much of todays situational depression is from thinking, absolutely. In fact, a great book, "Learned Helplessness" by Spiegelman (sp?) was a great study on this subject.

We have a choice, we can either think that something is temporary and will pass, or adopt the negative view that it will always be this way. The difference is sinking into a pit of depression.

Other depressions are caused by imbalances, genetics, etc., etc. Those usually do well with therapy and some require psychotropic meds. Also, diet is a biggie, if people looked at what they eat, change to a healthy diet, they might find relief. Another aspect is SAD, which is Seasonal Affective Disorder, happens when we don't get enough sunlight in the winter, usually in the northern states of the country.

Answer 3

Not everyone who is depressed has a chemical imbalance as they like to say. Some people suffer from situational depression. A family member dies and they take it real hard or they are alone in life.

I'm not sure that depression is really up. I think that now there is more support for those with depression, and they are seeking help for it instead of hiding it.

Depression is real no matter what some people like to say. Everyone may not agree on what the proper treatment should be, but left untreated can lead to death. And not just the death of the depressed person.
But I would also say that with pharmaceutical companies paying off doctors and heavily advertising on the internet and on TV more people think they are depressed and need to go on medication.

As far as lack of spirituality goes I would say no. I know many depressed people. A lot of them are religious. Some people even turn to their faith even more during their depression.

Answer 4

I think the imbalance leads to the way of thinking. I went through severe depression that was caused by undiagnosed anxiety but the depression was just unimaginable. I really think today it is 80% meds and 20% therapy. I did both because 80% well is not good enough for me. It was a long hard road but I learned to make choices to avoid anxiety and with the help of the meds, I'm now 100%. I have to say, until the meds got balanced, I was still having trouble. Shortness of breath continued until Lexapro came out. Paxil didn't quite do the job completely but now I'm totally free of all of it. And I have a most excellent life. It did draw me closer to God and as for that, there is nothing better!

Answer 5

Depression is created by either a chemical imbalance malfunction that naturally occurs OR from stress.

In the "old days", things were much more stable. People didn't travel, no nuclear weapons, families stayed in the same town, smaller communities, no so many options when it came to work or jobs, no college, etc...

Now, our stability is constantly being attacked.

Answer 6

Speaking from experience, the main cause of depression today is stress. We have a lot more stress than our elder peers. Think about your everyday living, the condition of the world, the price of things we need, will we get shot by stray bullets while we shop, etc etc? Stress depletes our seratonian, which works with neurotransmitters to make them work.

Answer 7

I honestly sometimes feel there is an over diagnosis in todays society and that we are so quick to blame others or an 'illness' for our problems and take the easy path out!! In regards to depression I don't doubt that people go through it but a lot of people are quick to self diagnose this problem rather than dealing with the other issues at hand and rather than dealing with either the 'mental' problem or real life issues choose to do nothing because it is all too hard because they are 'suffering from a self diagnosed form of depression' Just my 2 cents from personal experience with the ex boyfriend who hasn't been formally diagnosed with depression but has suspected depression and has self diagnosed his 'depression' but refuses to do anything about his supposed 'depression' or take responsibility for his actions and choices in life - or non action for that matter!!

Answer 8

Whatever you surround yourself with is what you are.

Depression can be caused by many situations like you mentioned. The old saying goes, "garbage in-garbage out". In many cases that would reference lifestyle. Environment could expand from basic car pollution alone, to foods we put in our bodies that are genetically engineered to make things cheaper and bigger profits for BIG food industries, to things we build our homes with, to things we use on our bodies everyday (detergents, shampoos, pharmas). I could go on all day with the environmental things. Sure those things could cause depression.

Lack of spirituality...everyone has a soul. Whether they are in touch with themselves or not, they are aware they are alive. But, Religion can play a big part in depression. One may not agree with the way they are being brought up to believe in that specific religion and so that depresses them because they may believe differently and are forced to worship the way that makes them uncomortable. That will begin at childhood and follow through adulthood. Until they find themselves and who they are as an adult, they will always struggle with what was engraved in their brain as a child.

Depression can also be caused from situations that arise that we have no control over. Devestating situations such as death, near death, accidents, war, etc. My depression is caused from PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) which is caused by an event and what it brings with it afterwards, years later. It causes stress which then causes an inbalance of serotonin in my brain being taken up. For me this will be the rest of my life. I take medication to balance those chemicals that are depleted because of my situation. It allows me to get on with life in a normal fashion, yet still deal with my situation. I feel 100% better, and I'm a functioning person. I can actually get on with my life.

I think that nowadays there are more stresses out in life. More divorce rates up, not wanting to stay the couse even when it's worse. Children become depressed and grow up as depressed adults. The cycle doesn't end. It continues.

Hope this helps.

Answer 9

Life is more fragmented, families are breaking up, people have fewer real friends/relatives to rely on. (In the past people lived in close knit communities. Now life is more transient, less stable) More pressures at work, more chemicals in food and the products we use.

Answer 10

HI--It's probably a combination of both if you really get into details. If you just dont like your enviroment (say your mom is an alcoholic,) then you think very sad, and have a lot of cognitve "errors"