what causes depression?

Answer 1

For me drugs and alcohol did it... I dont do either anymore.. What i learned that id like to pass on to you is that taking a multi vitamin/mineral everyday in connection with 1,000 mils of vitamin C and perhaps the most important anti depression pill for me was when i got in the habit of taking 1,000 mils of L-Glutamine (an amino acid).. Of course you have to eat at least a few healthy meals everyday... You know home cooked stuff like mom always made!!!

Answer 2

There are many different kinds of depression that can be caused by many different reasons. Most depression is caused from chemical imbalances in the brain. Some are caused by life threatening illnesses. Some are from having a baby, this can usually be treated fairly easily. Some are caused by chronic pain and some from PTSD. This is one of the hardest to treat. Medication cannot treat all depressions. Some can only be treated by therapy by a psychologist or a therapist. Psychiatrists mostly only offer medication.Sometimes it takes years to get better and other times the patient stays depressed their entire life.

Answer 3

There are different types of depression. A situational depression comes because something has occurred that makes a person feel low, such as a death or loss of a job. This depression lifts in time, usually without the need for medication. Psychotherapy may be indicated.

Major Depressive Disorder is caused by chemicals that naturally occur in the brain. In order to have a diagnosis of major depression made, a person must meet certain diagnostic criteria as follows:


1. For a major depressive episode a person must have experienced at least five of the nine symptoms below for the same two weeks or more, for most of the time almost every day, and this is a change from his/her prior level of functioning. One of the symptoms must be either (a) depressed mood, or (b) loss of interest.
1. Depressed mood. For children and adolescents, this may be irritable mood.
2. A significantly reduced level of interest or pleasure in most or all activities.
3. A considerable loss or gain of weight (e.g., 5% or more change of weight in a month when not dieting). This may also be an increase or decrease in appetite. For children, they may not gain an expected amount of weight.
4. Difficulty falling or staying asleep (insomnia), or sleeping more than usual (hypersomnia).
5. Behavior that is agitated or slowed down. Others should be able to observe this.
6. Feeling fatigued, or diminished energy.
7. Thoughts of worthlessness or extreme guilt (not about being ill).
8. Ability to think, concentrate, or make decisions is reduced.
9. Frequent thoughts of death or suicide (with or without a specific plan), or attempt of suicide.
2. The persons' symptoms do not indicate a mixed episode.
3. The person's symptoms are a cause of great distress or difficulty in functioning at home, work, or other important areas.
4. The person's symptoms are not caused by substance use (e.g., alcohol, drugs, medication), or a medical disorder.
5. The person's symptoms are not due to normal grief or bereavement over the death of a loved one, they continue for more than two months, or they include great difficulty in functioning, frequent thoughts of worthlessness, thoughts of suicide, symptoms that are psychotic, or behavior that is slowed down (psychomotor retardation).

Keep in mind that there are other causes and/or conditions to consider, as noted above. If you think you may be suffering from a depressive condition, it is important that you seek medical attention, as clinical depression is a serious disorder than can gravely affect a person's life.

Best to you.

Answer 4

It's not always a chemical in-balance...depression is quite normal for a period of time when a major life change has occurred which are..divorce, death of a loved one, moving from a place you've lived a very long time, having an "empty nest" after your children have grown, having a longtime painful condition as arthritis, a terminal condition...there are a lot of "normal" reasons to be depressed. If it last too long, or you have thought of suicide then it's Clinical Depression and can be treated.

Answer 5

there are types of depression

situational depression - your life sucks, something tragic happens and you sink into depression

chemical imbalance depression - you are lacking seratonin in your body and it causes you to feel tired and depressed and lose interest in things and can be caused by no bad things happening....it just happens. You go through mood swings and sometimes just don't want to get out of the bed....most people with this depression have to take medication.

Answer 6

Honestly, the answer isn't scientific, for it has nothing to do with our brain nor intelligence. I'm intelligent beyond compare and I'm happy being nothing and everything. Psychotic? Let me finish, this world is artificial, one day you'll realize gold is just a stone and the Bible isn't just a book. Rainbows may not be real, but the Bible helps out a lot when talking about the heart.

What is sloth? The sin of sadness. Did you know you cannot change the world, but you can change it's value.-Exousia Skotos

Life is a conundrum, and we are mere guinea pigs.

Answer 7

As answer #1 states, the main answer is that certain chemicals that transmit feelings of happiness or satisfaction or related concepts are less concentrated than they should be, and the medications provided try to correct this inbalance. However, I am depressed, and have never had a chemical test analysis done to indicate that a sensor chemical is less powerful than it should be prior to prescribing a medication.

Answer 8

it could be a bunch of things that cause an imbalance, most people were being too vague with you. it can be caused by a various of things, such as lack of nutrition, sleep, stress, shock, exercise. if you are depressed try to improve in these areas, meditation helps alot too.

Answer 9

Lots of stuff. Abuse. Loss of loved ones. Feeling abandoned, rejected, etc. Someone's outlook on life. The everyday pains and loss we experience in life cause depression. It only matters that you beat it. It can be beaten.

Answer 10

It is a chemical imbalance in the brain, but this is not the only reason. Sometimes it can occur from certain events or just growing older and realizing more about the world.