Factors For Depression

There are many factors, which can contribute to the cause of depression.  These factors may act alone or in combination to cause a depressed person to feel the way that they do.  The three main factors that contribute to the cause of depression include:

1. Environmental factors
The most obvious cause in this area is the reaction to an event, oftentimes the reaction to the loss of something or someone significant to that person's life.  While this loss may sometimes be as obvious as the death of a loved one or moving from one state to another (this is especially true for children).  At other times it may be less obvious like being dismayed over how you see your career going.  A person may also become depressed whenever they feel as though they have become stuck in a monotonous lifestyle with nothing new to look forward to.  Even when a person feels as though they have no control over their lives, they may become depressed.  Other common causes of depression include: domestic disputes, financial difficulties, and the inability to express your feelings.

2. Psychological factors
There are times when depression is related to, or triggered by, an internal process.  For instance, if you have a pessimistic outlook on life, or if you are suffering from a lack of self-esteem, then you may become depressed.  Sometimes an illness, or a change in the illness, can lead to depression.  Some studies have also shown that depression may be a "natural" part of a cardiovascular disorder.

3. Physiological factors
There is now a diathesis-stress model of depression, which is widely accepted.  Included within this model is also clinical depression.  Whenever you look at this model, you can clearly see how underlying personality types have some amount of influence upon how a person's mood is affected by the events in their lives.  Nevertheless, doctors are still studying the social, psychological and biological anatomy of depression.  This is a difficult study to undertake since the casual relationship with biological biological variables is unknown, thus making it hard to pinpoint the condition's roots.  However, there are definitely some general physiological factors worth considering.  These include: Genetics (Some doctors hypothesize that there is an inherited disposition towards depression.); Neurochemistry (Some doctors think that there is a possibility that high levels of stress hormones, coupled with low dopamine levels, will lead a person to become depressed.); Sleep patterns; Female hormone imbalance (i.e. PMS or menopause); Testosterone imbalance in males; The use of such medications as corticosteroids; A chronic illness such as diabetes or hypothyroidism; Seasonal factors such as a lack of sunlight, which is definitely a contributing factor to SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder).

Any of these aforementioned factors can cause depression.  While they may act alone, a lot of times they will combine together to contribute to the cause of depression.  If you have any of these factors present in the life of you or a loved one, you can now understand the reason for your depression.

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