Depression is an illness that people often cannot snap out of. The symptoms and emotions connected to it consume them, making them feel that life is hopeless. In some cases, suicide feels like the best option when compared to living in the sadness and despair that is their world. While it can be managed, depression has no cure. However knowing your risk factors may help you prevent this disease from consuming your life.
Genetics
Genetics, according to Depression.com, is a contributing factor to depression. The site states that it can run in generations of families.
Healthy Place supports this theory by explaining that adopted children whose adoptive parents did not suffer from depression had no impact on the child's developing this illness. However if the biological parents had a history of the illness, the child's risk factor increased three times.
Biological Factors
Biological causes encompass the neurotransmitters, or chemicals, in the brain responsible for emotions. These include serotonin and norepinephrine.
Serotonin is believed to be responsible for the anxiety and sleep problems that are associated with depression. Norepinephrine is responsible for controlling alertness and arousal, both of which may be associated with the fatigue many feel when depressed.
If one or both of these chemicals are out of balance, depression may occur. It is for these reasons that many doctors prescribe antidepressants that specialize in the restoration of chemical balance, especially serotonin.
Traumatic Life Experiences
Also described as environmental factors, these can include financial problems, the death of a loved one or the breakup of a long-term relationship. While any one of these situations can take a toll on someone, certain people are more vulnerable than others and therefore are more susceptible to falling prey to depression.
The Mayo Clinic explains that early childhood experiences such as abuse--whether in the form of physical, verbal or sexual--may be responsible for permanent changes in the brain which can make a child more susceptible to depression.
Physical Conditions
When diagnosed with life-threatening medial conditions such as cancer, HIV or heart disease, depression can quickly set in. Again, the personality type plays a large role, but many people are susceptible to depression, at least initially. Depression, however, can only aggravate these conditions, making them worse, according to Depression.com. Therefore it is imperative to seek help for your depression immediately so that you have the strength to battle your condition.
Substance Abuse
Substance abuse of any kind, whether it be alcohol or drugs, affects depression in more ways than one. First, the area of the brain affecting stress responses is the same area of the brain that affects substance abuse and a person's desire for a particular substance.
Second, David MacIsaac, Ph.D., a licensed psychologist in New York and New Jersey, states in "Everyday Health" that a person suffering from depression may try to self-medicate by using drugs or alcohol. In short, depression often leads people to drink. However alcohol is considered a depressant, which in essence, only makes the disorder worse.
The use of drugs has the same effect; while many who are depressed use drugs to help rid themselves of their symptoms, not realizing that depression is the cause, they do not understand that using and abusing these drugs is only making their illness worse.
