What Causes Depression?

During the teen years, mood swings are common and gain momentum when hormones change and surge through the body.  This is not at all uncommon and most people can relate this to their own teenage experience.

Increased social and peer pressure, the beginning of menstruation and PMS and other normal occurrences of the teenaged years may cause things like fluid retention, bad temper, cramps and physical discomfort among others.
However, one of the most common conditions of teenagers is depression – and it is very common especially at the very beginning of puberty.

Depression is often a blanket term applied when a person is experiencing a period of emotional or mental difficulty. Particularly it is considered an option when the period is prolonged and comes along with sadness or lethargy. The word depression means “low” and is used to describe low periods between happy periods in people’s lives.

All of this in combination really has the potential to upset your normal activities, and it is not possible to make it just stop. That is the true meaning of depression. The signs are extremely drawn-out periods of sadness, anxious feelings, lots of mood swings, and often irrational thought and extreme pessimism.  It will affect eating and sleeping habits. It will affect social and familial interactions and it will keep us from taking part in the things that we enjoy.

Depression requires immediate medical treatment and attention because it can prove fatal in severe cases that are left untreated, and it causes a drastic withdrawal from social groups and family. It is suffering, causes severe pessimism, and also leads to low self-esteem in those affected. Depression can also lead to disruption of physical activities (including both eating and sleeping). Depression will interrupt normal activities. And again, it is very dangerous for patients who suffer from the symptoms and effects.  Depression has the ability to destroy relationships with those who matter the most in our lives, such as our friends and our families.

The increased irrational thought that accompanies depression will eventually lead to thoughts of committing suicide or of harming others intentionally or inadvertently.

If you should you find yourself showing the signs of depression, especially the suicidal tendencies, you really need to seek out medical attention from a mental health specialist immediately in order to stop the progression of your depression. The various types of depression vary in severity in terms of the level of life disruption. They are all treatable and curable. Seeking medical help will also help you to determine whether you are experiencing major depression or minor depression. Minor depression might be less severe, but it still requires management in order to keep it from worsening into major depression.

What then constitutes severe or major depression then? Major depression affects a patient’s ability to function normally as a member of society. Recurrence is very common with this variety of depression. This is also referred to by experts as unipolar depression, clinical depression, or major depressive disorder. This form of depression requires immediate medical intervention.

Severe depression is more than likely caused as a result of some type of chemical imbalance within the brain. Serious depression is considered by those who have done research on depression to possibly be a genetic condition passed throughout family lines.

Behavioral patterns that emerge are often the signs used to detect the presence of severe depression. The first obvious sign of severe depression is a recurring feeling of sadness or even anxiety. Feelings of inadequacy and low self-esteem will probably follow the sadness. Lethargy, or feeling tired for no reason and without having participated in any type of physical exertion is an obvious indication also.  Problems concentrating, making decisions and overall restlessness also lead to a diagnosis of severe depression.

The physical signs of depression often characterize other disorders that are more physical than mental – and they may be excused as seasonally or hormonally induced.  They may also be considered a result of physical activity or lack thereof.  These signs all have an effect on one’s social life and should be taken seriously.

If you find that you have lost a large amount of weight, or gained a large amount of weight, due to appetite changes that have no explanation, you may be depressed. This is also true if you find yourself shying away from activities that you normally enjoy or from your favorite hobbies – then you should consider the possibility that you may be depressed.

Disruption of sleeping patterns, including insomnia or early waking when tired may lead to other physical problems not associated normally with depression. The physical resulting symptoms will combine to affect the outlook of a depression sufferer, causing despair and emotional disruptions.  In combination, these effects may cause a loss of self esteem and eventually drive the patient to experience feelings of worthlessness and eventually to consider suicide as an option.

Depression can happen to any person, even you. Everyone is at risk of experiencing an episode of depression at some time in their life. For this reason, it is fairy important that you recognize the early warning signs of depression.  You need to understand depression and its causes and effects.  If you understand depression and you have to deal with a depressed friend or family member at some point, this information will also help you to understand their plight and the need for them to get adequate and immediate help from a mental health professional or their family doctor as soon as possible.

Depression

• Depression is a real illness
• Signs of Depression
• How do I know if I am severely depressed?
• What causes Depression?
• When should I see a doctor?
• Is there treatment for Depression?
• Are there any "natural" treatments for depression?
• Depression and Suicide
• Depression and Anxiety Disorders
• Manic Depression and Bipolar Disorder
• Panic Attacks and Depression
• Depression and Alcohol
• Prevent Depression in a Few Easy Steps