Common Causes of and Ways to Prevent Depression

Health experts' understanding of depression has come a long way in the last few decades. In many cases, depression doesn't have only one cause. It often results from a mix of biology, psychology, and stressful or traumatic events.

Reasons for depression include:

Biology. Researchers still have a lot to learn about exactly why people become depressed. But some experts say depression often results from an imbalance of certain chemicals in the brain. These chemicals are called neurotransmitters. Antidepressants work by affecting the levels of these chemicals — bringing them back into balance.There's also a genetic connection. If depression runs in your family, you have a higher chance of becoming depressed. Having other general health conditions or diseases can increase your risk of depression. For instance, if you have a heart attack, you have a 65% risk of becoming depressed afterwards. Conditions such as cancer, heart disease, thyroid problems, and many others increase your risk of becoming depressed.Your gender makes a difference, too. Women are about twice as likely as men to become depressed. No one's sure why. But the hormonal changes that women go through at different times of their lives may be a factor.

Psychology. Studies show that people who have a pessimistic personality are more likely to become depressed. This doesn't mean that getting a "better attitude" will resolve your depression.

Stressful events. Many people become depressed during difficult times. Losing a family member or close friend, being diagnosed with a serious illness, going through a divorce, or any other traumatic event may trigger depression.

Medications and substances. Many prescription drugs can cause the symptoms of depression. Alcohol or substance abuse is common in depressed people. It often makes their condition worse.

Some people have a clear sense of why they become depressed. Others don't. The most important thing to remember is that depression is not your fault. It's not a flaw in your character. It's a disease that can affect anyone.

Ways to Prevent and/or Treat Depression:

Talk to Friends. Friends can help with depression especially in women, because women are more likely to talk to a girlfriend than a Doctor about depression, according to a new survey.

The survey shows that most women (62%) who have ever experienced symptoms of depression, such as feeling sad, stressed, or anxious, talked to their girlfriends about these issues, but nearly three-fourths of them did not talk to a doctor about it. About half of the women surveyed said they feel extremely comfortable talking about mental health issues with their closest girlfriends.

As well as, health issues, such as weigh gain, osteoporosis, smoking or alcohol use, and menstruation.

Researchers say those findings show that women should learn to recognize when their friends might be in trouble and suffering from depression and help them seek professional advice.
Depression is twice as common in women as in men. It's normal to feel sad or anxious from time to time, but clinical depression (known by doctors as major depression) occurs when depression symptoms, including sadness, loss of enjoyment in things that were once pleasurable, and loss of energy, last more than two weeks. These symptoms are often severe enough that they prevent a person from going about their normal daily life.

Exercise. Physical activity lasting between 20 and 60 minutes can help to improve your psychological well-being. But even shorter bouts of moderate intensity walking (10 to 15 minutes) can significantly improve your mood. People with depression are recommended to follow a structured and supervised exercise programme of up to three sessions per week (lasting 45 minutes to one hour), for between 10 and 12 weeks.

No one knows exactly why exercise helps to relieve depression but it is likely to be due to a number of different reasons.

• Physical activity increases the amount of hormones (endorphins) in our bodies that help you to feel happy.
• Regular exercise can improve the way you look and boost your self-esteem.
• Exercise can give you something positive to focus on, providing new goals and a sense of purpose.
• Involvement in a social sport helps you to be more active and meet new people.

Changes to your Diet. Certain dietary changes and supplements have been reported to be helpful in the treatment of depression. Adding fish oil, Zinc, B vitamins and/or a One a day vitamin are found to help the body regulate chemicals that may trigger depression.

Therapy. Therapy that involves personal expression has been found to provide an outlet for pent-up feelings and can be a positive way to articulate deep feelings and emotion. This can take many forms. Dance is a great outlet for this as well as other movement therapies such as martial arts. Martial arts teach focus, self awareness, and control which can greatly benefit someone suffering from depression. Using art as a form of therapy is another expressive form of therapy. Whether it is sculpting or painting or any other variation of art, it’s a way to expose feelings in a tangible way.

Relaxation Techniques. Relaxation techniques help a person focus and gain a sense of serenity. Yoga is an ideal form of exercise that melds the body, mind, and spirit. It promotes good health, a positive self image and teaches relaxation. Meditation is also a good way to relax and unwind. It reduces the heart rate and clears the mind, allowing more focused thought. Acupuncture has grown in popularity as a means to treat depression. By using various pressure points, it is believed to enable a calming effect and promote a healthier emotional balance. Hypnosis is also popular as a means of getting to the core issues of why someone is depressed and leaving them with a sense of well being.

Depression does not need to be debilitating. Making a few changes to your daily routine will help promote a sense of well-being and help alleviate symptoms of depression. If you continue to have feelings of depression or have severe symptoms like suicidal thoughts, consult a health care professional immediately.