5 Causes of Depression
Life presents many challenges.
In navigating those challenges, it’s quite normal to experience sadness or feel depressed.
This type of sadness typically lasts only a short time and doesn’t really interfere with your life’s normal day-to-day activities. In other words, it’s dark, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Life presents many challenges.
In navigating those challenges, it’s quite normal to experience sadness or feel depressed. This type of sadness typically lasts only a short time and doesn’t really interfere with your life’s normal day-to-day activities. In other words, it’s dark, but there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Signs and symptoms of depression commonly include:
- Persistent sadness
- Feelings of hopelessness or worthlessness
- Disinterest or a loss of pleasure in life’s activities
- Anxiety, irritability, restlessness, agitation or anger
- Insomnia or excessive sleeping
- Extreme appetite or weight changes
- Fatigue or loss of energy
- Difficulty concentrating or becoming easily distracted
- Reckless behavior
- Thoughts of suicide
Do any of those symptoms sound familiar?
Are you or is someone you love experiencing them?
Has it persisted for more than a couple of weeks? We can help.
Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.
–Romans 12:1-2
What causes depression?
A single, specific cause of major depression has not been identified.
There are, however, factors frequently appearing in the lives of people battling depression which may be causal, or at the very least, strongly contribute to their experience. Here are five “causes” to consider:
- A person’s genes
- Brain chemistry
- Life experiences
- Psychological health
- Spiritual health
Blue Genes
Your genes affect every part of your body, including your mood.
Research has shown more than half of depression and bipolar sufferers have mood disorders in their family history.
At the same time, it is important to note that not all sufferers have a genetic trail—so it can be a cause, but it isn’t always a cause.
Brain chemistry
Our brain is our most sensitive organ.
It is impacted by everything we experience. Its chemistry changes with stimuli and response. In other words, our perception of things and our decision making affect our brain’s chemistry.
Decision making is exercise for the brain.
Life experiences
We all encounter stress in our lives, but heavy stressors—the death of a loved one, loss of a job, an unforeseen change in life circumstances—can have lasting impact.
If the stressor is long-term, like dealing with a failing marriage or sever financial pressures, it can become overwhelming.
Another life experience factor is early childhood trauma.
Studies have shown that experiencing trauma such as abuse, neglect or abandonment early in life greatly increases the risk of both depression and substance abuse as an adult.
Psychological health
The way we react emotionally and the decisions we make during stressful events are based on our perception and perspective of the event and our abilities or coping skills to make healthy decisions in challenging circumstances.
Spiritual health
Spiritual health is a vitally important piece of the puzzle. It means viewing and interpreting all of life’s challenging circumstances through a Godly lens.
The Biblical term for this powerful neurobiological concept, as the Apostle Paul describes it, is the renewing of our mind.
This renewing of our minds brings peace that passes all understanding.
Getting Help for Depression
Depression can have many causes.
If you suspect you or someone you love is experiencing depression, get help.
