Taking a Look at Causes for Clinical Depression

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Depression is a condition of general emotion dejection and withdrawal; sadness greater and more prolonged than that warranted by any objective reason. The gene for depression can be inherited and passed down the family tree, as well as can come about for reasons unrelated to genes such as psychological or physical factors. If someone has a parent or sibling with depression, the risk of developing depression compared with the average person is 20-30% higher. However, it is not equally manifested in each member that has depression. For some it may manifest itself as intolerance, and for others as sadness or loneliness and can include frequent mood swings. There are multiple causes of depression and some scientists have argued that although hopelessness is a symptom, it can also be a cause. Along with that, other causes of depression include low brain levels of serotonin and norepinephrine. It would seem that there isn’t one sole cause of depression, but a combination of factors, at times involving a person’s genes, their biochemical environment, personal experience and psychological factors. Depression is not uniform, signs and symptoms may have been experienced by some sufferers and not by others. How severe the symptoms are, and how long they last depends on the individual person and their illness. There are more common symptoms such as: a constant feeling of sadness, anxiety, the feeling of emptiness, a general feeling of pessimism, hopelessness, restlessness, irritability, loss of interest in activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed, lower levels of energy, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory of details, difficulty making decisions, disturbed sleep patterns, a change in eating habits, and at most extreme suicidal t... ... middle of paper ... ... or angry all the time and was no longer sleeping all day. I didn’t mind being around people, and my friends and family commented on my more frequent laughing and smiling. I felt like a completely new person. As it did develop later on in my life I was grateful to have a father who was supportive and understood exactly what I was going through. He explained to me what he went through and I found we could relate over more than I had originally thought. He helped me through my medication and my mood swings and talked to me about my therapy. He understood. It develops and manifests differently in each person, and approximately 10% will be diagnosed at some point. However, it is extremely treatable and can be handled. While depression has many faces, the effects are common. Depression is a serious condition experienced by many, understood by few but treated thoroughly.

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