Depression is much more than just sadness. It can take over your 
everyday life. It can affect your ability to work, eat, sleep, socialize and enjoy yourself and creates a constant feeling of hopelessness.
Causes
Depression is a mental issue as well as a biological issue. The causes of depression are complex. People sometimes never know what triggered the depression.
Some causes of depression include:
• Biochemical/biological – abnormalities in the level of neurotransmitters in the brain
• Personality – people who are negative, overly needy, worrisome, have a hypersensitivity to things like rejection and who have low self-esteem have a better chance of developing depression.
• Hereditary – some depression is passed down through generations. However, it is not always true. If some people in a family are depressed, it does not mean that everyone will develop depression. Also, someone might be the first person to have depression in a family.
• Situations – difficult or traumatic situations can throw off the neurotransmitters in the brain and cause depression. Also, episodes of extreme happiness, like childbirth (postpartum depression), can cause an imbalance of neurotransmitters.
• Medical conditions – chronic diseases that can be fatal or debilitating (i.e. cancer, heart disease) can cause depression.
• Medications – some medications can throw off the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain.
• Substance abuse
Symptoms
• Feelings of sadness, helplessness, hopelessness
• Change in sleeping patterns (sleep too much or can’t sleep)
• Lack of concentration
• Easy tasks become difficult
• No control over negative thoughts
• Change in eating habits (loss of appetite or increase in appetite)
• Irritable and short-tempered
• Thoughts of suicide
A person may not develop every symptom on the list. If the symptoms last two weeks or longer, a person has clinical depression. A person suffering from depression needs to see a doctor immediately to get his or her life back on track. A doctor can perform a test to determine whether or not a patient has depression and can recommend a therapist for treatment.
A person needs to especially seek help when thoughts of suicide arise.
After treatment, about 2/3 of people recover and are able to return to their daily lives after a few days or weeks depending on the patient.
DEPRESSION FACTS
• DEPRESSION AFFECTS 19 MILLION AMERICANS ANNUALLY
• CAN AFFECT ANYONE
• MORE COMMON IN ELDERLY PEOPLE THAN IN YOUNG PEOPLE
• CONTRIBUTES TO ½ OF ALL SUICIDES
Have you ever been affected by depression? If so, please share you inspirational story on how you overcame it.
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