Causes of Depression: A closer look at the underlying nature of depression.

Wednesday, 26 August 2009 13:04 by Nathan Comerford
     In this month's blog I would like to wrap up this series on depression by discussing some of the causes of depression.  Contrary to popular belief, there is no concrete evidence that depression is genetically inherited or that it is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain.  There are some research studies that show some slight evidence for those two things as being contributing factors to depression but the research in general is inconclusive.  Depression for the most part is caused by psychological factors which means that psychotropic drugs such as antidepressants will do little to cure depression.  Antidepressants are a palliative approach to treating depression which means that they only work on relieving the symptoms of depression such as irritable mood, insomnia, hypersomnia, or fatigue.  They do not work on treating the psychological root of the problem which is why psychotherapy is recommended to help alleviate depression from the underlying cause.

What are the true causes of depression?
  • Depression is centered on a sense of loss.  In essence, the depressed person feels that he has lost someting that is essential to his happiness or survival.  This could include the loss of a loved one, the loss of a job, feeling that youth or physical attractiveness is lost, or many other things.  Whatever the sense of loss is centered around, the feelings engendered by it are equivalent to feeling that life will never be complete or fulfilling.
  • The gap of where one thinks they should be in life and where they actually are in life is too great.  An example of this would be a woman who feels that she should have accomplished much more in her life by age 40.  She feels depressed because she thought she would have been married, graduated from college and started a family by 40.  Depression occurs in these situations when people feel that defects in their personality or character are at fault for the underachievements.  
  • Existential concerns.  Depression often occurs when people do not understand what their purpose is in life or why they have been put on Earth.  Severe religious or spiritual conflicts and moral and ethical dilemmas may also be of relevance in this category.    
     The causes listed above are only abreviated and highly generalized categories.  There are many more psychological causes of depression but, many of the causes will fit into one of those categories.  Those who may be afflicted with depression can take comfort in the facts that depression is highly treatable in many cases and that there are many experienced and qualified counselors and psychotherapists that can provide answers and treatment. Those who may be unsure if they are depressed or not could benefit from talking to a professional in the mental health field before things deteriorate further. Preventative measures can be taken to thwart depression before it becomes unmanageable which is perhaps the most preferred method of treatment.

Sincerely,

Nathan M. Comerford, MA, LLPC, NCC

Nathan M. Comerford is a psychotherapist in Farmington Hills, MI who has been helping people with their relationship issues, emotional difficulties and mental health problems for the past 8 years. 

Thought Perspectives Counseling
31275 Northwestern Hwy., Suite 120
Farmington Hills, MI 48334
Phone: (248) 932-7799
www.thoughtperspectives.com
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