Alternative Health Depression Treatments Cont.

Alternative Health Depression Treatments

Depression: Causes and Risk Factors

Medical science has yet to pinpoint a single cause for depression. Nor does it have an explanation why the same set of circumstances may affect two individuals in two distinct ways. An event that may trigger a depression in one person may not inflict any emotional damage on another.

Science has discovered that depression may be genetic or hereditary as it often runs in families. This explanation though doesn't fully explain the complexity and intricacies of this disorder or predict with any accuracy who is at risk.

In fact, experts are leaning towards the idea that this often misunderstood disorder has several causes and not just a single origin. They are reviewing the possibility that an individual could possess a genetic vulnerability to depression. When the precise mix of environmental factors are present, this vulnerability prompts the depression.

The brain, during a depressive state possesses an imbalance in three neurotransmitters – chemical substances that carry nerve impulses across the brain cells synapses. These chemicals are called serotonin, norepinephrine and dopamine and appear to be linked in some way to depression. Scientists have yet to fully understand the exact role these neurotransmitters play, though. It's really a version of the age-old question: which came first the chicken or the egg. Are the alterations in the neurotransmitters the cause of the result of the depression?

Alternative Health Depression Treatments

For everything that is still a mystery about depression, there are some factors that medical science knows for a fact do contribute to this disorder.

Heredity: While it does appear that several specific genes are identified with depression, it still does not explain why some members in a family seem immune to the health problem. Nor does it adequately answer the question of why certain individuals with no family history of depression are prone to it.

Stress: A traumatic event, such as a death in the family or a job loss, can prompt a depression. Again, even though science understands this to be a trigger, every individual reacts to stress event differently. Some people may experience an acute – short term – depression, for others this may be the start of a chronic condition. And yet others can remain seemingly oblivious to the stress and fly through the event unaffected. Moreover, a stressful event need not be traumatic. Sometimes the stress associated with normally joyful events may produce an unexpected depression.

Hormones: Oh, yes. Everyone has heard of those "raging hormones" that women are said to have. Well, the truth is that women do experience depression at about twice the rate as men. This has led researchers to consider that hormonal influences may factor into the development of depression. Visit www.fabat40.com to see how women in their forties and beyond cope with depression.

Personality Types: It appears, according to some medical experts, that certain personality types are just more vulnerable to developing depression. Especially at risk are those who possess a low self esteem as well as those who are extremely self critical or overwhelmed by the onset of stressful episodes in their lives. An additional personality type more susceptible to depression is the pessimist. Individuals who are extraordinarily dependent on others are more prone to being depressed as well.

Drug Abuse: Those individual who abuse illegal drugs, as well as those who drink alcohol in excess or are dependent on nicotine are more likely to become depressed. Initially, medical science believed these activities to be a coping mechanism for an already present depression. Now, they think that the actual use of these substances contribute to the depression.

Prescription Medications: Perhaps the most overlooked of the causes, use of certain prescription drugs can cause depression. This is especially the case with the long-term use of high blood pressure drugs, sleeping pills or even birth control pills in some cases.

Illness or Injury: Being subjected to a chronic health condition, such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer or recovering from a debilitating injury can certainly put a person at a greater risk of developing an accompanying depression. Even something as seemingly as insignificant as an under active thyroid – hypothyroidism – can trigger a depression.

As you can see, depression can be caused by numerous conditions or situations, so what can we do about it? Read some more articles at Alternatively-Healthier on Alternative Health Depression Treatments.

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