What is depression?

Depression is a mental disorder marked by inactivity difficulty in thinking and concentration, especially by dejection and sadness. It usually leads to sadness, boredom, and loss of energy. A person having depression may not devote much time to his regular activities and may suffer other diseases as well. Once you are prone to depression it becomes very difficult to lead a normal life. There have been numerous cases of depression marked by restlessness and due worries. However, doctors all over the world are trying to solve this problem. The fact is that not everybody is prone to depression, as such a problem depends variably on the natural behavior of the person and the way he absorbs the problem around him. The best way to come out of depression is to make yourself strong and have a positive framework.

 

Causes of depression

There are many underlying causes of depression beyond the conventional biomedical perspective that focuses solely on imbalances in brain chemistry. We now know that numerous biochemical and physiological factors can induce depression. Many physical illnesses can be the cause and, conversely, depression can lead to physical illnesses. Depression may be caused by emotional, or psychological factors or life circumstances. On an energetic level, depression can be viewed as an imbalance of vital energy, and on a spiritual level, it can be seen as stemming from spiritual disconnection or lack of soul awareness.

From an overall system perspective, depression can be viewed as a “warning sign” that the body-mind is off course in some manner-whether it is biochemical, psychological, energetic, or spiritual- and is signaling that there is a need to make some change in your life.

Psychological/Emotional causes of Depression

Depression often has emotional or psychological roots in the experience of loss, which may involve the loss of a loved one, a job, a change of circumstances, or divorce. Depression that accompanies the grieving process following a significant loss is a natural phenomenon that we all experience at one time or another in our lives. In many cases, depression can run its course without professional intervention, and in these cases, it is not appropriate to “medication,” the experience, and classifies it as “mental illness.” On the other hand, more severe and enduring forms of emotional and physical trauma may require psychological intervention or counseling to help guide one through the often dark and difficult process of emotional healing.

Biochemical/physiological causes of depression

Contrary to conventional wisdom, there are numerous biochemical and physiological factors that can induce depression. These elements include diet, stress, sleep, exercise, environmental toxins, nutritional deficiencies, or hormonal imbalance. Similarly, depression may be a symptom of other underlying health conditions such as candidiasis, hypothyroidism, hypoglycemia, or hormonal imbalance. Cases of chronic, psychologically-based depression may eventually result in altered biochemistry which in turn, may reinforce depression as a psychological state, making it even more difficult to alleviate. In these cases, it may be beneficial to deal with the biochemical factors while simultaneously addressing the psychological level. Here are some of the underlying factors that can cause or contribute to depression.

• Alcoholism: Depletes the level of many essential nutrients and amino acids which are necessary for proper brain physiology.
• Candidates: Chronic overgrowth of yeast in the gut.
• Chronic pain: The experience of ongoing physical or emotional pain.
• Dietary imbalance: Excess sugar and caffeine consumption.
• Environmental factors: Toxic reactions to neurotoxins such as solvents and heavy metals-aluminum, and cadmium.

Paths to Heal Depression

There is no shortage today of media stories on depression. Newspaper headings from this year cover a wide range of issues surrounding depression: “Herb is Found to Aid Mild Depression,” “Research probe Heart Disease – Depression Link,” “Millions of American teenagers suffer from Depression,” “A Hidden Epidemic of Male Depression,” “Feeling Blue? Check your Thyroid,” “Medicating Kids: A Pacifier for depression,” and of course, “Prozac keeps drug makers feeling good after 10 years.” why this sudden fascination with depression? Is it because depression is rapidly becoming recognized as one of the biggest health problems facing our society, not only affecting adults, but teens and children?

Today, thanks to the barrage of media stories and a number of well-known public figures who have disclosed their battles with depression, including television journalist Mike Wallace, actor Rod Steiger, and novelist William Styron, much of the social stigma surrounding depression has been removed. Discussion of depression in our culture has become more commonplace, and it can now be mentioned in the same breath as being “anxious” or “stressed out.”

Concurrently, there is an increasing public interesting public interest in natural approaches to dealing with this health condition. Even conventional medical doctors who have historically been known to only prescribe antidepressants, are now responding to the public demand and are beginning to recommend natural remedies like St. John’s wort for mild to moderate depression.