What causes depression

When the mood of an individual at a certain moment in his or her life suffers severe and prolonged feelings of sadness or related symptoms that affect his or her ability to relate to others, work or face the day, the sadness becomes a disease known as depression.

The causes of depression are diverse however, biochemistry can help to explain some cases. Depressed people show very high levels of cortisol and several chemical agents that act on the brain, such as the neurotransmitters serotonin, dopamine and noradrenaline. These levels may be elevated for hereditary reasons.

Hereditary reasons are not the only thing that can lead to depression. Among the reasons for depression, there is the loss of a family member or the loss of an important job. For some people, the capacity to adapt to new changes can be difficult to handle if the environment is not favourable. These situations can also affect the people involved in the change and lead to depression. The following are other things that can contribute to the cause of depression.

  • Climate

The weather is related to the way people feel. It is referred to as Seasonal Affective Disorder. Most people get depressed in winter, although it can also happen during the summer. This is due to a mismatch in the chemistry of the brain and the production of melatonin, which can trigger a depressed feeling.

  • Smoking

Smoking is a habit related to depression and it is known that nicotine, among its other negative effects, affects the production of dopamine and serotonin, hormones that produce a state of well-being to the body

  • Thyroid

When the thyroid does not work well, it can cause sadness. Thyroid hormones work as neurotransmitters that regulate serotonin levels.

  • Movies

There are people who get too involved in the fictional stories of television series and movies and they end up feeling depressed. In the world, this type of situation has been recorded and even some people have committed suicide as a result.

  • Social networks

Surfing a lot of time on the Internet causes depression. Recent research suggests that artificial communication through online networks produce feelings of loneliness and reduces interaction with society in real life.

  • Insomnia

The lack of sleep causes fatigue, irritability and also depression. Not enough sleep is a factor that makes you more sensitive and also affects decisions.

  • Residence

People who live in the city are more susceptible to be depressed due to the accelerated speed of life and the high levels of stress they handle. The lack of contact with nature is another factor to be considered when discussing the cause of depression.

There are several kinds of psychotherapy or dialogue therapy that can help people who suffer from depression. The causes of depression are very diverse, but many of them are variables that you can control. With small changes in daily habits, this disease can be kept at bay and the person can have a quality life.