Causes of Depression

Why do I feel depressed? How does this feeling arise?

In depression, you are deficient in the substances dopamine, serotonin and norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters are important for transmitting signals from the brain. The creation, blocking and uptake of these signaling substances is a complicated process that can be affected by several factors:

• Your own hormone balance: this is often hereditary
• Your lifestyle: do you eat healthy and do you exercise and sleep enough?
• Interactions with others: how do you function socially?
• And your coping strategies: the way you deal with stressful situations. This has to do with your personality.

Below we further explain the possible causes of depression.

Biological factors

The following biological factors are risk factors in developing depression;

1. Depression and heredity

Hereditary traits can increase the risk of depression. For example, research [1] among twins shows that hereditary factors play a role in the development of depression. You can inherit a vulnerability to getting depression from your parents. That does not mean, by the way, that you will necessarily become depressed.

2. Depression and hormones

If your hormones are disrupted, such as by chronic stress or a traumatic experience, you are at greater risk of developing depression. The risk of depression is also higher for menopausal women. Women experience many hormonal changes which often leads to dejected and depressed feelings.

Endogenous depressions

We speak of endogenous depression when the factor of heredity or hormones play a role. The depression arises from your own body and not from external factors. The cause may be in the brain, but an abnormal liver or thyroid gland can also lead to depression. If you feel that your depression comes on without any apparent cause, this may indicate endogenous depression.

Physical factors

There are several physical factors that contribute to feelings of depression.

• Excessive drug and alcohol use. This can regularly lead to depression.
• Side effects of certain medications. This can sometimes cause somberness symptoms.
• Diseases. Some people develop inflammation or disease of an organ that is partly responsible for hormone balance. Consider, for example, the thyroid gland. Failure of this organ to function properly creates a disruption in hormones, which can lead to depression.

Somatogenic depression

Depression resulting from injury or a physical condition is also called somatogenic depression. For example, if you have suffered physical damage in an accident or if you have a chronic illness.

Social factors 

The following social factors are risk factors in developing depression;

• A major, intense event. Consider the death of a loved one. This can be a trigger for depressive feelings.
• Trauma. Trauma or a strong sense of loneliness can also contribute to depression. Sometimes you go through a serious experience and find that social support falls away. You cannot turn to friends or family, feel alone and become socially isolated.

Exogenous depression

Depression that is clearly due to a traumatic event that produces psychological symptoms is also called exogenous depression. So consider divorce; the loss of a loved one or a combination of profound events.

Personal factors

Personal factors can also contribute in the development of depression:

• The way you are in life affects whether or not you develop depression.
• Do you have a negative self-image? If so, your thoughts are often mostly negative, and you are afraid of failure.
• Feeling low in self-confidence can also contribute to the development of depression.
• Your thought patterns frequently relate to yourself, and you get caught in a vicious cycle of negative thoughts.