Before you can figure out how to treat or cure your depression, you need to pinpoint the causes of depression. Just identifying the cause of any problem is often half the battle. Because if you know what caused the problem, it's much easier to figure out how to fix it.
Inherited From Your Parents Or Grandparents
In 2006, a team scientists from around the world - led by Rockefeller University researchers - found a "depression gene" and named it "p11." They found that this gene controls serotonin transmission in your brain. Since serotonin is the primary mood chemical in your brain, you will be prone to depression if your serotonin levels are not right.
But you should know that a bad p11 gene doesn't mean you will be depressed. It just means that you will be more apt to get depression. The reason for this is that depression is a very complex disease with not only physical causes but psychological ones as well.
Let's take a fictional character "Joan" as an example: Her p11 gene is bad, but she's not depressed and never has been. But now - six months after the death of her husband, she still can't get out of bed until 2pm, her home has not been cleaned for many weeks, and she hasn't gotten out of the house to see friends or family. She's not in mourning but clinically depressed. (Joan will probably respond well to a "Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor" like "Prozac.")
However, anti-depression medication will not bring back a deceased loved one, which was the event (a.k.a. the "precipitating event") that got the depression started. And this is why it's important to treat depression with therapy such as cognitive therapy, in addition to taking medicine.
But is there another option to treating depression? Yes there is - and for those that can manage it - it's called "self help." Like following a step-by-step plan on overcoming and curing depression (which you'll find out how to do this later...)
Anxiety From Stressful Event(s)
Even though your serotonin levels may be normal, a single stressful event (like in the above example) can make someone clinically depressed. And sometimes it's a combination of events that can make some folks develop depression...
At 16 years young, my depression was so great that I attempted suicide by ramming my car into a grove of trees at over 120 mph! (When you read my story you'll be amazed I'm here with you now.) My problem was the result of a couple years of bad decisions that added stress upon stress - if you read my story you'll be able to relate.
My amazing survival was a turning point in my life. I started looking for natural cures for depression because I knew that changing my life would involve much more than taking a pill like Prozac or some other SRI - "Serotonin Reuptake Inhibior." (They weren't around then anyway!) But I was determined to 'outsmart' my depression.
It's Rarely Just One Stressful Event
The word, "divorce" may mean a single event, but it encompasses multiple highly stressful events all at once:
- Loss of love
- Financial security gives way to financial worry.
- Loss of a better standard of living... The house and car is downsized.
- Loss of contact with your own children...no need to explain the huge stress this is.
- Having to move when you aren't ready. (Moving is, of course, stressful by itself.)
...And so on--you get the general idea.
Taught To 'Enjoy' Depression
It is strange, but some folks actually enjoy the sadness of depression... They are 'at home' with this feeling because they feel it's the most appropriate way to react to the death of a loved one or some other stressful event.
The real reasons for someone wallowing in depression are: One, it gets them personal one-on-one attention from people (their 'caretakers'). And two, it gives them 'permission' to let their daily responsibilities of life slide; they can stay in bed 'til late and avoid cooking and cleaning, for example, and nobody will say anything derogatory about their 'laziness.'
One theory is that they are "taught" this behavior as toddlers and young kids:
If your parents habitually left you alone to play, figuring "...she's happy, leave her alone," and paid attention to you only if you cried, they unknowingly taught you a life lesson: You will get personal attention only if you are in distress. - 16004
Inherited From Your Parents Or Grandparents
In 2006, a team scientists from around the world - led by Rockefeller University researchers - found a "depression gene" and named it "p11." They found that this gene controls serotonin transmission in your brain. Since serotonin is the primary mood chemical in your brain, you will be prone to depression if your serotonin levels are not right.
But you should know that a bad p11 gene doesn't mean you will be depressed. It just means that you will be more apt to get depression. The reason for this is that depression is a very complex disease with not only physical causes but psychological ones as well.
Let's take a fictional character "Joan" as an example: Her p11 gene is bad, but she's not depressed and never has been. But now - six months after the death of her husband, she still can't get out of bed until 2pm, her home has not been cleaned for many weeks, and she hasn't gotten out of the house to see friends or family. She's not in mourning but clinically depressed. (Joan will probably respond well to a "Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor" like "Prozac.")
However, anti-depression medication will not bring back a deceased loved one, which was the event (a.k.a. the "precipitating event") that got the depression started. And this is why it's important to treat depression with therapy such as cognitive therapy, in addition to taking medicine.
But is there another option to treating depression? Yes there is - and for those that can manage it - it's called "self help." Like following a step-by-step plan on overcoming and curing depression (which you'll find out how to do this later...)
Anxiety From Stressful Event(s)
Even though your serotonin levels may be normal, a single stressful event (like in the above example) can make someone clinically depressed. And sometimes it's a combination of events that can make some folks develop depression...
At 16 years young, my depression was so great that I attempted suicide by ramming my car into a grove of trees at over 120 mph! (When you read my story you'll be amazed I'm here with you now.) My problem was the result of a couple years of bad decisions that added stress upon stress - if you read my story you'll be able to relate.
My amazing survival was a turning point in my life. I started looking for natural cures for depression because I knew that changing my life would involve much more than taking a pill like Prozac or some other SRI - "Serotonin Reuptake Inhibior." (They weren't around then anyway!) But I was determined to 'outsmart' my depression.
It's Rarely Just One Stressful Event
The word, "divorce" may mean a single event, but it encompasses multiple highly stressful events all at once:
- Loss of love
- Financial security gives way to financial worry.
- Loss of a better standard of living... The house and car is downsized.
- Loss of contact with your own children...no need to explain the huge stress this is.
- Having to move when you aren't ready. (Moving is, of course, stressful by itself.)
...And so on--you get the general idea.
Taught To 'Enjoy' Depression
It is strange, but some folks actually enjoy the sadness of depression... They are 'at home' with this feeling because they feel it's the most appropriate way to react to the death of a loved one or some other stressful event.
The real reasons for someone wallowing in depression are: One, it gets them personal one-on-one attention from people (their 'caretakers'). And two, it gives them 'permission' to let their daily responsibilities of life slide; they can stay in bed 'til late and avoid cooking and cleaning, for example, and nobody will say anything derogatory about their 'laziness.'
One theory is that they are "taught" this behavior as toddlers and young kids:
If your parents habitually left you alone to play, figuring "...she's happy, leave her alone," and paid attention to you only if you cried, they unknowingly taught you a life lesson: You will get personal attention only if you are in distress. - 16004
About the Author:
Discover which causes of depression may be affecting you right now. Also download your free report, "How To Tell If It's Clinical Depression And Not Just The Blues." Better, you'll find out how to treat and cure your depression the right way.
