The TRUE causes of depression - Knowing them is crucial for curing it!

Depression sufferers, and anybody that doesn't want to ever suffer from depression, need to understand what causes depression, first!...

This makes curing and avoiding depression much easier.

Look, there's no point in looking into things like, relaxation techniques, stress management, etc, until you've learnt what causes depression, or else you would just be treating the symptoms of depression. I'll explain this later.

By unravelling the TRUE cause of depression, you are able to come up with viable solutions to, dare I say it, the cure!...

Anyway, let's get started...

Are you actually depressed?

Are you actually depressed? It's important to make the correct diagnosis first, and then treat it, and not the other way around. Perhaps you are unsure what depression is 'supposed' to feel like. In this case, I recommend you familiarise yourself with the typical symptoms of depression.

Also, you might want to take my simple 10 question depression test, this too can give you an indication as to whether you are clinically depressed or not.

Though this article is about the causes of depression, it was never written to replace the advice of a doctor. So, please, please, please consult your doctor and get a professional opinion. You never know, you might not even be depressed after all!

How Depression is caused...

By pointing out what, generally, the causes of depression are, you'll be in a position to better understand what I mean when I say, "YOU either choose to become depressed, or not!". My hope is, you'll understand this, and as a result, be in the perfect frame of mind for using my depression self help advice, to beat depression!

So, what are the causes of depression?...

Basically, we begin to feel depressed when a certain chemical change occurs in our brain. When this happens, brain function is hindered. Because of this, our brain cells (neurons) ability to deliver brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) becomes impaired...

Neurotransmitters are responsible for the emotions we feel, so when they are NOT delivered correctly, we begin to feel depressed. Please recognise, this isn't the causes of depression, instead, it's a symptom of depression. Why???...

Well firstly, I'm sure you'll agree, this chemical change in the brain doesn't occur 'naturally', right? I mean, how could it? If it did occur naturally, everybody should be depressed, which would ultimately mean depression is the norm, and not suffering from depression would be unnatural!...

Bearing this in mind, it goes without saying, if something happens unnaturally, it had to have been caused by something, right? So, the million dollar question is, "What causes this chemical change in our brain?"...

Generally speaking, there are 3 main 'beliefs' as to what causes this chemical change, or in other words, what the causes of depression are. These are:

1. Trauma
2. Overproduction of Stress Hormones
3. Styles of thinking

Let's take a closer look at each...

Trauma

Many people say that one of the causes of depression is bad or traumatic, life experiences. Technically, this is impossible, here's why...

It's an obvious fact, traumatic experiences can definitely contribute to the onset of depression, I'm not disputing that! But, this doesn't mean that it is the cause of depression - NO, you have to go deeper than that. I'll prove it by asking this simple question...

Does everybody that endures a traumatic experience(s), go on to become depressed? Of course not! That, in itself, proves traumatic experiences ARE NOT the causes of depression! You see, a 'stressful' or 'depressing' situation, does not automatically result in a person becoming stressed or depressed...

Instead, it is the way the individual relates to, or rationalises, the situation that influences your feelings towards the traumatic experience. Don't get me wrong, I'm not, for one minute, trying to blame the individual for becoming depressed, I mention this because it is a vital principle that will explain my depression self help approach.

To sum up, traumatic events are NOT the cause of depression, they are simply 'potential' triggers.


Overproduction of Stress Hormones

It is common knowledge that stress is closely linked to depression. Therefore, it must be the overproduction of stress hormones that is the causes of depression, right?...

WRONG!!!

Again, this is just another symptom of depression. Stress hormones are produced by the body when we become stressed. As I've already said, stress and depression are very closely linked. Isn't it true that depressed people are also stressed?...

That's because, when you 'follow' negative, doom and gloom psychological and physiological patterns, you unconsciously 'force' your body to do what it's supposed to do when it is stressed, which is to release stress hormones...

If stress hormones are produced by are bodies when we become stressed, something obviously had to have happened to help us become stressed. Why is it possible two people could be put in the same 'stressful' situation, but one person becomes stressed and the other, doesn't?...


Styles of thinking

It should be fairly obvious by now, depression is not an inevitable consequence of traumatic experiences. So, why is it that two people can be placed in exactly the same 'stressful' situation, and one ends up stressed, while the other person is fine?...

It all boils down to their style of thinking, which is a result of their VALUES and beliefs...

For example, if you've been reading through this website, you'll be more than familiar with my saying, "Bad is good, if you allow it to be!". If you possess this style of thinking, you might focus your energies on growing from the traumatic experience, instead of doing the opposite, and freaking out...

I'm not trying to dig anyone out here, I'm just giving you a theoretical example.

In around 80-90% of depression cases, the root causes of depression is down to the individual's style of thinking, or in other words, their psychology. Basically, when you perceive your life has, or is, fallen short of your expectations, this will cause you to naturally feel glum...

So, what does this mean to someone reading this article? It means you have the power, knowledge, along with the firm belief, you can beat depression yourself, and for good!

Now do you see what I mean when I say, "YOU either choose to become depressed, or not!"? Now that you've read my rationale, hopefully you'll understand and believe it fully.

Can Depression be inherited?...

It has been mentioned that depression can be inherited through genes, perhaps you've heard this also, maybe you even believe it. Well, I'd like you to consider the following...

For you, or someone else, to label the likely causes of depression as hereditary, is not only very counter productive, but also is NOT TRUE!...

Bear the following in mind. I've already explained to you the TRUE cause of depression, which is by a 'depression style of thinking', which was 'learned', and therefore can not be genetic.¹ Furthermore, there isn't even such a thing as a "depression gene",^2,3 anyway!...

Yes, it's true, you could have a genetic predisposition to depression, but that's as far as it goes! Something still has to actually cause the depression, and I'll say it again, it's not your genes!

Another thing I'd like to point out...

Because a 'depressive style of thinking' is the true cause of depression, just like personalities, they can be formed by influential people in your life, namely your parents or family members. The point is this - if you've been exposed to the 'depression style of thinking', there's a good chance some of it may have rubbed off on you!

So, the only thing hereditary about depression, is the 'depression style of thinking', which leads to depression.

1. "Breaking the Patterns of Depression." - Yapko, M. D. (1997)
2. "Necessary but insufficient" Nature Medicine 1, 874-5 - Papermaster, D. (1995)
3. "The Rise and Fall of Modern Medicine." Le Fanu. J. (1999)

The Vicious Circle

Stress plays an instrumental role in triggering depression, they're like partners in crime...

It's actually quite ironic when you consider the role stress plays in conjunction with depression. You see, when we become stressed, our brain starts to operate differently. For instance, we are more likely to make rash, 'regrettable' decisions, and of course, we'll have to deal with the consequences of these decisions, and more then likely, it'll stress you out even more!...

Not only can stress be harmful to your health, but it can also contribute to, or fuel, a depression style of thinking. As a result of this, you become depressed, or more depressed. This cycle just goes on, and on, and on, and on. In the process, you become more and more depressed!

Treating Depression with Drugs

Ok look, I'm not a conspiracy theorist, however, if you are considering treating depression with drugs, I think you should consider the following points...

Obviously, I'm pro on depression self help, but the truth is, for some people to recover from depression, going down the drugs route isn't a bad idea. In which case, antidepressants are usually the first port of call. Understand that drugs are treating, or managing, only the symptoms of depression...

This means you are dependent on them longterm, and in some cases, forever! Unfortunately, we have slipped into a drugs culture, and this is not helped by the fact that doctors, and pharmaceutical companies, seem to be more interested in 'managing symptoms', then actually tackling the causes of depression!...

Maybe there's more profit in managing symptoms. :-O

Did you know, antidepressants are effective in only about 1 in 3 cases? Some people even decide to stop taking drugs because of the harsh side effects. On top of this, relapse rates are quite high when drugs are used alone! The reason for this is simple...

Drugs only tackle the common symptoms of depression and not the actual causes of depression!

Am I saying drugs are a bad thing?...

NO, they just have to be used alongside other therapies, the statistics alone tell us that! The problem is this...

Let's say that drugs are 'successful' and you climb out of depression, what's the chances of you relapsing, if and when, you are placed in another traumatic, 'stressful' or 'depressing' situation? High if you didn't learn to adopt my depression self help advice and learn to improve your values and beliefs.

My advice is simple, if you are going to take drugs to treat depression, make sure that you tackle the root cause also, i.e. your psychology! More on this later...

The choice is YOURS!

You need to not only understand, but believe everything we've discussed so far, in particular, the cause of depression...

Remember, the main reason people become depressed, is due to their psychology. Basically, your life values play a major role in the likelihood of you becoming depressed. For example...

Suppose you set yourself a goal of earning £50 billion pounds, starting from scratch and before you reach the age of 30. And by not achieving this, you'll feel a complete failure and slip into a severe state of depression...

Now compare this to someone who finds overwhelming happiness, from simple things, like a smile, and has no interest in material things...

I know, the example is a bit extreme, but you get my point, right?...

That's a really simple example of how your life values can contribute to depression. Understand, just because you may find yourself in a 'stressful' or 'depressing' situation, it doesn't automatically mean you have to become stressed or depressed.

How is this possible?...

Because the root causes of depression lies in our styles of thinking, and our styles of thinking is influenced by our values and beliefs, it's obvious we need to put them right. You need to build rock solid foundational values. Click here and read about it, there's a FREE personality quiz specifically designed to evaluate how strong your foundations are.

Moving Forward...

Keep this firmly in your mind...

Almost always, the causes of depression is an individuals psychology, or style of thinking. To break it down even further, outside of traumatic experiences, depression begins to occur when you believe your life has fallen short of your expectations. This is governed by your values and beliefs...

Meaning, stress and depression can be totally avoided, if we just reevaluate and realign our values and beliefs.

And remember...

Your health is at stake, and there's nothing more important then that. So put things into perspective...

Don't forget, depression self help is achievable!

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