As it often runs in the family, which means it may be inherited from parents and grandparents through one’s genes, depression strikes some people more than others, and the individual life style may contribute to his/her being more or less prone to it.
Why do some of us fall victim to depression while others seem to be living their lives unperturbed?
Actually, in order to explain the causes of depression, we should not insist on the genetic inheritance or the life style that an individual chooses for him/herself. There are a lot of other factors which pave the way to depression.
A child who has been either abused or neglected by a family member, as well as a teenager who has been deeply disappointed by his/her parents getting a divorce, by not passing an exam or by breaking up with his/her sweetheart may fall into a state of depression. The death of a close friend or relative is also likely to lead to depression.
Among the causes of depression in adults we should mention alcohol and drug abuse, high blood pressure medication and sedatives, major illnesses such as cancer or a long period of recovery after an illness. Stress is a notable cause for depression, as well as the sleeping disorders that it brings about.
In addition to the health related problems of the adults, elderly people may fall into depression as a result of social isolation, when they retire or move away from relatives and friends, when their state of health prevents them from leaving their home and socialize, or when a member of their family or close friend has passed away.
Lastly, ineffectiveness in solving certain problems will bring about a lack of self-esteem and overly negative thoughts, followed by sadness, unhappiness and despair.
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