Possible Causes For Depression

Depression is a problem that affects approximately sixteen percent of the population at one time throughout their lives. It can have serious negative effects on your health, and there can be many reasons why you may develop a case of it. In this article, we'll examine some common reasons that people fall victim to clinical depression.

-- Hereditary is largely responsible for the occurrence of depression. Some estimates place approximately forty to seventy percent of all cases of major depression as being cause by heredity.

-- Those who are victim to low self esteem and a low self image are more likely to develop a case of depression. It's tough for psychologists to determine which comes first, but there is a definite connection between the two.

-- Unfortunately, depression is a type of affliction that affects women more than it does men. Studies place the likelihood of a man of developing a case of depression at approximately twelve percent. Women, on the other hand, are expected to experience bouts of clinical depression throughout their lives at a rate of approximately twenty to twenty five percent. Therefore, being a female puts you at a much greater chance of falling victim to depression.

-- Age is another factor to be considered when assessing one's likelihood of becoming depressed. Most bouts of depression occur between the ages of twenty and fifty, although there is the possibility of depression developing outside of this age range.

-- Surprisingly, one's diet can also effect their likelihood of developing depression. Doctors and dietitians have combined studies that have shown that those who do not get enough Omega-3 fatty acids are more likely to be depressed. Omega-3 fatty acids are compounds that are found in several different foods, but are found in concentrated doses in fish.

-- When one lives with someone who is depressed, they are much more likely to become depressed themselves due to the increased anxiety that they face within the home.

-- Traumatic experiences early in life can definitely increase one's possibility of developing depression later on in life. Abuse, rejection, and neglect can all manifest in depression when not fully resolved.

-- Postpartum depression is another aspect of depression to be considered. Between ten and fifteen percent of all women experience bouts of postpartum depression after a pregnancy. It usually onsets approximately three months post-birth, and it may last for several months before it begins to dissipate.

While there are some aspects of life that can put you at more of a risk for a case of clinical depression and there isn't a thing that you can do about it, there are some things that you can do within your life to decrease your likelihood of developing depression. It's no lie that depression affects a large portion of the population, but with proper preventative measures and definite treatments if the problem occurs, it's easily beatable. If you think that you may be facing an issue with clinical depression, you should speak to a doctor or psychologist as soon as you can before the problems begin to affect your life to a significant degree.