Depression

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Depression: Common Causes

Depression often runs in families. This may be from heredity, learned behavior, or both. Even with a genetic predisposition, it is usually a stressful or unhappy life event that triggers the onset of a depressive episode.

Depression may be brought on by:

• Disappointment at home, work, or school (in teens, this may be breaking up with a boyfriend or girlfriend, failing a class, or parents divorcing)
• Death of a friend or relative
• Prolonged pain or having a major illness
• Medical conditions such as hypothyroidism (under-active thyroid), cancer, or hepatitis
• Drugs such as sedatives for sleep or anxiety and certain high blood pressure medications
• Alcohol or drug abuse
• Chronic stress
• Childhood events like abuse or neglect
• Social isolation (common in the elderly)
• Nutritional deficiencies (such as folate and omega-3 fatty acids)

• Sleeping problems