A Brief Analysis of Reasons for Depression - Term Paper Example

Causes of Depression Introduction “It has been estimated that perhaps somewhere between 10 and 30 percent depressives and manic depressives kill themselves” (Klein, & Wender, p.1). Depression is a severe mental disease which causes severe mental problems to the people all over the world. In fact many of the other psychological disorders start from depression. Current generation is struggling to fulfill their commitments in life. Personal, professional and social commitments of the current generation are too much and it is difficult for them to satisfy the needs of all these entities. Failures to respond positively to these commitments often create mental stress and agony. Some people are suffering from chronic physical diseases which often create lot of psychological problems. According to Chan et al (2010), as many as 38% of cancer patients suffer from major depression, with a mean of 24% and median of 22% (Chan et al, p.46). Cancer is one of the severe diseases of the modern world and the medical science failed to discover 100% effective treatment for it till now. When a person is affected by cancer, he may loss his confidence of a possible recovery and the fear of death may often lead to depressive mental state. Many people have the prejudice that depression is caused by psychological reasons alone. But according to modern research findings, apart from psychological reasons, biological reasons or the physiological reasons are also equally important in causing depression. In short, the reasons for depression are varying from biological to psychological. This paper briefly analyses various reasons for depression. Reasons for Depression Klein &Wender (2005) have mentioned that depressive illness is often triggered by a real event like the death of a loved one (Klein, & Wender, p.13). Some people have close emotional association with the beloved ones. Such people are too much sensitive and emotional. They are reluctant in accepting the life realities. They will think that the death of their beloved ones is the end of the road. They will not accept the reality of death. Nobody knows from where we come and where we go after death. In other words, we have no control over our life. Such realities are difficult for these people to digest and when they face the death of their beloved ones, they will develop a peculiar mental state in which they will try to run away from the realities of life which may finally attain the form of depression. Gilbert (2009) has mentioned that too much and too little closeness can cause stress linked to depression (Gilbert, p.48). In some cases too much closeness can cause depression as mentioned in the above paragraph. But too little closeness also can cause depression in some other cases. Man is a social animal by nature. It is impossible for him to stay away from others or lead a lonely life. If a person was able to lead a lonely life, sometimes he would be able to meet his physical needs, but his psychological needs will never be fulfilled. An attempt to live against the nature’s law often been resulted in unwanted results. In short, too little closeness can also cause severe mental stress and subsequent depression problems. Chan et al (2010) have stressed the importance of social support in preventing depression. In their opinion, lack of social support is the major reason for a person to be under depressed mental state. They have argued that lack of social support from family, friends, and significant others seem to be the major reason for the wide spreading of depression in the current world (Chan et al, p.46). Good advice or guidance at the right time can prevent depression. Most of the depression patients failed to get any social support or counseling when they felt some sort of stress. The lack of guidance from the beloved ones made a simple stress problem in to a worst depression problem in the case of many people. “Stress is related to losses and defeats which often cause people to feel separate from others, inferior, worthless and trapped” (Gilbert, p.56). As mentioned earlier, stress is the root cause of depression. In order to find out the reasons of depression, first of all we need to find out the reasons of stress. Nobody wants to fail in any of our life segments. Everybody wants to be a winner. It is impossible to have two winners in a match. The loser should accept his defeat while the winner should never think that he will never be defeated. In other words, sportsman spirit is necessary in human life also. People should think that a defeat they may face in an endeavor need not be the end of life. They should realize that defeat is the foot steps towards winning. When a loser was able to take lessons from the defeat, he can identify the reasons of defeat and make a conscious effort to resolve it. Such attitudes will help him to deal with the life situations more effectively. Winning and losing is part of life and people should accept that reality. The failure to accept that reality often results in the development of depression. “Some people think that the inability to express anger cause depression. They even argue that depression is anger turned back against oneself”(Klein, & Wender, p.32). Most of the human beings have a tendency to dominate others. In fact nobody likes the dominance of others over them. In some cases, it is difficult for some people to express their anger when others try to dominate them. For example, an employee working in an organization may often be forced to work under an autocratic manager. Such managers often use dictatorship in their approach which may create immense stress up on the employees. The fear of losing employment may prevent them from responding to the unnecessary comments or instructions of the manager. In other words they will be forced to suppress their anger and will experience tremendous stress. These suppressed feelings and emotions may often result in depression. “Past transgressions that had supposedly been worked through or patched up may resurface during a major depression. Indeed they can become an obsession. In its worst form this pathological guilt can cause a person to feel unworthy to live” (Miller & Reynolds, p.5). Some people may have committed some serious crimes or ethical violation during their past life. The feeling of such crimes or ethical violation may often haunt them till death. Most of the people are religious by nature. Their belief in God may force them to stay away from guilt or unethical behavior. But because of the circumstantial pressure they might have committed some crimes in the past. The feeling of punishment by the God and the regrets often creates severe stress and subsequent depression. Miller & Reynolds (2002) have also mentioned some of the major biological or physiological reasons for the cause of depression. In their opinion, low thyroid hormone, vitamin 13 deficiency, chronic pain, stroke or Alzheimer’s diseases, stroke injuries, many types of cancers, heart or lung problems that interfere with maintaining an adequate supply of oxygen to brain etc can cause depression (Miller & Reynolds, p.36-45). Moreover, according to O’Connor (2010) anemia and diabetics can also cause depression (OConnor, p.30). Apart from the psychological factors, some of the physical disorders can also affect the functioning of the brain. In fact only a healthy brain would be able to force the person to think logically. Brain can function properly only if it gets adequate oxygen supply from the blood circulation. Whenever this oxygen supply interrupted due to some physical problems, the brain functionality would be seriously affected and the person might be under the control of negative feelings which may finally lead to depression. Low dopamine level and the subsequent low vision are believed to be another reason for depression. A group of researchers at Albert Ludwig University of Freiburg have shown that the retinas of depressed people don’t respond as strongly to certain kinds of visual stimuli as the retinas of people who aren’t depressed; a clear indication of some sort of physiological connection between vision and depression. Both dopamine and vision have direct relationships with depression. Low dopamine level is mostly associated with those who have Parkinson disease. But most of the persons with Parkinson’s disease will be under severe depression which indicates that low dopamine not only contributes to Parkinson’s disease, but to the depression problem also. Dopamine is active in eyes in controlling our contrast vision (Harvard Health Letter, p.7). “According to a Mayo Clinic study, even small amounts of moderate exercise are associated with a 30% to 40% lower risk of developing mild cognitive impairment (Harvard Health Letter, p.7). Lack of physical workouts seems to be another reason for depression. The current generation is too much focused on their profession and career which forced them to stay in the office for lengthy hours. When they return home, they may not be in a proper mood to engage in some physical workouts. Physical works outs are essential not only for the physical health, but for the mental health s well. As mentioned before, good bold circulation is necessary to supply enough oxygen to the brain and lack of physical workouts result in inadequate supply of oxygen to brain and subsequent depression like problems. Nature and nurture are equally responsible for depression (OConnor, p.58). Some people experience depression because of the environment in which they were happened to be. For example, if a person forced to lead a life without any freedom or liberty, sometimes he might be depressed. For example, in China, people are facing human right violations and lacks of freedom to express their opinions or ideas because of the tight communist regime. It is quite possible that such people may develop depression. In other words, nurture or environment plays a vital role in causing depression among people. Same way heredity or nature can also play an important role in making a person depressed. It is an accepted fact that most of the traits of the parents were transferred to the children through genes at the time of conception. If either of the parents had any problems like depression at any stages of their life, children may also become vulnerable to depression. Conclusions There are various reasons ranging from psychological to biological causing depression. Nature and nurture can cause depression. A real even like the death of a loved one, too much and too little closeness, lack of social support, losses, defeats, inability to express anger guilty feelings etc are the major psychological reasons for depression. Nature and nurture can also a play vital role in causing depression. Cancer, diabetics, anemia, lung and heart problems, stroke, thyroid problems, lack of dopamine, lack of physical works outs etc are the major physiological reasons for depression. Depression is a common among all generations and cultures which can lead to even suicide if not treated properly at the beginning itself. Many people have the belief that depression is a psychological disorder caused by psychological reasons. In fact, biological reasons are equally important in causing depression to a person. Serious physical diseases can interrupt the physiology and metabolism and thereby the proper blood circulation in the body of a person. Improper blood circulation may result in lack of oxygen supply to the brain and the brain functions will be affected. Improper brain functions can lead to depression like psychological disorders. Works Cited 1. Chan Eric K. H., Limoges Kendice M,& Fung Tak S. 2010 “Functional Social Support and Major Depression In Cancer Patients” Psychology Journal, 2010 ISSN: 1931-5694 Vol. 7, No. 2. www.psychologicalpublishing.com pp. 46-50 2. Gilbert, Paul. 2009. “Overcoming Depression: A Self-Help Guide Using Cognitive Behavioral Techniques”. Publisher: Basic Books; 3rd edition (September 8, 2009) 3. Harvard Health Letter. June 2010. “Depression research: An objective view of gloomy outlook”. Harvard Health Publications, Copyright 2010 by President and Fellows of Harvard College.www.health.harvard.edu 4. Klein, Donald F.M.D & Wender, Paul M.D. 2005. “Understanding Depression: A Complete Guide to its Diagnosis and Treatment”. Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA; Revised edition (May 12, 2005) 5. Miller, Mark D M.D & Reynolds, Charles F, M.D. 2002. “Living Longer Depression Free: A Family Guide to Recognizing, Treating, and Preventing Depression in Later Life”. Publisher: The Johns Hopkins University Press; 1 edition (September 23, 2002) 6. OConnor, Richard. 2010. “Undoing Depression: What Therapy Doesnt Teach You and Medication Cant Give You”. Publisher: Little, Brown and Company; 2 edition (January 7, 2010) 7. Torpy Janet M, Burke Alison E, & Glass Richard M. 2008. “Depression’, The Journal of the American Medical Association http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/300/18/2202 Outline: Causes of Depression Introduction In this part some statistics with respect to depression is provided. Moreover a conscious effort to make the reader aware of the seriousness of depression problems is also made. Thesis is given at the end of the introduction as a separate sentence; The reasons for depression are varying from biological to psychological Body: Causes of Depression Real events like the death of a loved one can cause depression. Analysis of the point Too much and too little closeness can cause depression. Analysis of the point Lack of social support can cause depression. Analysis of the point Losses and defeats can trigger depression. Analysis of the point Inability to express anger can cause depression. Analysis of the point Past transgressions can stimulate depression. Analysis of the point Biological reasons can cause depression. Analysis of the point Low dopamine level can cause depression. Analysis of the point Lack of physical workouts can cause depression. Analysis of the point Psychological reasons like nature and nurture can cause depression. Analysis of the point Conclusions The major reasons of depression discussed in the body are summarized in the conclusion part. Work Cited All the references used in this paper is cited in the Work Cited part in MLA format Read More