Depression is something that millions of Americans deal with everyday. Be it after failing an exam, or screwing up a presentation, it is normal to feel down and blue for a while. But what happens if a person cannot recover from "the blues"?



Depression

As a regular mood, depression is a regular downturn in emotion, usually triggered by everyday occurrences. Normal depression does not last very long. But what happens if it doesn't go away after more than two weeks?

What causes depression?

There are two factors that can contribute to developing a clinical depression, and they are: (1) physiological, and (2) psychosocial factors.

Physiological factors may be one of the following:

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  Genetic predisposition. If you have a family history of depression, there is a big possibility that you, too, can develop clinical depression.
  
  



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  Neurological imbalance. An imbalance in neurotransmitters serotonin and norepinephrine may cause a lasting feeling of depression. Neurotransmitters are responsible for transmitting sensory impulses from one nerve cell to another, creating the experience of feeling.
  
  

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  Medical conditions. Certain degenerative health conditions may contribute to a feeling of depression, and medications used as treatments for the diseases can also add to it.
  
  

Psychosocial factors that help contribute to forming clinical depression includes:

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  Psychological factors. Low self-esteem and a self-defeating or distorted way of thinking are closely related to clinical depression.
  
  

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  Stressful and traumatic life experiences. Difficult situations that leave a lasting mark on a person's memories can contribute to a person developing clinical depression. Experiences such as a death in the family, abandonment, physical or emotional abuse, or any stressful situation can add to a person's likelihood of feeling depressed.
  
  

How can depression be treated?

Treatment for clinical depression may vary from person to person. It can be based on the severity of the depression or the different causes that contributed to the development of the depression. The two most commonly used clinical treatments for depression are: antidepressant medications and psychotherapy.

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   Antidepressant medicines. People with clinical depression may benefit from using antidepressants like Fluoxetine and Zoloft. These antidepressant medications are usually prescribed by mental health professionals for their patients because aside from being highly effective, they also have the least side effects compared to the older monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) which were then used to manage depression. Antidepressants can be potentially habit forming and should only be taken when instructed by a mental health professional and only as instructed.
   
   

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   Psychotherapy. This therapy includes working out the deep-rooted reason for the depression in hopes that it can be resolved. Also called "talk therapy", this approach to treating clinical depression addresses all issues in hope that once the sufferer's problems have been resolved, the depression will become more manageable, if not completely go away.
   
   

Clinical depression is not just a simple condition that you can just snap out of. It is a very serious psychological condition that needs to be addressed before it destroys your life. Don't be afraid to seek help when you think it is already affecting your life too much.