Depression is an illness which can be triggered by a wide variety of causes. Knowing these depression causes can help you have a clearer understanding of this complex disease.

Here are 7 commonly reported triggers to depression.

1. Medications can sometimes be responsible for increasing the incidence of depression. Some of the medications which have been shown to trigger depression are sleeping pills, beta blockers used for treatment of blood pressure, certain antibiotics, and even birth control pills.

2. Some medical conditions have exhibited a higher incidence of creating conditions leading to depression. Hormonal conditions starts the list, which may be the reason birth control pills have been shown to be a potential cause. Heart disease and strokes can trigger a start to depression. Other conditions shown to co-exist with higher levels of depression are cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Family history and genetics seem to play an important role in the susceptibility to depression. The exact genetic reason for this connection has yet to be determined, but with generation after generation of families, showing a propensity to depression, a genetic cause is considered to be a strong possibility.

4. Personality traits play an important role in your chances of facing depression. People with a negative outlook on life, with pessimistic thinking, are more prone to slide into depression.
Other traits associated to increased risk of depression include, excess worrying, low self esteem, and over dependence on others.

5. One possible cause of depression is alcohol or drug usage. Often the use of these substances was believed to come after the onset of depression, but many studies are now showing the abuse of alcohol or drugs can actually be the trigger which starts depression. Often the abuse will continue or increase after depression has set in, making it difficult to determine which came first.

6. Improper nutrition and diet has been shown to cause the onset of depression in some people. Most significantly has been low levels of folic acid and certain B vitamins.

7. Life circumstances are one of the most common depression causes. The loss of a family member or close friend can move from grief to depression. This loss is not necessarily associated to a death, but often times just due to relocation, divorce, or loss of a friendship. Children leaving home to start their own lives have caused many parents to drop into depression as they experience an empty home. On the reverse side, postpartum depression is common among young mothers, who suddenly are dealing with major hormonal changes, the stress of dealing with a new baby, and the empty feeling of no longer experiencing the child inside.

This is not intended to be a complete list of depression causes. Depression can start with a single one of these causes, or a combination of many. The risks of depression also are increased by a wide variety of other life factors including age, social status, economic conditions, weight, and even being female.

Knowing the wide variety of depression causes may help you understand the complexity in diagnosis and treatment for its victims. Recognizing these possible causes may help you get help for a friend or family member, and help with their most important need, your caring and understanding.