The Root Cause of Depression

There are many sufferers of depression, stress and anxiety, numbering over 20 billion each year. Antidepressant drugs are normally prescribed to cure the condition, commonly believed to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. However, the American Psychiatric Association states that clinical lab tests proving the chemical imbalances as the root cause are not reliable resources. In fact, the imbalances are actually a symptom of depression, not the root cause. The antidepressants do help to correct chemical imbalances, so sufferers should not quick taking the medication unless instructed by their health professional. Since the medications only treat the symptoms of depression, there is a seventy percent chance of relapsing when they are discontinued.

Everyone that suffers mental trauma, such as the death of a loved one, will experience some stress. However, one person may go into a deep depression while another will not, having suffered the same experience. This is due to way each person assigns meaning to the event. The root cause of depression is the flawed patterns of thinking experienced by the depressed person. With these patterns, chemical imbalances in the brain occur causing the depression. Antidepressant drugs do provide some relief for the condition, but they do not provide a cure. Once a course of medications is done and discontinued, the depression comes back. The medications are prescribed again, and so on. This creates a constant circle of pain and frustration for the depressed person, possible worsening the condition.

The only way the cycle for the sufferer of depression is to treat the root cause. Getting treatment with a qualified health professional, such as a psychiatrist or psychologist will assist in correcting the flawed thinking patterns. Over time, the depressed person will begin to feel relief. During this treatment, the person should remain on the prescribed medications. When the treatments are completed, the health professional can advise the person if the medications should be discontinued. With some people, treatments can continue for years if the depression has become chronic, and not responding well to the treatments. Others may need only minimal treatment for stress conditions that cause only a mild depression.

With a diagnosis of mild depression, antidepressant medication may not be necessary to assist in treatment. Creating more effective modes of thinking may be all that is needed to relieve the symptoms and get rid of the condition. In addition, this prevents the depressed person from having to take medications unnecessarily. Most antidepressant medications do have side effects that can put physical health at risk or worsen the depression. Some people that take antidepressants could have thoughts of suicide or react to medication with violent behavior or mental catatonia, becoming unresponsive to their surroundings. Any person having symptoms of depression, anxiety or elevated levels of stress should consult a qualified health professional to discuss options for treatment.

Depression is becoming more popular with each passing year, but scientists are doing all they can to develop medications to counteract it. Stresses related to raising a family or paying the bills can become overwhelming for some people, as can the sudden loss of a beloved relative. With the variety of triggers that can lead to depression, it may be nearly impossible for doctors to come up with an exact remedy to the problem. Nevertheless, scientists will continue to search for the root cause of depression to ensure the best treatment possible for those who suffer with this disorder. If you choose to go into a medical career in the future, you may very well become a part of this research.