Amelia Grant

Depression is a complicated condition. Nobody knows what causes it, however, it can occur for a number of reasons. According to research, people who suffer from depression commonly have a chemical imbalance in their brains.

Depression can have clear causes, such as the death of a loved one. However, some people get depressed for no apparent reason, making it difficult to determine the reason for depression. Here are six common causes of depression that you should be aware of.

1. Chronic pain
Pain can cause the production of inflammatory markers that are linked to mood changes, and chronic pain can lead to depression. Depression might also come before pain. People with fibromyalgia, for example, are three times more likely than the general population to have experienced depression.

Pain, regardless of its source, can be a sign of depression. Many people lack a terminology for psychological issues and hence portray emotional anguish through physical symptoms. Many people find comfort through cognitive behavioral therapy, yoga, acupuncture, and massage in addition to medication for depression and pain.

2. Genetic inheritance
Even though no particular genes for depression have been revealed, research has indicated that having a close family member with depression increases your chances of developing depression yourself. While this may be due to our genetics, it is also possible that we adopt behavior and coping mechanisms from the people around us as we grow up.

3. Thyroid issues
The thyroid gland regulates your body's metabolism. Depression can be caused by both hyperthyroidism (an overactive thyroid) and hypothyroidism (an underactive thyroid), however low thyroid levels are more common. Depression can also be diagnosed before any recognized thyroid issues.

Fortunately, treating thyroid problems, including thyroid cancer, is rather simple. Thyroid drugs are often highly successful at mood stabilization. Other thyroid disease symptoms include hair loss, weight gain or loss, exhaustion, and a sense of cold. Consider having your thyroid tested if you experience any of these symptoms, whether or not you are depressed.

4. Gender
In comparison to males, women are two times more likely to develop depression. Researchers think that hormonal changes throughout puberty might impact a woman's lifetime risk of depression. Women are also more prone to suffer from depression during premenstrual syndrome, pregnancy, postpartum, and menopause as a result of the changes in their bodies.

5. Life events
You may discover that an unpleasant, stressful, or undesirable experience often acts as the catalyst for your depression. It might be:
- Losing your work or being unemployed
- The breakdown of a relationship
- Bereavement
- Big life changes, such as changing jobs, relocating, or marrying
- Being abused physically or sexually
- Being bullied or harassed

Depression is caused not just by bad experiences, but also by how we cope with them. If you don't have a lot of support to help you deal with the painful feelings that come with these events, or if you're already struggling with other challenging situations, a low mood may turn into depression.

6. Vitamin B12 deficiency
Vitamin B12 performs several functions in the body, including the production of molecules that influence mood. If you are deficient in B12, you may have sadness, disorientation, and dementia. Numbness or tingling in your hands, legs, or feet, anemia, hallucinations, and exhaustion are all indications of a B12 deficiency.

Vitamin B12 is absorbed through the small intestine; anything that inhibits this function might result in a deficiency. Celiac disease, Crohn's disease, weight loss surgery, and using a proton pump inhibitor for heartburn can affect the intestines. Vegetarians are additionally vulnerable to B12 deficiency because the vitamin is only naturally found in animal products such as fish, lean meat, eggs, and milk.