Depression: CAUSE and EFFECT

First are environmental factors like traumatic events chiefly: broken families, divorce, death, maltreat during childhood days, sexual-assault. The second is probably because of genetic factors.

Achieving balance in a different state of an individual or personal aspect said to be a man’s greatest achievement. When I showed different kinds of reactions such as being happy, sad, irritated, surprised, lonely it is just showing that my emotional feeling is unique and it signifies my inner characteristic. When I am sad to the point that I am lowering myself in any degree and have the difficulty of thinking and even concentrating I might experience depression already. Depression is emotional instability and is a very defining issue. Millions and thousands of people around the globe are experiencing this deadly disease. Cases of depression widely debated. This issue has been engulfing the human race. One of the causes of depression is when a person’s life was stricken with the many factors like environmental such as traumatic events or most probably because of genetic factors.

Merriam Webster dictionary defines depression as a “state of being sad”. Psychology defines depression as a psychological disorder marked especially by sadness, inactivity and a feeling of dejection. This probably means our feeling of sadness has levels until it boils down to depression. Since we know nowadays that there are many people experiencing this horrible disease, then let’s ask ourselves how then can we be vulnerable to depression? Allow me to suggest two factors of why people can be vulnerable to depression. First are environmental factors like traumatic events chiefly: broken families, divorce, death, maltreat during childhood days, sexual-assault. The second is probably because of genetic factors.

• Environmental Factors

The question would likely to arise as this; what can be my life if I have depression? How can I deal with people amidst my depressive state? These two questions were the question that I have when I experienced severe depression. Allow me to share my insight into this. I had this recollection about my parents who separated and broke their relationship up. This had been a gigantic impact on me. Sydne Tursky a journalism student at the University of Arkansas said “When families experience estrangement, it inevitably leads to distress… When there’s something wrong with a biological family unit, everyone feels the effects…” As the days went by, I could not think of anything but negative. I always thought I am no good, not capable of doing something worth it. I thought about no one really cares at all. Suicidal thoughts imprisoned me. The feeling of discouragement, desertion, feeling that no one is listening was imminent in me. People would try their hardest to talk to me but seemed like no efficacy or value at all. These situations could have been worsened if no one would really care to help me out. I fought for it for many long days. For how many months and years of battling, praying, pleading for peace, solace and comfort I need was the only way out to somehow lighten my emotional instability. By and by these feelings of grief, sadness, negativity slowly diminished. Amidst my depressive state, I tried my best to be selfless. I thought about “how” could I help anyone who has the same situation as mine? The principles of the gospel taught me to be strong. This has been my refuge, comfort, and a pillar if the foundation of my faith slowly trampling down. My friends in the church once said that I cannot help someone if I would not help myself first. That gives me an extra boost of conviction that I should be okay and fight for this battle I am having. I ended up mending my mind and getting out of my comfort zone, unwind myself to something beautiful and calm, getting out of my comfort zone and explore the wondrous creatures that earth has to offer. I did everything to help myself until I came to realized that it’s all up to me as to how I nurture my thoughts. As time goes by, I by and by understood why a person is prone to depression. This gives me a lesson and a weapon for future occurrences.

• Genetic Factors

One of the contributing writers for Live Science named Bahar Gholipour, in her article Mood Gene, she explained the genetic factors as to why the person is prone to depression. She mentioned that the chemical called “galanin” release by our nervous system going to the brain is responsible for regulating pain, waking and sleeping, feeding, blood pressure, and mood…” findings suggest that brain's galanin system plays a significant role in the development of depression by making people more vulnerable to psychological stress…” When I do things that are out of my control and I wanted to accomplish them directly, I am just putting loads on my back that is difficult for me to bear. Why not set a goal and plan to accomplish them? It would be easier and I am likely feeling less stress. My mood would likely change and I did not trigger the galanin to engulf me for some reason. When I feel psychologically stress because of the overwhelming situation, it would be best to take a moment and evaluate things that cause me stress. I would find a quick resolution as to how things supposed to be done. My mind is powerful, I have in control the way I think. I have choices about how I ponder about and perceive almost everything.

Depression is dangerous when left untreated. There are several complications that might occur when this left crude. One of them is suicidal. Having thought of suicidal can dull your efficiency as a person. You and your friend might reason out that suicide is the only way out to diminish or even escape the pain. This is unequivocally not true! You are not alone. You and I for instance been experiencing suicidal thoughts at some point in our lives. When we feel suicidal this does not mean we are totally weak, incapable, undeserving, faulty or crazy. This only means that you have a huge problem you cannot bear right now. These thoughts or pain seems to be permanent in a moment but there are many things you can do to get out of this gross nightmare and free yourself from this deadly disease. “Try not to become preoccupied with suicidal thoughts as this can make them even stronger. Don’t think and rethink negative thoughts. Find a distraction. Giving yourself a break from suicidal thoughts can help, even if it’s for a short time.” - Jaelline Jaffe, Ph.D.

Tracing back my grandparents’ lives, I had the chance to talk to my grandma before she passed away last previous years about depression. I randomly asked her a question if she believes depression would occur to rich and wealthy people? She then courageously said “no.” I did I ask her why? She then went on to say a lot of reasons. I vividly recall she said rich people do not get depressed because they all have what they want, unlike us (poor) we are prone to depression because poor people have a lot of things to adjust may it be job, money, food, clothing, etc. I then internalized what she said to me. My grandma only knew that since rich and wealthy people can get what they want, then they are not likely to be affected by depression. For some reason my grandma is right however, she had forgotten the emotional state, conditions, and situations of the two parties. She focuses more on the status of living.

For this reason, I came up with the realization that whether or not you are a person struggling to cope with your self-esteem, or a person who is depressed exponentially because of a sudden marital problem, death in a family, accidents and others, people who are rich or wealthy, professionals, educator, poor, ed even political leaders. It is not guaranteed that these people are not vulnerable to depression. Every one of us is prone to this disease. I want the world to understand that depression is not a whimsical or easy thing for people. Many would believe that it is just “only” depression. This is serious enough to deal with.