Despite its common occurrence, most people do not understand what causes depression. Understanding the causes is, after all, the first step toward the solution.

Depression is a complex disease with several causative and exacerbating factors. This complexity often makes treatment difficult and prolonged. Here is a list of common trigger factors that could lie behind the onset of depression.

Major setbacks – Temporary depression is often a natural consequence to major episodes of loss, such as the death of a loved one, a relationship breakdown, and experiencing a loss or sudden setback in career, business, or in important life goals. Events like these do not always lead to depression. Nevertheless, the sufferer should seek help to cope with his or her situation.

Illness or hormonal imbalances – Chronic, debilitating illnesses tend to significantly impair the quality of life of the patient, leading to a sense of dejection, hopelessness, and anxiety about the future. Pain, discomfort, and loss of enjoyment naturally results in depression. Hormonal imbalances can also cause depressive symptoms; a classic example is hypothyroidism which, among other things, inhibits mood. When depressive symptoms present themselves, it is always a good idea to talk to your doctor about assessing your basic health indicators

Recent childbirth – 1 to 2 out of 10 new mothers experience intense episodes of the “baby blues.” Expecting to be overjoyed with the new baby, but paradoxically experiencing intense sadness and dread can no doubt be extremely distressing for the mother and her family. Post-partum depression usually clears up in a few weeks, but in some cases, it can persist longer, and will require trained intervention. Incidentally, post-partum depression is not just for new mothers. Research shows that new fathers can experience episodes of depression too.

Family history – A history of depression in at least 2 immediate generations of ancestors is a strong predictive factor for major depressive disorder. However, this is not a cause for panic. Knowing beforehand that there is a tendency for depression in the family helps one to prepare better, detect early warning signs, and proactively make necessary lifestyle modifications to help prevent and better manage depression.

Prolonged periods of stress – Even in healthy individuals with no history of depression, prolonged stress factors that are poorly coped with, can result in depression. While stress itself is not a disorder, the spikes in cortisol level caused by stress-response can build up over time, with serious consequences. Maladaptive coping mechanisms to stress leads to serious disorders like anxiety and depression.

Apart from the factors discussed above, there is a whole gamut of other causes, including life transitions such as childhood, adolescence, and old age. Therefore, anyone is susceptible to depression, and a good understanding of this common, complex yet treatable disease is of utmost importance.