by Nathan Perkins

Created on: January 09, 2008   Last Updated: June 29, 2009

Medical professionals generally agree, factors influencing a person's tendency to be depressed are related to a combination of behaviors that a person can control and experiences such as loss or dispositions such as genetics that a person has no control over. Look with me at the physical symptoms of depression and the way a depressed person can respond to lesson their struggle.

>The Physiological Influencers of Depression Beyond Human Control
Understanding that behavior change alone may not relieve a person's depression can arm that person with a resolve to seek outside assistance: counseling and medication. In many cases the combination of all three is essential. The following are physical symptoms that are generally beyond the control of the depressed person.

-Disposition
Some of the factors that may dispose a person to depression include genetics. Studies show that a person whose ancestors had depression is more likely to developed depression when other factors are involved. The disposition could be one of genetics or one of environment or a combination of both factors.

-Physical Trauma
Physical trauma is sighted as a strong contributor to depression. Chronic physical illness certainly may contribute. Also, a large percentage of heart patients develop some level of depression. In fact it is now common to treat a heart patient for depression with that expectation.

-Emotional Trauma
Probably the most commonly recognized cause of depression is emotional trauma. It is believed the chemical impact of emotional trauma can causes changes in the brain and its way of processing neurological messages. This change is likely to cause depressive symptoms.

-Depression causes Depression
It is believed by some that depression itself is what causes the chemical change in the brain. It is quite easy to believe both to be true. When a person is depressed they are experiencing trauma that may perpetuate the chemical imbalance. This is a good reason to seek the help of a medical professional when depression seems to persist.

Some believe it is the chemical imbalance that causes depression. Others believe that depression causes the imbalance.

-Other Factors
There are also external factors that may aggravate depression. Pollution and unknown allergies are believed by some to have an impact.

Environmental factors like water chemicals, air pollution, crowding, noise, low light, lack of variety in color or seasonal changes are all potential influencers that may be hard to trace. None of these

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