by Samantha Pratt-Tyler

Created on: February 18, 2008

I have been depressed most of my life, so as a child I don't see where money was an issue for my depression.

For me child abuse, neglect, sexual abuse (and incest), physical, mental and verbal abuse were and are the cause of my depression.

Studies have shown that chronic abuse rewires the brain, thought processes are not processed as someone with out the abuse.

Depression can be inherited. My family has a history of mental illness on my mother's side, my grandmother was hospitalized and an grand uncle committed suicide.

While I know money problems, in fact any major problem or loss can cause depression, it is not the main reason for depression.

Chemically the brain lacks serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine. Any of one these three or combination of anyone of them causes depression.
There are more than 14 million people who are clinically depressed in the United States, and most are due to the lack of chemicals in the brain.

Major depressive disorder causes feelings of worthless, suicidal thoughts, fatigue, pain, lack of interest in things they once enjoyed, lack of concentration, sexual problems, and can cause physical symptoms of headaches and backaches. Depression makes life not worth living to the sufferer and they are restless, have trouble sleeping, are irritable. These are signs that something more than money is the root of the problem.

People can be depressed for a short period of time, but if it goes on beyond a couple of months it is possible you have a depressive disorder and there is help. Those who have short term depression, or the blues will have it end, clinical depression or depressive disorder does not. So if your blues don't go away, get checked out help is out there, you don't have to suffer alone. Any suicidal thoughts should cause you to seek immediate help.

If you suffer from depression, know it is not your fault, your brain is chemically off balanced, but with medications or some herbal remedies you can restore the chemicals you need to function properly. Be good to yourself.

There are excellent websites that have help available and explain depression, SAD (which is seasonal depression due to lack of available sunshine); one is www.about.com, look for the depression information. They have a newsletter you can sign up for.

Of course some drug sites have excellent information and help resources also, like www.cymbalta.com, www.wellbutrin.com. And there are support groups on line for people with depression, just do a group search and find one you like.

Depression can be so bad for some people they become disabled. So, please do not take your depression, "blues" lightly. It affects not only yourself but those around you, your relationships, your job, your lifestyle. It is worth getting checked out to get it all back.

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