Known Risk Factors For Developing Major Depression Disorder

If you've been following this blog for some time, at this point you probably realize how depression is a complex disease that works on many levels of your being. As such, it's not possible to pin point an exact cause for major depression disorder; rather, it's more likely a confluence of risk factors that ultimately triggers this sickness. For anyone wondering exactly which risk factors are at play, this article will try to provide a general overview. You should also read this complimentary article discussing the known causes of depression in more detail.

Known risk factors leading to clinical depression

Having endured traumatic experiences of any kind during your childhood

Having blood relatives who have had problems with depression

Being female(women are twice as likely to develop depression issues)

Giving Childbirth (or in males, experiencing feelings of distress over parenthood)

Enduring through highly stressful/traumatic life events without adequate support

Living a sad, isolated life, with few close friends or confidants

Having experienced intense depression earlier in your life

Being diagnosed with a severe, terminal and/or chronic disease

Substance abuse/overuse issues (whether it's alcohol, illegal drugs, pharmaceutics or others)

Some medications may trigger depression as a secondary side effect

Negative personality traits such as low self-esteem, over-dependence or pessimism

What if you have several risk factors for depression?

Just because you have one or several of the risk factors, it doesn't necessarily mean that you will suffer from depression. However, it means that you should be more attentive to depressive moods -- and seek help if you find those moods tend to be persistently overwhelming. Also... if you already suffer from depression, just understanding these risk factors that you're subjct to will help improve your odds of recovery, even if they are factors that can't exactly be cured. Remember: asides from getting help from a professional, one of the best courses of action you can take to overcome your depression is to try and understand why you suffer from it; from the seeds of understanding, one day the flowers of healing will blossom.