Why? How does a person get depressed?
There are numerous reasons for depression and no single  cause. There are both external and internal factors to consider. It may be the result of repeated, major losses, chronic abuse, isolation, illness, or trauma.  It may also be caused by irrational or “faulty” thinking patterns. A person may be used to see things through “mud-colored glasses”. Perhaps they were taught to see themselves or the world that way when they were younger, carrying with them into adulthood negative ideas about themselves, their relationships, and their futures. 

It may also be the result of an inherited biochemical imbalance. For this reason, you often see depression running in families. As we understand depression today, it seems to develop as a result of the activation of a biological predisposition for the biochemical imbalance that has existed all along. It can be activated when a person experiences a major life event in a negative way (going to college, getting married, having to find a job) or a series of minor negative ones. It is believed that the biological features of depression are tied to this biochemical imbalance.

Is there hope in treatment?
Absolutely. Between psychiatric or homeopathic prescribing and cognitive behavioral therapy, a great  many individuals find the relief they never believed possible. The majority of people with major clinical depression can expect to enjoy a significant partial remission within 3-4 weeks of treatment and long-lasting relief with 3 – 6 months of treatment.  Some depressions require medication to “kick start” the recovery process. Some people stay on allopathic medication (such as tricyclics, SSRI’s, or MAO inhibitors) for years, enjoying full lives. Some depression (though rare) is so severe as to require shock therapy. 

The clinical data has strongly supported the efficacy of the behavioral and cognitive behavioral therapies in treating depression. Behavioral therapies focus primarily on concrete behavioral techniques to enhance a person’s life skills (including interpersonal), while the cognitive-behavioral modality emphasizes the restructuring of a person’s thinking so that they see themselves and their world differently.
 

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