Before treating bipolar disorder, it's helpful to find out its root cause. Because often just identifying the main cause of any disorder is a big step towards figuring out how to address it.
Genetics
There was a famous study done in 2006 by an international team of scientists, led by Rockefeller University researchers, that identified a gene called "p11." This "depression gene" plays a role in controlling the neurotransmitter "serotonin" in your brain. If this gene is not working right, you may have a serotonin deficiency and thus be prone to depression.
But you should know that a bad p11 gene doesn't mean you will be depressed. It just means that you will be more apt to get depression. The reason for this is that depression is a very complex disease with not only physical causes but psychological ones as well.
An example would be someone (whose p11 gene is faulty) that does not get depressed until the death of his or her wife or husband. Now, something like this will get anyone depressed, but the difference is this person stays unusually depressed and doesn't recover; they're not in mourning but really depressed for many months on end. (These are the people who would probably respond best to a drug like "Prozac" or any other Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor type of anti-depression medication.)
But it's important to note that this will not, for example, bring back their deceased loved one--which was the "precipitating event" that launched them into depression. This is why it's always best to treat depression with cognitive therapies (a fancy way of saying 'talking with a trained therapist' ), as well as with medicine like Prozac.
What's another option to deal with this type of depression? Self help. Reading a step-by-step plan on overcoming depression. (More later...)
Anxiety From Stressful Event(s)
Even though your serotonin levels may be normal, a single stressful event (like in the above example) can make someone clinically depressed. And sometimes it's a combination of events that can make some folks develop depression...
At 16 years young, my depression was so great that I attempted suicide by ramming my car into a grove of trees at over 120 mph! (When you read my story you'll be amazed I'm here with you now.) My problem was the result of a couple years of bad decisions that added stress upon stress - if you read my story you'll be able to relate.
To survive something like that was an amazing series of incredibly lucky events--you've gotta read about it to really appreciate it. This marked a huge turning point in my life and I just knew I had to come up with a formula for beating depression ASAP.
It's Rarely Just One Stressful Event
The word, "divorce" may mean a single event, but it encompasses multiple highly stressful events all at once:
- Loss of a relationship: It was supposed to be "...to death do us part."
- Financial security gives way to financial worry.
- No more nice house and car.
- Loss of contact with your own children...no need to explain the huge stress this is.
- Moving even though you didn't want to move.
... There are probably other things, but you get the idea.
Taught To 'Enjoy' Depression
I know this sounds weird, but some people actually enjoy being depressed. Well, not exactly, but they really 'get into' the drama of emotional events. For these people, getting depressed is the equivalent of being extremely happy about something positive, only it's the opposite; they feel the significance of the negative event justifies long-term sadness.
The reasons for this 'depression response' are two-fold: It protects them from having to deal with responsibilities of everyday life, and/or it gets them attention they wouldn't otherwise get from people around them.
Psychologists tell us one theory is that they are "taught" this behavior as toddlers:
If your parents habitually left you alone to play, figuring "...she's happy, leave her alone," and paid attention to you only if you cried, they unknowingly taught you a life lesson: You will get personal attention only if you are in distress.
Genetics
There was a famous study done in 2006 by an international team of scientists, led by Rockefeller University researchers, that identified a gene called "p11." This "depression gene" plays a role in controlling the neurotransmitter "serotonin" in your brain. If this gene is not working right, you may have a serotonin deficiency and thus be prone to depression.
But you should know that a bad p11 gene doesn't mean you will be depressed. It just means that you will be more apt to get depression. The reason for this is that depression is a very complex disease with not only physical causes but psychological ones as well.
An example would be someone (whose p11 gene is faulty) that does not get depressed until the death of his or her wife or husband. Now, something like this will get anyone depressed, but the difference is this person stays unusually depressed and doesn't recover; they're not in mourning but really depressed for many months on end. (These are the people who would probably respond best to a drug like "Prozac" or any other Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor type of anti-depression medication.)
But it's important to note that this will not, for example, bring back their deceased loved one--which was the "precipitating event" that launched them into depression. This is why it's always best to treat depression with cognitive therapies (a fancy way of saying 'talking with a trained therapist' ), as well as with medicine like Prozac.
What's another option to deal with this type of depression? Self help. Reading a step-by-step plan on overcoming depression. (More later...)
Anxiety From Stressful Event(s)
Even though your serotonin levels may be normal, a single stressful event (like in the above example) can make someone clinically depressed. And sometimes it's a combination of events that can make some folks develop depression...
At 16 years young, my depression was so great that I attempted suicide by ramming my car into a grove of trees at over 120 mph! (When you read my story you'll be amazed I'm here with you now.) My problem was the result of a couple years of bad decisions that added stress upon stress - if you read my story you'll be able to relate.
To survive something like that was an amazing series of incredibly lucky events--you've gotta read about it to really appreciate it. This marked a huge turning point in my life and I just knew I had to come up with a formula for beating depression ASAP.
It's Rarely Just One Stressful Event
The word, "divorce" may mean a single event, but it encompasses multiple highly stressful events all at once:
- Loss of a relationship: It was supposed to be "...to death do us part."
- Financial security gives way to financial worry.
- No more nice house and car.
- Loss of contact with your own children...no need to explain the huge stress this is.
- Moving even though you didn't want to move.
... There are probably other things, but you get the idea.
Taught To 'Enjoy' Depression
I know this sounds weird, but some people actually enjoy being depressed. Well, not exactly, but they really 'get into' the drama of emotional events. For these people, getting depressed is the equivalent of being extremely happy about something positive, only it's the opposite; they feel the significance of the negative event justifies long-term sadness.
The reasons for this 'depression response' are two-fold: It protects them from having to deal with responsibilities of everyday life, and/or it gets them attention they wouldn't otherwise get from people around them.
Psychologists tell us one theory is that they are "taught" this behavior as toddlers:
If your parents habitually left you alone to play, figuring "...she's happy, leave her alone," and paid attention to you only if you cried, they unknowingly taught you a life lesson: You will get personal attention only if you are in distress.
About the Author:
Find out which causes of depression could be affecting you right now. Also download your complimentary special report, "How To Tell If It's Clinical Depression And Not Just The Blues." But more importantly, you'll find out how to treat and cure your depression permanently.
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