There are many causes of depression. Stresses, grief, losses, and crisis frequently play a role. Difficult family relationships can create unhappy situations. Unresolved issues from long ago can also create long-term depressive reactions. Certain medications and illnesses cause depression. Depression may also be associated with seasonal changes, job work shift, lack of light, sleep disruption, and heredity.

Heredity may play a much larger role than we usually think.  Some experts say, "Heredity loads the gun, stress pulls the trigger."  If you think about it, you all know people who seem to have gone through similar events, but some people seem to shrug off the difficulty and others appear to struggle severely.  Heredity may play a role in those differences to stress.

© 2011 John E. Swank, MS, LPCC   Swank Counseling , 21 Robinhood Lane, Troy, OH 45373