Depression is a mood disorder and can affect a person's ability to function in normal society. It is commonly known to be associated with chemical substances (neurotransmitters) in the brain that are imbalanced. These chemical substances are seratonin, dopamine and norepinephrine.
The levels of these substances can be affected by and among other things than, genetics, medication, social circumstances, injuries, aging, genetics and sometimes seasonal changes. It is important to make an assessment of the cause of depression if possible. Some symptoms of depression are sadness, emptiness, hopelessness, anxiety, guilt, restlessness and irritability. There can be a loss of appetite, pleasure, concentration, decision making abilities and may experience aches and pains with no real cause, excessive sleeping and the exact opposite, insomnia. Depression can make one contemplate suicide which is the real concern in today's culture.
Today, with the stress of living the fast paced and competitive lifestyle that is present in our society, many people experience mood altering situations, sometimes described simply as emotions. Stress is a result of high emotions and is the largest culprit, throwing off the chemical balance in our brains without even recognizing it is happening and repeated stress, which we all live, complicates the process, sometimes throwing a person into a mood altering disease or personality disorder. Other causes can include metabolic disturbance, hypothyroidism, systemic infection or chronic disease and often reactions to or misuse of medications or alcohol. This is why It is important to have a good assessment as to the origin of the depression that one may be experiencing.