What exactly causes and are the symptoms of depression and ways to get over it?

thanks for your answers!

If I could tell you exactly what causes depression I would be a very rich woman!!

The easiest answer is that it is a neurotransmitter imbalance. not having enough serotonin available is one popular theory
Which is why drugs are usually given to treat depression because they aim to increase availability of these neurotransmitters

But there are loads of theories and treatments.
A basic clinical psychology textbook would give you an outline of the main theories and the treatment implications of each

^^^^^^^ what she said!

I found talking therapy helped most.

I have major depressive disorder, and based upon my experience, I can tell you that it is caused by occurences. In other words the way others treat you, and the destruction others bring into your life. since you can't control the way others conduct themselves, there is no way to get over it, as you say, you just deal with it and hope you don't lose your sanity and go out and start shooting people. I have been on every drug out there, and have been to numerous doctors and therapists, the drugs never helped me, as a matter of fact they almost killed me from overdose, because my brain is not the problem. The problem is the way this world works, the way people treat one another, the corruption and indecency of the majority of the human race! The drug theory, which is what it is, a theory, and we are paying to be used as test subjects, is only a cop out, used to take the consequences away from the perpetrator, and place insanity upon the victim in order to demolish their credibility. If you are smart you will stay as far away from psych doctors as possible, because once they place that label on you it stays with you for the rest of your life, and it can and will be used against you at a later date, either by comrades, the workplace, or maybe even in a court of law.

Here's some information and a self assessment test:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/de…
http://www.webmd.com/depression/default.…
http://www.psychologyinfo.com/depression…
http://depression.about.com/
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/depress…

Also here are some tips for beating depression:
http://listverse.com/health/top-10-tips-…

It also really helps to have a good friend to talk to about it.

Since the world is so bad we have to face tests and trials. so what we may have to face at home, work, school or anywhere can trigger depression. everyone gets depressed so its no way to eliminate it. but, breathing and counting can calm you down even though it seems elementary. Just think that what comes around goes around so if someone mistreats you , you are only human so you will get depressed but, they will suffer the consequences. I've had to deal with things for years.

I believe that depression occurs when an individual chooses to focus on the negativity in their lives. The amount of negative emotion that person put into that focus and then reinforces this emotion with negative thought put people into a depressed state. it is no different than a person getting excited about going on a trip or looking forward to a special event. The key is the emotion they put in positive emotions create excitement as negative emotions create depression. The symptoms of depression are, but not limited to;
1. poor posture and body language
2. negative emotional focus
3. poor or negative self belief system like "why do bad things always happen to me"
4. no purpose or direction in life
The way we overcome depression is;
1. change your body language and posture to a positive physical state
2. change your focus to a positive mental state
3. change our language of thought to reflex the positive
4. change our belief system for positive mental reinforcement
5. then you find purpose in your life. give your life meaning
As simple as this sounds it works. We are who we believe we are and our lives reflex this belief. If we wish we can put ourselves into a depressed state just by changing the things I mentioned above.

george - Depression can have many causes: mental (what you are thinking), emotional (too many blocked emotions) and physical (an inactive lifestyle). To work through your depression you need to work on all levels.

MENTAL - According to Richard Carlson, author of "you can be Happy no Matter what," most people think happiness is conditional and outside of themselves or expect that it is a fleeting feeling based on the events in their lives or their circumstances. They don't realize that their happiness is inside of them IN THE MOMENT.

According to Carlson, most people are unhappy because most of their thinking is negative. Negative thinking IN THE MOMENT leads to a negative feeling IN THE MOMENT which leads to a negative mood. then the negative mood leads to a negative feeling in the moment which leads to more negative thinking in the moment. it becomes a viscous circle.

The reverse is also true. Positive thinking in the moment leads to positive feelings in the moment which leads to a positive mood.

The trick is NOT to try to feel better or think positively, the trick is to think positive thoughts and to FEEL GOOD. When I feel down, I don't try to change what I'm thinking/feeling, I just DELIBERATELY start thinking positive thoughts about things I like..

When you start to think or feel negative, STOP THINKING ABOUT WHATEVER YOU ARE THINKING and DELIBERATELY start thinking about things that make you happy. you have to make a deliberate effort. I just say things to myself like "I like the song Forever Young by Rod Stewart, I like chocolate chip cookies, I like the movie Juno" by changing my focus I immediately change my feelings and then my thoughts automatically go back to positive. you might want to make a "Happy" list and carry it with you for those times when negative thoughts/feelings get the best of you.

EMOTIONAL - Every day we all feel many different emotions. Emotions are just ENERGIES IN MOTION in our bodies. Emotions are meant to be FELT and RELEASED. In America, we are taught that emotions are weak and so most people ignore or downplay their emotions.

Every time you don't allow yourself or you aren't allowed to fully experience an emotion, to feel it, and to move through it, the energy of that emotion becomes stopped and blocked in your body. it remains blocked until you go back and re-experience that emotion. then the energetic block is freed and cleared. Virtually all of our physical ailments come from energetic blocks in our bodies, energetic patterns that are connected to our emotional patterns

When emotions are blocked for a long time, your body shuts down emotionally and you get numb (depressed). you feel tired and have no interest in anything. The emotions that are blocked also tend to LEAK out (like in angry outbursts).

One good way to release blocked emotions is to use EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) or Emotional Tapping. In EFT you apply gentle acupressure tapping to specific body points to release blocked emotions. EFT is easy to learn (you can learn the basics in minutes). you can use EFT anytime, anywhere for any emotional or physical issue. one basic round of EFT takes about one minute to complete. EFT works quickly and painlessly.

Please download the FREE EFT Instructional manual from the EFT website (www.emofree.com).

There is another EFT website, Tapping.com, where you can get immediate help for your issues while learning EFT by just tapping along to one of their 14 FREE instructional videos (including Depression).

PHYSICAL - If you are a person who doesn't exercise on a regular basis, your body gets "Stale" and you feel tired and lethargic. taking a brisk 15 minute walk every day will do wonders to improve your mood. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood elevators into the bloodstream, which makes you feel GOOD. Exercise also helps to release stress and gives you more ENERGY. Exercise also cleanses TOXINS out of your body.

You also need to drink at least 8 glasses of water (pure water, coffee, tea, juice don't count as pure water). Our bodies are 70% water and water is the basic CLEANSER of our bodies. When you don't drink enough water TOXINS build up in the body which can make you feel tired and lethargic.

One last physical energy drainer is LACK OF SUNLIGHT. A lot of peope suffer from SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder) during the Fall/Winter months, but in today's world most people don't get enough sunlight. not getting enough sunlight can cause sleeping problems which will make you feel TIRED (depressed) all the time. If you can, try to spend at least 30 minutes a day in sunlight or get a SAD light.

There is a lot YOU can do for YOURSELF to overcome depression. good luck.

look in www.mind.org.uk/, you'll find all the answers you need.
It's the best website I ever found for mental health (even NHS refer to it)

What exactly causes and are the symptoms of depression and ways to get over it?

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