Physical Complaints
- Chronic fatigue and lack of energy
- Complete loss of appetite, or at the other extreme, compulsive eating
- Insomnia, early morning wakefulness or excessive sleeping
- Unexplained headaches, backaches and similar complaints
- Digestive problems including stomach pain, nausea, indigestion and/or change in bowel habits
Causes of Depression
Depression is often the result of an unhappy event such as the death of a loved one. When the source of depression is readily apparent and the person is fully aware of it, the individual can expect the reaction to moderate and then fade away within a reasonable amount of time. In cases where feelings of depression exist with no apparent source or the source is unclear, the depression may get worse because the person is unable to understand it. This sense of loss of control may add to the actual feelings of depression.Any number of stressors may be involved in depression. These can include personality, environmental or biochemical factors. Shortages or chemical imbalances in the brain may play a significant role in some cases of depression. Such imbalances may be created by illness, infections, certain drugs (including alcohol and even prescribed medications) and improper diet and nutrition. In general, depression may be viewed as a withdrawal from physical or psychological stress. Identifying and understanding the underlying causes of such stress is a necessary step in learning to cope with depression.
(published with permission in writing from:http://www.abdn.ac.uk)
