No one really knows for sure what exactly causes mental depression. Depression can affect anyone at any age and this greatly affects a person’s quality of life, people who suffer from  depression often unknowingly hurt their friends and loved ones – watching the person you love suffer from depression really hurts.

Symptoms of depression include:

    Irritability
    Memory loss
    Chronic fatigue
    Lack of concentration
    Withdrawal from friends and family members
    Indecisiveness
    Sudden Loss of interest in favorite activities
    Thoughts of committing suicide
    Sleeplessness (insomnia)
    Headaches and or backaches
    Pains
    Gaining or losing excess weight

Causes of mental depression include:

1)    Hereditary Factors: Research has shown that people who have parents or relatives who have suffered from depression have a higher chance of developing mental depression too. You must understand that because one of your family members suffered from depression does not automatically mean that you will develop depression too.
2)    Marital Issues: studies have also shown that women who are not happily married, separated or divorced have a higher rate of becoming depressed. Woman who are happily married have lower rates.
3)    Age factor: Signs of depression usually occurs for the first time when an individual is between the ages of 20 and 50 years. People who are well over 65 years of age may be very vulnerable to depression.
4)     Gender: it is certainly no secret that women are more prone to mental depression because of the following reasons:
    Women tend to be under a lot more stress than men because they often have to manage several conflicting roles, leaving them with little or no time at all. Women have a number of responsibilities e.g. wife, worker, mother (primary care giver) etc. leaving them with tight schedules both at home and at the workplace.
    Women are also prone to depression because of possible hormonal imbalances. They often have changes in their hormone levels – monthly menstrual cycles, pregnancy (during and after), and menopause. Women tend to develop depressive mental illnesses around these events.




After effects of mental depression

Most times the after effects of mental depression are often found in the medications used in treatment of depression. About fifty percent of people who take medications to treat their depression experience side effects, (which can be controlled by changing the doses of the medication).  

Common medications used in the treatment of depression and their after effects:

    SSRIs & SNRIs – have side effects that include; nausea, diarrhea, agitation, nervousness, sexual side effects or rash.
    Tricyclic Antidepressants (TCAs) – after effects include; blurred vision, sexual problems, skin rash, dizziness, constipation, drowsiness and loss or weight gain.
    Bupropion – this medication causes fewer after effects than other medications. Its side effects include sleeplessness, menstrual cycle complaints, nausea, rash, restlessness, headaches, dry mouth, racing heart beat, dizziness and confusion.
    MAOIs – Patients who take MAOIs should be extra cautious about eating or drinking certain kind of meals or beverages or taking certain kind of medication because these can lead to a severe high blood pressure in combination with the medication. Other side effects include constipation, dizziness, insomnia, weight gain, dry mouth and sexual problems.