Depression doesn't happen overnight.
We're not tiptoeing through the tulips feeling gay and frivolous one day, and the next, lying on our backs, overcome by crippling depression.
Neither do our neurotransmitters suddenly decide to go completely off the rails.
The truth of the matter is that depression is caused by our thoughts.
The whole point of this article is to show how we become depressed originally.
We've looked at symptoms, we've examined what we feel like when in the grip of depression; how we are quite unable to pursue our hobbies or even work.
We simply want to sit or lie there, and when we move, all we feel is pain.
But everything has to have a beginning and depression is no exception.
It'll probably start off with an unresolved worry.
Something that nags at us, and worse, something we can't let go.
It's probably in the backs of our minds for a considerable time, and may be anything.
But something for which we simply can't find an answer.
Let's suppose we're an archaeologist.
We've been asked to give a talk to the local archaeological club about the site of a known battle some five miles away that took place in the 6th.
century.
Now, you're a professional, not only in archaeology, but you also hold professorships in ancient and medieval history.
You've excavated the remains found on the battlefield, formed your conclusions and together with your wide knowledge of history, you've put together what almost certainly occurred.
You know a lot more than your listeners, who are merely keen amateurs.
The lecture finishes and on the way out, you happen to overhear someone say; "Yes, wasn't a bad lecture, but he was talking a load of rubbish about the final outcome.
" You recognize the person as someone who's never short of a criticism about anything, but his remark stings you.
You happen to see him in the pub later on, but instead of going over to him and politely saying that you overheard his remark, found it interesting and would like to discuss it further, you simply let it fester.
You know perfectly well that he's wrong, that if you spoke to him you'd have no trouble in pointing out the error of his ways, but the remark simply sits in your mind, rolling back and forth and like a snowball, becomes bigger and bigger.
There's no solution, simply because you haven't allowed there to be a solution.
It would be so easy to lay the matter to rest, but instead you simply ruminate on it and prove that depression is caused by our thoughts.
The slight caused by this person becomes larger and larger in your mind, until it even affects your sleep.
You find yourself dreaming excessively.
Far too much R.
E.
M.
sleep and consequently awake in the morning, exhausted, because you haven't had the restful sleep your body so urgently needs.
If you keep on along this path, then things can only worsen and before you know it, you have full-blown depression.