If you're depressed despite normal efforts to treat your depression symptoms, a physical source of the depression should be considered.

Depression is a universally understood condition of sadness and despondency. Life has lost its luster and gloom prevails. Some sadness is an inherent part of weathering life's misfortunes. People normally recover from such low points and carry on. Other conditions of sadness may require lifestyle changes such as resolving a rocky marriage, dropping bad habits, or removing oppressive factors from one's life. Still other situations may require the counsel of a good friend or priest or minister - someone one can trust and discuss his or her troubles with.

However, sometimes people don't recover from life's setbacks. Or they become depressed over insignificant matters or for no reason at all. The feelings of sadness may simply slow them down or can debilitate them to the point where they weep continuously, cannot function in life, or may consider suicide

Looking for a Medical Cause for Depression

When a person remains depressed despite normal efforts to treat the depression, a physical source of the depression should be considered. This is particularly true in the case of debilitating or suicidal depression.

Physiological causes of depression are so common, in fact, that The American Assn. of Clinical Endocrinologists states, "The diagnosis of subclinical [without obvious signs] or clinical hypothyroidism must be considered in every patient with depression."

Physical sources of depression include:

• Nutritional deficiencies
• Lack of exercise
• Hypothyroidism
• Hyperthyroidism
• Fibromyalgia
• Candida (yeast infection)
• Poor adrenal function
• Other hormonal disorders including:
  • Cushing's Disease (excessive pituitary hormone production)
  • Addison's disease (low adrenal function)
  • High levels of parathyroid hormone
  • Low levels of pituitary hormones
• Hypoglycemia
• Food Allergies
• Heavy metals (such as mercury, lead, aluminum, cadmium, and thallium)
• Selenium toxicity
• Premenstrual syndrome
• Sleep disturbances
• Infections including:
  • AIDS
  • Influenza
  • Mononucleosis
  • Syphilis (late stage)
  • Tuberculosis
  • Viral hepatitis
  • Viral pneumonia
• Medical conditions including:
  • Heart problems
  • Lung disease
  • Diabetes
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Rheumatoid arthritis
  • Chronic pain
  • Chronic inflammation
  • Cancer
  • Brain tumors
  • Head injury
  • Multiple sclerosis
  • Parkinson's disease
  • Stroke
  • Temporal lope epilepsy
  • Systemic lupus erythematosus
  • Liver disease
• Drugs including:
  • Tranquilizers and sedatives
  • Antipsychotic drugs
  • Amphetamines (withdrawal from)
  • Antihistamines
  • Beta-blockers
  • High blood pressure medications
  • Birth control pills
  • Anti-inflammatory agents
  • Corticosteroids (adrenal hormone agents
  • Cimetidine
  • Cycloserine (an antibiotic)
  • Indomethacin
  • Reserpine
  • Vinblastine
  • Vincristine