Before you can figure out how to treat or cure your depression, you need to pinpoint the causes of depression. Just identifying the cause of any problem is often half the battle. Because if you know what caused the problem, it's much easier to figure out how to fix it.

Genetics

There was a famous study done in 2006 by an international team of scientists, led by Rockefeller University researchers, that identified a gene called "p11." This "depression gene" plays a role in controlling the neurotransmitter "serotonin" in your brain. If this gene is not working right, you may have a serotonin deficiency and thus be prone to depression.

But if your p11 gene causes your serotonin levels to be below normal, you won't necessarily get depression. You will, however, be more prone to be depressed but it's not a given. Because depression is caused by a complex mixture of psychological causes and physical causes at the same time.

For example, someone who has a faulty p11 gene may do fine until the death of a loved one. An event like this may send them into a funk that lasts longer than what most people would consider normal…they are "depressed" and not just in mourning. These are the folks who stand to benefit the most from a SRI (Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor) like "Prozac."

However, anti-depression medication will not bring back a deceased loved one, which was the event (a.k.a. the "precipitating event") that got the depression started. And this is why it's important to treat depression with therapy such as cognitive therapy, in addition to taking medicine.

There is, however, another option to treating your depression. It's called "self help," and there's a paint-by-the-numbers plan you'll find out more about later. For those who can manage it, it's very effective. More on this later…

Traumatic Or Stressful Event

Even though your serotonin levels may be normal, a single stressful event (like in the above example) can make someone clinically depressed. And sometimes it's a combination of events that can make some folks develop depression…

I was so depressed at one time that I tried to kill myself by driving over 130 mph into a bunch of trees. (The fact that it was a "bunch of trees" instead of just one big tree is one reason I'm here with you now.) But when you read my story you will nevertheless be astounded I survived. I was only 16.

To survive something like that was an amazing series of incredibly lucky events–you've gotta read about it to really appreciate it. This marked a huge turning point in my life and I just knew I had to come up with a formula for beating depression ASAP.

It's Rarely Just One Stressful Event

Using divorce as an example - even though divorce describes a single event, the divorcee goes thru multiple stressful events at the same time:

- Loss of love

- Loss of financial security: "How am I going to pay off this debt?"

- Loss of a better standard of living… The house and car is downsized.

- Interaction with your own kids now becomes a privilege, not a right.

- Having to move when you aren't ready. (Moving is, of course, stressful by itself.)

…And so on–you get the general idea.

Taught To 'Enjoy' Depression

It sounds counter-intuitive, but for some people depression feels 'right' to them…sort of. They thrive on the drama of big emotional events. It's like they thrive off the negativity like most other people thrive of being extremely happy. They feel that the importance of an event justifies being sad for a long time, so they do their best to be what they consider 'appropriately sad.'

The real reasons for someone wallowing in depression are: One, it gets them personal one-on-one attention from people (their 'caretakers'). And two, it gives them 'permission' to let their daily responsibilities of life slide; they can stay in bed 'til late and avoid cooking and cleaning, for example, and nobody will say anything derogatory about their 'laziness.'

Psychologists tell us one theory is that they are "taught" this behavior as toddlers:

If your parents habitually left you alone to play, figuring "…she's happy, leave her alone," and paid attention to you only if you cried, they unknowingly taught you a life lesson: You will get personal attention only if you are in distress.