What do you think about depression?

What do you think about depression? Do you think it's a mental illness, a disease, something that is passed down from family members, or something more than all of these? I'm not depressed, but I just want to know what y'all think about it.

I think there's a very grey line between 'mental illness' and natural differences in individuals, in a psychologists textbook, they probably consider if a natural difference is causing a problem to the individual. Sometimes I think there is just reasons for depression, but I also think being 'depressed' does not help or tell whether that person is taking the correct action to deal with the issues they are concerned about.

I think depression is depressing.....

Three causes that I know of...
1) situation
2) biology (seratonin and such)
3) supposedly spirit stuff

I think people sometimes become depressed when they sin.

Depression sucks. I think it's a mental illness, chemical imabalances... natrual situational etc..

I agree that depression is definitely not the right way to deal with anything that has happened in life. It puts people into a state of feeling hopeless. I honestly don't have any idea what exactly causes depression, so I wanted to know what everyone's opinion would be on it.

Well that's definitely true! Depression is very depressing
The third one is what a lot of Christians I know believe, but then the majority of people do believe that it has, or can, been proven scientifically. A lot of my family members think its passed down to their children then keeps going from there. So its all a bit confusing to me.

That's what I've heard the most. That's also what happened to me a while back, its gone, but it did bring me to depression at the time. Most likely the guilt or shame.
I've always been told it was a chemical imbalance and that people like that should take depression pills. I doubt those would have worked, though temporarily. Giving my life to God worked a whole lot faster.

That's what I've been told for most of my life as well. I'm not exactly sure what it is, but there is one thing I haven't had the time to look up. Has depression been completely proven to be some sort of chemical imbalance? Was there a point where they were just completely stuck?

I think when they were locking people up for mild depression and things was probably when they were completely stuck... of course that was mainly religions fault because they thought they were possessed blah blah blah. Depression is genetic technically as it increases you're chances of developing a mood disorder

I didnt word that last thing very well Lol I was in a hurry, having past mood disorders in your heritage increases you're chances of developing one but it is chemical imbalances. As far as I know. But these imbalances can be caused by a whole host of things.

I heard a psychologist say once, that depression is a result of anger turned inward.

I heard a psychologist say once that I was a perfectly normal and well balanced child.

Which one of your personalitys was he talking about???

I think depression is very depressing.
Thank goodness for Jesus.

it's a chemical imbalance

It can be several things.

one interesting element though:
Some of the "cases" that would be identified and treated as (mild) depression in the western world, would in the east (still in just as "modern" countries as ours) be seen as a natural period of drawing back from the world to "find oneself"