This isn't necessarily because the illness has genetic causes, though. It's more likely that growing up in a household with a depressed person can influence the perception that children have of the world, and shaking off that perception can be difficult. Hormonal triggers Particularly in teenagers, and in women after childbirth, a change in hormone levels, coupled with a dramatic lifestyle change, can seriously increase the chances of depression. If you expect to be a permanently-happy billionaire, footballer or supermodel, the chances are you're going to be disappointed. This is an increasing problem because of the role models set by television and newspapers, which are usually distortions of the truth.
Nobody's perfect, or even close.
Mind-altering drugs and excessive alcohol use Drugs and alcohol are not very good for the brain. Click here for more details. But humans are gregarious, and need the company of others. If you spend nearly every day working from home, you'll miss out on important human interactions, and will be more likely to experience depression. E-mail and Internet chat are no substitutes.