[meesterdude]

> There are two general sources of depression: environmental and biochemical.

This is not at all what the field of psychology has identified as the "general sources"

[ekr]

The fact that conditions such as sleep apnea (insufficient nocturnal brain oxygenation) lead to depression and anxiety in a significant number of cases illustrates that depression isn't always an indicative of a social problem. It can also be a strictly biochemical issue (there are a lot of things that affect neurotransmitter efficiency for instance).

(edited)

[meesterdude]

My point was, depression can come from a variety of sources; not just environmental or biochemical. Saying it's generally those two sources glazes over all the others - and is not representative.

[dragonwriter]

> It can also be a biochemical issue

Presumably, it's always a biochemical issue, though sometimes the biochemical state may be triggered by events in the social context.

[DoreenMichele]

The distinction I am trying to make is that brain chemistry can apparently be wonky and resistant to change in the absence of triggering life events.

[DoreenMichele]

So enlighten me. What does psychology have to say about it?

[AnIdiotOnTheNet]

In my personal experience, psychology is to depression what nutrition science is to obesity. They act like they know what they're doing, but really don't.

[meesterdude]

Far more than would be appropriate for a hacker news comment ;)

I will share that it is both more complex than many believe - and also less mysterious. "it's chemical" gets overplayed, while our relationship with our emotions is often left unexamined. There's a great deal of interconnectedness and sometimes cause & effect become confused or are tightly coupled. In the end, we're still learning, and everyone is different.