What is the cause of depression? Traditional Western Medicine, which includes Traditional Western Psychiatry, posits depression is the result of a chemical imbalance. Scientific studies claim to show that such an imbalance does in fact existbut these studies are only performed on people who are being treated for depression. The question is, which came first the imbalance or the depression?

Traditional Holistic Healing a.k.a. Transformational or Metaphysical Healing knows that depression is anger turned inward. If you are a student of any spiritual tradition you understand that virtually everything in the world of form is the unfolding of spiritual realitythat all things are arising spontaneously within the field of infinite potentiality. Thus, the cause of the chemical imbalance is not the cause of clinical depression but the symptoms of it. The cause or mechanism that lies behind the phenomena of depression lies within the limits of personal consciousness itself.

Depression is holding onto trauma, not consciously realizing that processing the feelings triggered by the experience is the solution. Thus, the anger is turned inward and held. We either identify with emotions as ourselves [Thats just the way I am] to avoid or escape them or act out.

Depression is the result of the seeds of doubt; the doubt of life not having any real meaning, doubt of ones worth and doubt about ones abilities This doubt itself gives rise to various feelings and emotions which we then either cling to or resist, rather than processing our thoughts and acknowledging the misconceptions we have created. If we let the feelings pass through our awareness consciously, fully feeling and releasing them, depression would be avoided. The seeds of doubt are a result of early childhood trauma. Nearly everyone has some form of childhood trauma to some degree, which then creates the perception that the trauma symptoms are a chemical imbalance. Thus, scientific studies can claim that such an imbalance exists because all persons with depression show some form of imbalance.

People with chronic depression are merely those who have remained unaware of how to successfully release doubts and emotions. With such misconceptions, doubt is either deeply identified with as the self or is seen as the enemy. Yet, doubt is a very healthy benchmark for the need of change and growth.

Successfully embracing and resolving doubt, so that a new, higher understanding can be reached is the way to avoid Depression as well as a way out. Doubt isnt something to be avoided nor identified with. Doubt can be welcomed, embraced and intimately known as one does with a good friend, who shares their secrets of transforming that will change your life.

If anything can be referred to as the cause of depression then, it is the lack of consciousness of the individual. From the literature of historical Wisdom traditions such as Zen and Vedanta, to the annals of modern developmental psychology, evidence clearly shows that individuals who have evolved to the higher stages of consciousness (not states of consciousness, which are only temporary) suffer less from troubling emotions. Consciousness is the only genuine long-term solution to dealing with the symptom called depression.

It is understood that this explanation of depression is not the popular one, however, it is the one that can truly set you free. How? You might ask. The answer is: If you understand that you have in fact been creating absolutely everything you have been experiencing, you are able by acknowledging your responsibility to un-create [transform] any negative emotion which creates the plethora of so-called mental disorders. Responsibility without blame and constant surrender rather than resistance is the way out. Depression really can be fully and permanently transformeda.k.a.Healed.

Although, one can affect this process, the majority of people want professional assistance to move the process faster and more effectively. This phenomenon is recognized as 'We are our own worst enemy,' because we can't see the trees because of the forest.