Triggers of depression include:
- difficult or traumatic life changes (such as losing a loved one)
- medical conditions such as Parkinson's disease, low thyroid, stroke, chronic pain, and some types of cancer
- use of certain medications, including corticosteroids, anabolic steroids, narcotics, benzodiazepines, and street drugs such as amphetamines
- progesterone (found in some female hormonal pills)
- alcohol, which has short-term and possibly long-term depressive effects