TeenHelp - Feeling Negativity

That's a difficult question!

Feeling negative can be caused by a mixture of environment, life stressors, poor relationships but also chemical imbalances in the brain- which may or may not be passed on genetically.

Feeling negative frequently doesn't necessarily mean that someone has a mental disorder. It may be a natural feeling if they have experienced negative life events. However, if the negative feeling doesn't seem to have a trigger or doesn't ease with time or is seen with other symptoms, then it may be a mental disorder.

For example, in some areas, screening for depression may ask questions such as whether you have experienced low mood on most days for the last two weeks, but also whether you are more tired, having poor sleep, lacking appetite or eating more, feeling hopeless etc. In order for a 'feeling' to be classed as a mental disorder, it usually has to be lasting, seen with other symptoms and causing problems with your everyday life.

Some mental disorders may have a genetic component, for example schizophrenia, but it doesn't necessarily mean that if a family member has it then you will get it- it just means you may be at a higher risk than people who don't have family members with the disorder. Equally, there can be a complex link between exposure to mental disorders and later developing mental disorders, not necessarily inherited. For example, if your parents are severely depressed and unable to look after you properly, you may be at risk for depression, not because it's genetic, but because of how growing up with a depressed parent may have affected you.

That said, many mental disorders can be treated with a combination of therapy, medication and/or lifestyle changes.

I'm wondering why you asked this question? Is this something you are concerned about?

Hope this helps a bit :)