Depression: A Chemical And Emotional Abnormality In Our Brain

Depression is a steady course where all days pass slowly. Where you have no tears left, although you would very much like to cry. Where you feel like you’re going to die because you don’t have a smile left in your hopeless brain.

These sensations sound familiar to many people. It is about a very complicated and unique mood disorder. Depression is a public health problem that has a major impact. According to the World Health Organization, this will only increase in the coming years.

Something is happening. While governments around the world focus on economic numbers (treatments for mental health problems can cost as much as 4% of a country’s GDP), doctors and psychiatrists emphasize the importance of prevention. We know how to treat depression, but to this day  no one knows how  to avoid moments like these when we are overwhelmed by this chemical and emotional abnormality in our brains.

We invite you to take a look at this interesting aspect of our health and well-being.

Depression, a silent stigma

Depression doesn’t just happen. No one chooses to make this part of their daily life. No one chooses such a disconnection from the basic rhythm of life. A disconnection of positive emotions, of happiness. It simply has a slow start. It ripples along slowly, until it drowns you in helplessness, bad mood, pessimism and inability to react.

Michael King, a psychiatrist and professor in the Department of Mental Health Sciences at University College London (UCL), is one of the people responsible for the famous PredictD test. This test tries to predict a person’s risk of developing depression. He explains that this disease is still too stigmatized today.

As several studies reveal, it is estimated that nearly 50% of depressive illnesses go untreated. Or they don’t get the best kind of treatment for the patient’s individual needs. This leads to thousands of people developing depression in their own personal scenarios. And thousands of people around the world choose suicide as a solution to their pain and grief. This, or they simply give in to one relapse after another.

When the brain gets out of sync with life

According to more spiritualistic tendencies, each of us has our own ‘vibration’. You could say that people radiate a kind of inner music. This music, in turn, connects us with our peers, with certain places, contexts, and activities that resonate with our personality. This inner melody is a reflection of our active, passionate, curious brain.

When the depression sets in, we are less able to vibrate because the electrical impulses from certain parts of the brain diminish or slow down. We enter a lethargic state of mind, with fewer neuronal synapses taking place. A deep and delicate chemical reaction begins to take hold of us, and we find it difficult to get on with our lives.

We’ll take a look at this.

The effect of depression on the architecture of the brain

It is important to point out that depression does not just arise from an imbalance in the neurotransmitters. Genetic predisposition, emotional factors and even medical problems can undoubtedly make us more susceptible. Nevertheless, the effect this disorder has on our brains is remarkable. Let’s see.

• The hippocampus:  Part of the limbic system and responsible for processing memory, especially long-term memory. According to several studies, long periods of depression or chronic stress cause a reduction in the size of this brain structure. We suffer from memory loss and concentration problems. 
• Depression, in turn, causes a subtle and complex chemical chaos in which acetylcholine, serotonin, norepinephrine or dopamine disrupt our emotional balance. This makes it harder for us to fall asleep, or to motivate ourselves for something, we literally feel like the world has closed all doors for us.
• Another structure to keep in mind is the thalamus. This is a neuronal zone that receives sensory information and transmits it to the corresponding area of ​​the cortex. Thanks to this area, functions such as talking and movement are controlled. Patients with depression experience some degree of sluggishness when it comes to moving or communicating with dexterity and joy.  It’s very noticeable.

Thus, depression is a complex enemy that settles in our brains and hearts, where it affects us the most. Our thoughts become chaotic, disorganized and bitter. To the point where they get into a mental and emotional flow that can last for years.

Don’t let it happen. Don’t give up on yourself. Allow yourself to be helped. And most importantly, fight to get over it. Put on the shoes of hope and illusion again and put on optimistic glasses.