subject: Physiological Basis of Depression [print this page] The aim of this article is to help people who are feeling depressed and unhappy with their lives. I am currently doing research in the field of neuroscience in the university in my home country. I live in Europe and English is not my native language, please excuse possible grammatical errors in this article.
Depression is a serious condition that can incapacitate a person. Severely depressed person is unable to experience feelings of joy and pleasure. The structure of the neuronal networks in the brain of a depressed person has been altered as a result of prolonged exposure to stress and negative thoughts. In the brain of a depressed person the concentration of certain important neurotransmitters has been altered. This alteration eventually leads to structural changes in the brain. Depression develops as a result of these structural changes. In order to recover from depression these structural changes in the brain must be reversed. To read more about this topic, visit http://www.brain-depression.com/science-of-depression/54-the-physiology-of-depression-structural-changes-in-the-brain.html
There are many methods that can be used while trying to help people overcome depression. A common approach is to use antidepressants. Antidepressants are increasing the concentration of certain neurotransmitters in the brain, helping the brain to recover. When the brain has recovered enough it can maintain the healthy concentration of neurotransmitters without the external help of antidepressants.
In addition to using antidepressants it is important to understand what has caused depression in a first place and to remove that factor from one's life in order to prevent depression from reoccurring. Psychotherapy is an effective tool that can help depressed person to understand the underlying reasons that contributed to the development of depression in a first place. It is important to eliminate those factors from one's life in order to prevent depression from reoccurring. To read more about this topic, visit http://www.brain-depression.com/depression-general-discussion/50-development-of-depression.html
The changes in the neuronal networks of the brain do not happen overnight. Depression develops slowly over the course of many years. Often people do not realize that they have become depressed until the condition is already quite advanced. In similar fashion it takes long time for the brain to heal itself and to reverse the negative changes that have occurred in the structure of the neuronal networks as a result of depression. This is the reason why it takes several weeks until antidepressants start to work and depressed person starts to feel better.
There are several things depressed person can do in order to help oneself to heal faster. The same neuronal mechanisms that have caused the depression in a first place can be used to speed up the recovery process. The most important thing is to understand what has caused the depression in a first place. Understanding the nature of the problem is the first step in the recovery process. To read more about this topic, visit http://www.brain-depression.com/
