Are you currently supporting someone with depression or even struggling with it yourself? Educating yourself on the topic can help you immensely with some great coping skills and even encourage the first step to getting professional help.

1. What are the effects on your brain
caused by depression?
In today's society, depression is a disorder that affects millions of people worldwide. In fact,
according to the National Institute of Mental Health, approximately 16 million adults aged 18
or older in the United States had at least one major depressive episode in 2013. Depression
can have various effects on your brain and body, which can be very harmful if not treated
properly. Without treatment, these effects can lead to suicide attempts and suicide itself. For
this reason, you must understand what depression does to your brain so you know how best to
cope with it and seek help from professionals if necessary.
In this post, we will discuss some common symptoms of depression and how they affect your
physical and mental health.
What is depression, and what causes it?
Depression is a mental health disorder characterized by persistently depressed mood or loss
of interest in activities, causing significant impairment in daily life. Possible causes include a
combination of biological, psychological, and social sources for the distress that can be found
anywhere from your family to society at large.

2. Depression Symptoms
Possible signs of depression can include the following:
 Trouble concentrating and making decisions
 Short and long term memory loss
 Fatigue
 Feelings of guilt, worthlessness, and helplessness, and anxiety
 Pessimism and hopelessness
 Insomnia, early-morning wakefulness, or sleeping too much
 Crankiness or irritability
 Restlessness
 Loss of interest in things once pleasurable, including sex
 Overeating or appetite loss
 Aches, back pain, pains, headaches, or cramps that won't go away
 Digestive problems that don't get better, even with treatment
 Persistent sad, anxious, or empty feelings
 Weight gain or weight loss
 Suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts
The different types of depression
1. Major Depression: The classic depression type, major depressive disorder, is a state where
one's mood becomes so dark it affects every aspect of life. People may lose interest in
activities they used to enjoy or things that were once important to them. Even the most
beautiful thing has become irrelevant when you are constantly sad all day long with no relief
coming soon enough.
2. Persistent Depressive Disorder (dysthymia): A person suffering from dysthymia will
experience low moods most days. They may have a chronic sense of sadness and emptiness,
with no energy for pleasure or plans outside work due to the debilitating nature of this mental
disorder linked by some experts as being more difficult than major depression. There are
fewer outward expressions on an individual level even though these emotions can manifest
internally, sometimes through self-criticism rather than just feeling sad all day long without
any release from those feelings whatsoever.
3. Bipolar Disorder: Bipolar disorder is a mood disorder that can cause manic episodes.
Professionals use the term "mania" to describe individuals who experience these intense
mood swings. From being very depressed or irritable to excessively excited and energetic in
what seems like no time at all, it only lasts about three days on average before they crash
again. Their lack of stability leads many sufferers into despair once more as this pattern
repeats itself over the years. They are eventually leading to some severe damage.
4. Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD): Seasonal Affective Disorder, also known as SAD, is a
condition that can affect people during the winter seasons. It's most popularly associated with
the fall and spring months. Still, it occurs during summer or autumn, without much difference
between those seasons on how one gets affected by this disorder rather than another period
within them. What varies greatly are their symptoms which change depending on if they live

3. further north (in Canada) versus the south, where there may be more sunlight available
throughout each day.
5. Perinatal Depression: Perinatal depression is a major or minor depressive episode during
pregnancy and can have devastating effects on the woman, her infant child, and their
families. Perineally depressed mothers are at an increased risk for postpartum blues and
anxiety. Not everyone gets it, but it affects up to 7 out of ten women after childbirth, even if
they had no previous history with mood disorders before becoming pregnant. This number
jumps significantly higher without adequate support from family members.
6. PMDD: PMDD is a condition that affects 1-in ten premenopausal women. It's most common
during your menstrual cycle but can also happen between cycles or after menstruation has
ended; one patient reported the latest onset at age 64.
Effects depression has on your brain.
Brain changes are a common depression side effect that worsens the more prolonged the
individual is depressed.
 Brain Shrinkage: Research shows that depression can make the brain shrink A chemical
imbalance caused by the hormone cortisol – a.k.a. the stress hormone – triggers this
shrinkage. The amount of shrinkage depends on how long the brain has been exposed to the
depressive episode. The hippocampus, thalamus, amygdala, frontal and prefrontal cortices are
all regions of the brain that have been seen to shrink with prolonged exposure to depression.

4.  Brain Inflammation: Significant brain inflammation is more common among those who
suffer from PDD. Brain inflammation can cause brain cells to die, leading to more severe
complications such as decreased neurotransmitters, neurotransmitters, neuroplasticity, and
dysfunctions in learning, mood, memory, and brain development.
 Oxygen restriction: People with depression often experience hypoxia, which is reduced
oxygen flow to the brain. This could cause brain cell injury, brain cell death, stop the growth
of new brain cells, and, as mentioned above- brain inflammation.
 Structural changes: Reduced hippocampus, prefrontal cortex, and amygdala functionality can
impair memory. With this reduction in brainpower, you may find it difficult to get tasks done
(executive function) or pay attention; these effects are also seen on emotional regulation,n
which would affect moods over time.
Treatment options for those suffering from
depression:
Therapy- Therapy can help with the symptoms of depression, and rehabilitation programs are
known to be effective at getting rid of this mental health condition completely or significantly
reducing its severity in some cases because they work on both psychosocial factors like
relationships skills as well as biomedical ones such Kohler function - an integrated approach
towards diagnosis consisting primarily from patient self-report without physical examination
findings alone. Thoughtherapistst cannot provide medical advice. They know a lot about this

5. medical condition.
Medication-Depression is one of the most common mental illnesses in America. Medication
is an effective treatment for it. A new study in the Journal of Affective Disorders reports that
certain medications can effectively treat the major depressive disorder. The trial involved 59
patients diagnosed with MDD and given either fluoxetine (Prozac), trazodone, nefazodone,e
or placebo over 12 weeks; they found a 20% response rate among those receiving medication
at six months follow up an interview without any increased risk to adverse reactions. The
novel finding was about the efficacy and positive outcomes where responders had more

6. stable moods during both Phases 2 & 3 assessments.
Self Help-Self help starts by taking care of yourself - exercise, eat healthy food, and rest well
so that way when your mind starts feeling better than before-you're able to maintain an active
lifestyle without any setbacks or complications due to lack-of energy from medication side

7. effects.
Preventative measures and helpful tips to
take care of your mental health:
1. Avoid stress: Though not always easy, avoiding stress can help relieve some of the effects of
untreated major depressive disorder and improve emotional health.
2. Exercise: Exercise has been known to regulate mood and improve physical health.
3. Follow a balanced diet: Avoid trans fats and sugary goods, red meat, and incorporate feel-
good foods like fresh fruits.
4. Get enough sleep: a lack of sleep often worsens the effects of depression. Try going to bed,
waking up simultaneously every day, and limiting exposure to bright light in the evening.
5. Cut down on alcohol and recreational drugs: The use of alcohol and substance abuse worsens
the effects of depression. Try to cut back or quit altogether.
6. Avoid triggers: Although it might not be possible to avoid all depression triggers, try to
reduce your exposure to them. For example, try to check social media only once a day at a
specific time.

8. What physical effects does Alzheimer's disease have on the
body?
The physical effects of Alzheimer's disease were seen in many areas. One central area
affected is the brain, which shrinks due to nerve cell loss and chronic inflammation.
Researchers found the damage from beta-amyloid proteins between neurons involved with
memory function throughout this illness. The output tone should remain professional.
Depression is a topic many people do not want to talk about because it's so common. To fight
the stigma, we should start talking more openly and help understand depression and its
effects on your brain and body. It can be scary when you're experiencing symptoms of
depression, but there are ways to get help before it gets worse. Don't suffer in silence if you
think this might be happening for you or someone close to you! Reach out for support from
loved ones and professionals who know how best to help with treatment options. You don't
have to go through this alone; there are endless resources available online and local
organizations where one-on-one counseling sessions happen every day across the country!