Confessions About Your Depression: March 2014

Tuesday, March 4, 2014

STRESS: The Obvious But Ignored Cause of High Depression and Suicide Rates Among Young Adults

Depression Linked to Stress?

All human beings, at some point or another in their lives, experience the negative effects of stress. People around the world have come up with multiple ways to treat and relieve stress while others have appreciated the heightened will to work and think while under stress. However, while stress is considered to be a normal part of everyday life, too much if it can be harmful biologically. An ongoing study and a unresolved biological phenomenon, research today shows that high levels of persistent stress is linked to depression, the mood disorder affecting more than 18 million American people.

Both chronic and acute stress could be the cause of the depression in people who are susceptible to the disorder. The presence of high stress levels that the body cannot handle usually leads to over activity of the brain's stress-response mechanism. Commonly known as the "stress hormone," the presence of cortisol then increases in the brain when dealing with major stress and subsequently the levels of dopamine and serotonin decrease in the brain. Such neurotransmitters are responsible for keeping the body functioning effortlessly as well as regulating a person's sex drive, energy, sleep, and hunger. Therefore, when affected by high stress and depression, mostly all people's health takes a toll due to the body's inability to regulate its sleep cycles, appetite, and energy. Though the effects of stress are widely known, the similar symptoms and effects of depression are often overlooked. By analyzing the clear connection that exists between hormonal imbalances and irregular variations of neurotransmitters in the brain, one can conclude that the ever present relation between stress and depression is a clear one that needs to be treated hand in hand.

In addition, a new biological link has been found by researcher Stephen Ferguson that explains why high amounts of stress in the brain can lead to depression. Published online in the journal Nature Neuroscience, Ferguson explains the experiments were conducted on rats by using molecular biology as their guiding light throughout the research. The study finally revealed that the depression-stress links lies in "the interaction between corticotropin releasing factor receptor 1 (CRFR1) and specific types of serotonin receptors (5-HTRs)" (Ferguson). The number of serotonin receptors on cell surfaces in the brain can cause abnormal brain signaling and cause fluctuating responses in turn. Furthermore, the varying amounts of serotonin receptors in the brain is a major cause of depression and proves the link between stress and depression.

The new research and resulting studies may be the key to establishing a whole new platform of depression treatment. Starting by reducing stress levels in individuals, the risk of becoming affected by depression can be greatly reduced. Also, if the stress levels in a person persist, a biological approach can be taken by composing medication that will effectively reduce the stress hormones in the body while fighting back the cause and effects of depression. A major mood disorder that can be deadly to those severely affected, depression is an issue that must be avidly researched and cured in the coming years. As stress levels rise among the growing population, the need to find and eliminate the link between depression and stress is more necessary than ever.

New Study Reveals That Curing Insomnia May Be The First Step to Curing Depression

Curing insomnia may be the first step to effectively treating depression, a new study reveals. Conducted by multiple universities with 60 to 70 subjects in each study, psychiatric researchers have concluded that treating insomnia in people diagnosed with depression will yield a better result of recovery when treated for depression. The link between sleep and mental stability has been a prevalent study for many years now, but it is only recently that the link between sleep and depression was so extensively studied. Depression is the most common mental disorder today and nearly half of those diagnosed with depression are also diagnosed with insomnia. The new study conducted by students at Ryerson University in Toronto and Stanford University in California established that curing insomnia doubled the chance of a person fully recovering from depression. At Ryerson, 87% of the subjects who partook in the experiment saw their depression symptoms disappear steadily after having received treatment for insomnia. The treatment for insomnia is a talk therapy where the ease and importance of sleep is explained to the subjects. They were also encouraged to keep journals to track their sleep pattern in order to make sure their insomnia was fully treated. The new study could shed light on better treatment methods for depression and highly increase the number of people who are fully cured of depression. Furthermore, the experiment is the stepping stone to researching more about how mental disorders are affected by our sleep patterns. More about the study is set to be revealed later on in 2014.

Monday, March 3, 2014

Bibliography

http://www.buzzfeed.com/hnigatu/comics-that-capture-the-frustrations-of-depression

2011 Depression & Anxiety (Medletter)

2007 Depression & Anxiety (Medletter)

http://www.health.harvard.edu/newsweek/what-causes-depression.htm

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/19/health/treating-insomnia-to-heal-depression.html?pagewanted=1&_r=2

http://psychcentral.com/news/2010/04/12/link-between-stress-anxiety-depression/12749.html

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/back-the-brink/201401/antidepressants-is-all-you-ve-got

http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/stress-depression

Feature: What really causes depression?

Depression is likely one of the most affecting mood disorders in today’s world. But what is depression? What causes it? Depression is a mood disorder characterized by a persistent low or sad mood, absent or lessened interaction in most activities, loss of self-confidence, and a feeling of worthlessness. The causes of depression remain fairly enigmatic. Countless theories attempt to explain what causes depression, whether they be grounded on unconscious memories or learned behaviors. However, in our opinion, there is overwhelming evidence that suggests depression is caused by various biological factors, and can therefore be treated through a biological approach.

The development of depression has been linked to imbalances in three of the brain’s important neurotransmitters: serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Neurotransmitters are chemical messengers that pass messages between neurons by crossing the synaptic gaps between neurons in the brain. Lower than normal levels of these specific types of neurotransmitters can cause depression. These low amounts of serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine are unable to stimulate the receiving neuron, causing neurons not to fire signals as often as they should or as is normal. Therefore, a lower amount of action potentials takes place. The chemical imbalances and lower amount of action potentials caused by the lack of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine neurotransmitters lessen activity in the areas of the brain that control mood, which ultimately results in depression.

Aside from imbalances in the brain’s neurotransmitters, imbalances in brain structures may also cause depression. Chemical imbalances affecting the limbic system may be another biological cause of depression. The limbic system is a ring of structures in the brain and includes the amygdala, hypothalamus, and hippocampus. This brain system is associated with many emotions, such as fear, aggression, and depression. Since the limbic system is associated with emotions, chemical imbalances that affect it may lead to a change in emotions or depression. Furthermore, the hippocampus, which plays a role in memory, is smaller in some depressed people, and research suggests that ongoing exposure to stress hormones impairs the growth of nerve cells in this part of the brain. The amygdala is a part of the brain that deals with emotions like sorrow, fear, anger, and pleasure. The brains of depressed people have higher activity in their amygdala, suggesting this part of the brain is associated with the mood disorder.

Depression has also been linked to genes. For example, if one identical twin has a mood disorder such as depression, there is close to a 46% chance that the other twin will also suffer from depression, while this is only true for about 20% of fraternal twins. Identical twins share more genes than fraternal twins do, so this higher occurrence of depression among identical twins suggests depression may be linked to genes. This idea is supported by the fact that adopted children whose biological parents were depressed are more likely to develop depression than their non-biological siblings raised in the same home.

Medical conditions or disorders can also lead to depression. Dementia that causes brain disorders like Alzheimer’s disease can make people more susceptible to depression. Hypothyroidism, a condition in which your body produces too little thyroid hormone, often leads to exhaustion and depression. Vitamin deficiencies have also been linked to depression.

There are many different manners of combating depression. Antidepressants are drugs that are commonly described to depressed people. These drugs, such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) block the reabsorption of neurotransmitters by the sending neuron and leaves them in the synapse, where they can be better available to stimulate the receiving neurons.

In retrospect, biological factors can describe the causes of depression. Although it is not completely known, we are aware that biology plays a big part in depression, as evidenced through the differences or imbalances in neurotransmitters or parts of the brain and genes.

Highlight: Letter to the Editors; From Rohan Chumbackchoo from Bandra, India

Dear Editor,

Upon reading your article recently about depression, I was frustrated over the biological significance you gave the topic. Depression can be cured. However, it starts from within each individual person affected by depression. By blaming the biology of a person's hormones and brain, your article made depression sound like an illness that affects the body. I, however, believe that depression is a result of the negative thinking and influences in a person's life. In fact, I believe that anti-depressant medication does not work because it is not curing anything. People are buying into the idea of the imbalance of chemicals in their head and getting hooked up on medication for no necessary reason. The people affected by depression are approaching life and its daily happenings with a negative state of mind. They are unable to see the way to change because of the negative judgement that clouds their mind. In fact, the best way to combat depression among people would be to get in touch with their mind. Only by channeling their thoughts, problems, and memories can we really understand what is bothering them and keeping them entrapped in darkness filled corner of their heart. Therefore, the whole biological approach to depression is blasphemous and the best way to approach depression is directly and individually without the help of drugs.

Sincerely,

Rohan Chumbackchoo

Top 10 Ways to Relieve Stress

Stress is an awful thing to experience no matter what age or gender, so here are our top ten ways on how to combat stress.

Exercise- Exercising releases endorphins which make you happier and relieves stress!
Balanced Diet- Often times an unhealthy diet contributes to the stress you feel. By eating a balanced diet, not only will your body feel better but your mind will too.
Warm Showers- Nothing is more soothing than a warm shower. Quick and easy, a warm shower can be a quick picker upper on the days you feel bummed out.
Talk With a Friend- Stress or no stress, a friend will be by your side anytime you need them. Talking to a friend and discussing how you fee is an easy and effective way of handling stress.
Take a Power Nap- Naps are the best things during the day when you feel like you're balancing the weight of the world on your head. Take a nap for about 30 minutes to feel refreshed and de-stressed.
Listen to Music- Listening to your favorite music has been shown to reduce cortisol, a hormone linked to stress.
Meditate- Meditation, along with controlled breathing exercises, can clear your head and easy away your stress and bring peace to you.
Sleep- Though napping can you boosts of energy, it is important to get about 8 to 9 hours of sleep a night. Sleep deprivation clouds the mind and kills your energy raising your stress levels.
Laugh- Laughing is the best way to shake off your stress. Find a funny movie, book, or group of friends to share a few comical moments and erase the stress.
Pamper Yourself- It is important to treat yourself when you work hard. After a stressful week at work or office, checking yourself in for a massage or Mani/Pedi will be rewarding not only externally but internally.

Highlight: Letter to the Editors; from Susie Freud of Vienna, Austria

Dear Editors of “Confessions About Your Depression”,

Although I respect your perspective and idea that depression stems from biological factors, I have to insist that they are utter hogwash. Depression can be better explained with the psychodynamic approach to psychology, and is often caused by suppressed or unconscious childhood experiences. People who suffer from depression are likely suffering from repressed memories of traumatizing or difficult events. For example, a child who has very demanding, neurotic, or inconsiderate parents will grow up in a hostile environment. This hostile environment may leave the child feeling neglected, alone, sad, or angry. However, the child may not express his or her feelings out of fear or obligation, so his or her feelings of sadness and anger may become repressed. The child may then subconsciously dwell on these feelings later in life and become depressed as a result. Moreover, children who are abused as children, whether verbally, mentally, physically, or sexually, may repress their memories of the abuse and consequent feelings. These feelings could later emerge and cause the person to feel worthless, which could lead them into becoming depressed. Unconscious thoughts or experiences from a person’s childhood can cause the person to develop depression later on, although they may be unaware of the repressed memories or thoughts. Overall, although your blog’s biological approach to depression has some ground, the psychodynamic approach is clearly more valid.

Sincerely,

Susie Freud

Antidepressants not the best remedy for depression?

According to recent findings, antidepressants have been more commonly prescribed in recent years than in the past. They are often seen as a first option or “quick-fix” to depression or other mood disorders, so their prevalence has increased over the years. Doctors have also been prescribing antidepressants for milder symptoms and mood disorders. However, antidepressants interfere with brain chemistry and, when prescribed alone, are not the best way to combat depression. Instead, antidepressants should be part of a holistic depression treatment plan that incorporates lifestyle changes and therapy. So, if you or a loved one is looking to treat depression, keep in mind that antidepressants can be harmful to brain chemistry and that they alone are not the most effective treatment for depression.

Confessions About Your Depression