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.