Oftentimes, the cause of depression is associated with a serotonin imbalance in the brain.
Of course, that means, when your serotonin levels are off it’s an important indicator for depression. Yet, experiencing a chemical imbalance is not the whole story at all.
In fact, research is discovering that depression is not just a disorder of the brain. Rather, it is an affliction of both the body and mind.
Studies show that the physical condition of the brain can be very influential in whether or not someone has depression. This is true also with how the brain releases chemicals, including serotonin.
What are some of these conditions?
The Prefrontal Cortex and Depression
One problem that can occur with the brain lies in the prefrontal cortex. The prefrontal cortex is responsible for causing you to feel either “positive” or “negative” emotions. In fact, very specific areas of the prefrontal cortex control particular emotions. The left side of the prefrontal cortex governs positive emotions, while the right side controls negative ones.
However, what researchers have learned is that the left side of the prefrontal cortex in depressed people doesn’t work right. There just isn’t the electrical brain activity present in that area compared to a non-depressed person. Yet, issues in the prefrontal cortex are not the only physical indicators of depression.
When the Amygdala Doesn’t Work
Another physical problem that can occur in the brain lies with the amygdala. This is the part of the brain responsible for actually generating negative feelings. It’s linked to the left side of the prefrontal cortex and has the power to determine how severely you will experience depression.
Two important discoveries have been made in connection with the amygdala:
- Under brain scans, scientists have learned the amygdala assesses the experiences you have in life. If you have a negative experience, it codes that experience in order to let you know to feel fear or a similar emotion.
- The blood flow to the amygdala is higher in depressed people. Also, if you are in a situation where you feel helpless, the amygdala becomes even more active.
Here’s where the connection to the left side of the prefrontal cortex comes into play. When the left side of the prefrontal cortex activates (positive thoughts), the amygdala deactivates. Yet, if you are depressed that part of the prefrontal cortex isn’t activating. That, in turn, means an ungoverned amygdala.
Glial Cells and Serotonin Imbalance
As mentioned at the outset, depression is often associated with a serotonin imbalance. Yet, you most likely haven’t heard what causes that imbalance in the first place.
The origin of this problem lies in glial cells, or more specifically, a lack of glia cells. Glia cells are important because they supply glucose to the brain’s neurons, which they need to function properly. They also keep in check the amount of glutamate in the brain.
Basically, if you don’t have enough glia, then your neurons don’t get the glucose they need and the levels of glutamate in your brain are not kept in control. Thus, the neurons receive too much glutamate and, in turn, the neurotransmitter branches in the brain fail. That’s a big problem because neurotransmitters are critical for all the parts of your brain to communicate with one another.
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As you can see, there is more to depression than simply a serotonin imbalance. It’s an affliction of the body and mind as well as a disorder of the brain. This is helpful in understanding how depression forms and what to do about it. (We will discuss more in another part of this post.)
Even if you’re dealing with chemical or brain imbalances, that doesn’t mean all hope is lost. You can get help for your depression by seeking a therapist for depression treatment. I would be happy to help you find a way to address your depression.
