Do you feel like you're drowning in life's journey? Are you just going through the motions?
I heard a saying one time that I feel is such a profound statement about "depression" and I'd like to share it with you today.
"Depression is living in a body that fights to survive . . . with a mind that tries to die"!
So for the next few days, let's take a moment to discover why we feel this emotion.
You see . . . "depression" is deeper than just being sad, lonely or scared.
The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 16.2 million U.S. adults have had at least one major depressive episode. And sadly . . . "depression" is becoming a more common mental disorder.
Globally . . . more than 264 million people of all ages suffer from depression. And unfortunately . . . "depression" is a leading cause of disability worldwide and is a major contributor to the overall global burden of disease. With more women being affected than men.
Science states "Depression" is a mood disorder that causes a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest, which affects how we feel, think and behave. This is turn, can lead to a variety of emotional and physical problems.
It's well known, that life events, long-term unemployment, living in an abusive or uncaring relationship, long-term isolation or loneliness and prolonged work stress are "all" among the elements that make us feel depressed.
We're also told that other elements like faulty mood regulation by the brain, genetic vulnerability, medications and medical problems are some of the factors that cause depression.
We even know that the hormone called "cortisol" that I've spoken about many times . . . is a key factor in depression. The influx of cortisol triggered by depression also causes the amygdala to enlarge. This is a part of the brain associated with emotional responses. And when it becomes larger and more active . . . it causes "sleep disturbances", changes in activity levels, and changes in other hormones. This in turn causes "brain inflammation".
And guess what??? All this information is absolutely correct . . .
And rightly so . . . BUT the "true" elements to "depression" are hidden deep within us and are never spoken of.
So let's continue on . . .
For the average person experiencing any form of "depression" . . . it can last 4 to 8 months if treated accordingly. And the 3 most common methods used are "cognitive behavioral therapy", "interpersonal therapy" and "psychodynamic therapy".
Okay . . . so most physicians will prescribe an antidepressant. And they claim antidepressants are effective against chronic, moderate and severe depression. With the most common prescribed being SSRIs.
Now . . . Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (SSRI) treat depression by increasing levels of serotonin in the brain (We've spoken about serotonin many times before). Serotonin is one of the chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that carry signals between brain nerve cells.
Stimulants are another avenue that's used to treat depression. And most of the time, they're used with other antidepressant and/or therapy. But a simulant just increases alertness, attention and energy . . . and are called mood boosters.
So none of this . . . whether it be therapy, anti-depressants or stimulants, are the cure to "depression".
They're only a band-aid to a severe illness.
So what really causes all this emotional turmoil???
Well . . . tomorrow we'll continue to discover the "true" elements lurking deep within us.
As always, feel free to contact me here