Mental Health America reports that nearly 19 million persons in the U.S. suffer from major depressive disorder. That is only among Americans aged 18 and above. If you have depression Charlotte, your symptoms can be severe or mild. Symptoms of clinical depression can include sadness, excessive or inadequate sleep, and feeling less energetic and unworthy.
If you do not promptly address long-lasting depression, it can take a toll on your physical and mental health. Depression can impair your immune and nervous systems and the heart. Below are the changes that can emerge in your brain when chronically depressed.
How depression affects your brain
Initial clinical studies showed that depression resulted from an imbalance in the concentration of chemicals in the brain. A traumatic event such as the loss of a dear one can trigger the imbalance of the brain’s chemicals, leading to depression.
That is why your doctor may prescribe antidepressants. They help restore the normal balance of the brain’s chemicals. For instance, some medications promote the availability of more serotonin, a hormone transmitting chemical signals in nerve cells throughout the body.
While chemical imbalance can trigger depression, recent clinical studies show many complex issues are at play. There are still studies investigating the complex series of issues that cause depression.
Depression has various effects on your brain. It can cause inflammation and the shrinking of different zones of the brain. Moreover, an imbalance in neurotransmitters can restrict nutrient intake.
Because a zone of your brain shrinks, it can decrease your ability to perform functions related to that zone. For example, you can have difficulty recognizing emotional signals or cues from others.
The cerebral function will be affected if your brain does not get sufficient oxygen supply. As the largest section of your brain, the cerebrum assists in initiating and coordinating your movement. It also helps regulate body temperature and permits functions enabling problem-solving and talking.
Remedies for clinical depression
If you have a concerning depression problem that interferes with your daily routines and risks your life, talk with your health provider.
Your doctor can advise you to use certain medications to improve your brain’s chemistry and chemical balance. Do not forget to inform your medical doctor if prescribed medicines do not provide the right level of relief against depression. Moreover, consult your health specialist if medications are aggravating your symptoms or causing severe side effects.
You can also depend on self-care remedies to improve clinical depression symptoms. For instance, it may seem that drinking alcohol and taking recreational drugs help reduce your symptoms. However, eventually, alcohol and drugs are detrimental to your health and can worsen depression symptoms.
Furthermore, ensure you are busy and physically active. Always find time for traveling with friends and jogging, hiking, or swimming. As long as your body is physically active, it can help encourage the normal working of neurotransmitters and stabilize brain chemicals.
If medication and healthy living are ineffective in relieving clinical depression symptoms, your doctor can recommend ketamine therapy biographyer.
Contact Charlotte Ketamine Center today to schedule an appointment and learn if ketamine or other treatments can relieve your depression symptoms.