Depression is a reality. It’s a disease that we all have encountered in our lives. Depression affects not only our brain, but also our body.
How depression affects your brain and what are physical and psychological symptoms that should be addressed timely, are listed below.
Effects of depression on the brain
Depression affects the hormones in our brain that are responsible to send messages to the rest of our body. These hormones are further subdivided into norepinephrine, dopamine, and serotonin.
Now if you are experiencing continuous symptoms of depression, then multiple psychotic changes can be triggered within your brain and you may directly experience underlying medication conditions and structural changes.
Many people experience moderate depression symptoms once in their lives, while some of them may have intense episodes of depression attacks over the period of their entire life.
These lasting intensive depression symptoms are called Major Depressive Disorders (MDD) that can result in some severe life events, like the loss of a loved one.
The MDD has several prolonged symptoms including:
- Lack of interest in the event
- Extreme and sudden weight loss/gain
- Appetite imbalance
- Fatigue
- Sleeping too little or too much
- Difficulty in concentrating, thinking, and making a decision
- Multiple arousing thoughts of attempting suicide
- Exhaustion and weird feeling
Effects of depression on the body and brain
People think that depression only occurs when you feel sad, hopeless, or helpless. Depression also disturbs your physical health.
Check out some of the physical effects that you may incur due to depression.
Tiredness
Depression may make you feel tired that eventually lead you to lose the efficiency you need at your workplace, to perform certain tasks even in writing an email.
Weekend immune system
Research says that depression can affect the immune system badly. When your immune system is busy responding to the hormones triggered by depression, then it may be less equipped for the other viruses hitting your body at the same time.
If you are diagnosed with any other disease, then it is highly recommended to remain extra careful by washing your hands regularly and taking important precautionary measures.
Sleeping disruptions
It is easy for some people to just lie down on the cozy bed and fall asleep. But for people with depression, it’s much difficult to have a sound sleep. Try helping your body fall asleep by going to bed a bit earlier than usual.
Depression symptoms may also go beyond your expectations. To know what causes depression, keep reading the article.
What are the causes of depression?
A number of things can cause depression ranging from circumstantial and biological reasons including:
- Life events
- Continuous trauma
- Drug use
- Family history
- Early childhood distresses
Many people get depressed because of drug abuse. They get themselves indulged in more chronic mental conditions such as self-judging and criticizing themselves for every bad situation.
If you’re worried about the problems arising due to depression, then you must seek help from your physician, explaining everything that you incur.
You may be asked to answer a series of questions related to your appetite, weight loss, moods, and thoughts. Be expressive to get the most from your physician.