Episode Summary
Yesterday I shared the 10 questions I will be seeking answers to as I better understand the mechanisms I can influence to help create a better neuro-chemical environment in my brain. Well I have begun my research and stumbled on an excellent article from the Harvard Medical School website that explained the many different causes of depression. In this episode I share what I’ve discovered and ask the additional questions that came to mind during that research.
Episode Show Notes
00:05 – Why I am doing this research.
00:34 – An excellent article called “What Causes Depression” from the Harvard Medical School website.
01:31 – The key message from the article is that depression is not just an issue of brain chemistry – there are many interrelated factors.
01:55 – The structure and functioning of the brain plays a significant role, in particular the Amygdala, the Thalamus and the Hippocampus.
02:21 – Researchers think depression may be the result of a sluggish production of new neurons by the hippocampus.
03:07 – Antidepressants take a few weeks to begin to take effect and it is believed that’s because they nudge the brain into working properly and it takes a few weeks to produce new neurons.
03:49 – This triggered this question for me – “Does that mean activities to stimulate the brain (like learning, new environments etc) have an important part to play?”
04:24 – A very simple explanation of the role of neurotransmitters in neuron to neuron communication.
06:17 – Low levels of serotonin in the brain appear to contribute to the susceptibility to low mood.
06:39 – Depression can often be a side effect to taking medication.
07:36 – Genetics play a part in our susceptibility to depression. However other than doing things that don’t impede our genetics, there’s not much we can influence.
08:17 – Temperament is a key cause of depression. This can be addressed using therapeutic interventions like CBT. I believe this is the root cause of my issues with low mood.
09:24 – Stress plays an important part in creating an internal environment that is more likely to drift towards depression.
10:23 – Trauma, especially early life trauma also plays a part in making us more likely to suffer with depression.
10:39 – Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is another possible cause of low mood as well as major illness and medication.
11:01 – The big question for me is this – “Out of all the causes, what am I able to influence if not control?
12:41 – Another question I have is this – “Does neuroplasticity give us any hope that we can decrease our susceptibility to low mood?”
