Why depression is not good for your overall health?

Although Depression is a medical condition that many a time can be treated and reversed, prolong depression may result in serious brain damage both physically and functionally. When you suffer from poor mental health, your brain is physically changed because of the change in chemicals in the brain. Research by the National Institutes of Health shows that you lose GMV which is a gray matter when you suffer from depression. This loss is caused by parts of your brain shrinking due to the hormone cortisol hindering the growth of your brain cells. 

Before we look into what kind of treatment depressed patients need, it would be helpful to understand what leads a person into this condition, the key information on the effects of depression on your brain, and how these transform into changes in both intellectual and physical health. The gray matter volume contains most of your neurons or nerve cells, the more serious depression a person suffers, the more GMV they lose. Slowed growth and replacement of new brain cells means that your cognitive capabilities are at risk of deterioration.

What causes depression?

According to studies, a person can be depressed due to four main reasons. Recently diagnosed Medical conditions such as diabetes, cancer, or any other chronological disease, or can be genetics related, or meeting up with a traumatic event in one’s life can be a triggering point for a person to suffer from depression.

How does our brain work?

The brain is the most complicated and one of the major organs of the human body. It is connected with our senses and complex yet efficient nervous system. This tender organ is constantly influenced by the environment that we live in. For example, the olfactory stimulus such as the fragrance of a freshly bloomed flower would give a different thought and emotion from the smell of freshly baked bread. Similarly, auditory stimuli like classic music affect our mood and feelings differently from jazz music. Physical exertion, pharmaceuticals, and environmental awareness, and all can make a significant effect on our brain. The things that we see, hear, smell, touch, and taste create the emotions and thoughts, which determine our behavior and actions that subsequently become the world that we live in.

What are the parts of the brain that are involved in Depression?   

Hippocampus is the other core area of the brain which gets affected when depressed. This hippocampus is functionally responsible for processing memories and producing stress-relieving cortisol hormone. When a person is depressed the production of this hormone gets hijacked, and the low level of cortisol creates a bad mood and stops producing new neurons resulting in poor memory and bad mood.

How to overcome depression?

Although any significant traumatic event can trigger depression in a person, according to research and surveys it has been discovered that 80% of the patients can be treated with proper medication, support system, and food and lifestyle changes within 4-6 weeks. With growing researches and technology genetic-based depression too shall be treated with advanced medication in the future.

How can we avoid getting into depression?

Several studies show that various natural methods can be helpful to avoid depression. Enhance your mindful- living by adapting to be present in the present moment while you're doing  your daily activities.

1. Get enough sleep. 

2. Regular exercise.

3. Practice simple breathing techniques. 

4.Practice guided meditations

5.Challenge your negative thoughts. 

6. Healthy food & healthy lifestyle.

7.Avoid alcohol and other drugs.

8.Check with your doctor before using supplements. 

9. Challenge your self to do something new. 

10. Enough Water intake