Take the Stigma out of Depression

Is it all in your head? Yes, yes, it is! Depression is a condition where the

individual has a reduced number of neurotransmitters such as serotonin,

dopamine, and norepinephrine. What are neurotransmitters?

Neurotransmitters are chemicals in our brain and body that communicate

with one nerve cell to the next and then signal what action the body needs to take. Neurotransmitters communicate vital information such as heart rate,

muscle movements, mood regulation, learning, and sleep function to name a

few.

The decrease in these vital neurotransmitters have a negative impact on the

functioning of the brain. One of the issues is a “disrupted connectivity and

functioning of neural networks” (NIH), in other words, our brain is slower to

send and receive information as well as slower to act on the information it receives. This accounts for symptoms of depression such as lack of motivation, slowed thinking, poor concentration, problems with sleep, and feeling down. The lack of these vital neurotransmitters leads to a decrease in the brain’s ability to be active or “online.”

Many of us have experienced the exhaustion of depression, the struggle to find

motivation, the feeling that we can’t keep up with the demands of life. This is

our brain trying it’s best to function with a limited supply of needed

ingredients. So next time someone tells you that you’re feeling down is all in

your head, tell them that they are right, though not the way they think they are.