Dead Batteries
Depression affects so much more than just your feelings and emotions; it can have unpleasant physical impacts as well. Prolonged depression can change the function and structure of your brain and body, sometimes in irreversible ways. If you’ve suffered from this often debilitating condition, you will know this to be true. It is not uncommon to experience fatigue, chronic pain, hives, constipation, headaches, muscle aches, dizziness, nausea, vision problems, weight fluctuation, hair loss, speech impediments, and high blood pressure. Untreated depression over a long period of time can even make you more prone to heart attacks, diabetes, and dementia. Those are just some of the physical symptoms that can occur alongside depression. So when I say that wellness begins in the mind and ends with the body, I mean it.
There isn’t sufficient evidence to claim that depression can cause actual brain damage, but several studies conducted around this very concern demonstrate that it’s not a far-fetched concept. In a study of 9,000 individual samples collected, researchers found a causal relationship between persistent depression and brain damage. Upon comparing the Magnetic Resonance Images (MRIs) of participants diagnosed with chronic depression verses individuals without, shrinkage of the hippocampus was found in the former. Specifically, the study found that those patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder showed robust reductions in hippocampal volume.
The hippocampus is a small area of the brain that is located in the medial temporal lobe. It is comprised of two halves; one of which resides in each hemisphere of the brain. It plays an important role in the limbic system. It is the region in the brain associated with the creation of new and long term memories. Inside the hippocampus resides the amygdala and its key role is to process and comprehend emotions. This part of the brain is attached to the limbic system and functions to connect emotions to memories; the hippocampus is pivotal in controlling emotions. Professor Ian Hickie explains the hippocampus’ relationship to depression, “Your whole sense of self depends on continuously understanding who you are in the world – your state of memory is not about just knowing how to do Sudoku or remembering your password – it’s the whole concept we hold of ourselves.” Hickie further elaborates on the relationship between a shrinkage in the hippocampus and changes in behavior observed in animals from the past, “We’ve seen in a lot of other animal experiments that when you shrink the hippocampus, you don’t just change memory, you change all sorts of other behaviors associated with that – so shrinkage is associated with a loss of function.”
A loss of function, indeed. Depression causes lack of motivation in completing simple day-to-day tasks like bathing, eating, or leaving the house. Something as mundane as brushing your teeth or putting a dirty plate in the sink can leave you feeling like the energy required to do so will drain you of any functionality remaining… like your batteries ran out. It’s also common for those suffering from depression to have deflated self confidence and low self esteem. There have been many occasions where I found myself thinking, “Everyone hates me and I’m unworthy of love. It shouldn’t be so hard for me to get out of bed or reply to an email. I’m so feeble and pathetic.” When in reality, depression being a sign of mental weakness is a huge misconception! I would argue that those suffering from depression are among the strongest of us. Why? They keep showing up despite it all.
Mental strength does not equate to no mental illness. When someone has cancer, no one ever says, “It’s because he wasn’t physically strong enough.” Instead, we look to things like genetics, the environment, and the person’s immune system. While it’s clear that a nutritious diet, plenty of sleep, and regular exercise can prevent certain health issues, some physical illnesses cannot be prevented. There are so many factors that can lead to or make you more prone to being depressed, most of which are completely out of your control. Rather than gossiping about someone who is hospitalized for self harm or blaming someone with depression for being lazy, what if instead we applauded them for staying strong? For continuing to fight? It’s important to note that mental strength isn’t the same as acting tough or seeing how much you can endure. Instead, it’s about taking the steps to reach your greatest potential, which often involves asking for help when you need it.
Depression isn’t a choice but there are things you can do to help change your outlook.
- Be mindful. Live in the present and connect with every moment as it happens.
- Increase your self awareness. To break free of a negative thought cycle, you must first understand yourself.
- Be grateful. Resentment, regret, and guilt hinder your ability to show gratitude. Feel them, accept them, and let them go. There is always, always, always something to be grateful for.
- Meditate. Sharpen your brain and improve neural connectivity.
- Seek support. Release the stigma by confiding in your loved ones and a therapist. They will understand and support you more than you’ll ever know. When your mind is clouded and you can’t see the light, the people around can always help guide you on the way.
280 million people around the globe of all ages, races, genders, and backgrounds suffer from depression. It’s a condition that does not discriminate. Take comfort in knowing you are not alone. Getting help is an act of love for yourself and those you care about. You are endlessly capable, resilient, and cherished beyond measure. But most of all, you are infinitely stronger than you realize.
“If you could only sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to the people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” - Mr. Fred Rogers
*Not medical advice. And please remember that I’m sharing my unique experience. Everyone’s mental health looks different.