As one of the most common mental health conditions in the world, most people have a basic understanding of what depression is. But that’s often limited to some of the common symptoms. 

Depression impacts everyone differently. Some people are able to function better than others. Some severely struggle with symptoms and can have a hard time even getting out of bed in the morning.

What many people don’t realize, however, is how depression truly affects the brain. It’s a mental health condition, so what’s happening inside the mind when you’re depressed? The changes to your brain structure during depression might surprise you.

Grey Matter Abnormalities

Everyone has grey matter in the brain. It’s a term used to describe areas of tissue. People who struggle with depression often have thicker areas of grey matter throughout the brain, especially in parts dealing with emotions. 

However, there is some debate about which areas of the brain are actually impacted. In other spots, grey matter tends to shrink, which can contribute to the next serious issue caused by depression. 

A Shrinking Brain

When you’re depressed, your body produces more of a “stress hormone” called cortisol. Too much cortisol can impact your body in a variety of ways. It can even cause parts of the brain to “shrink.” Most importantly, it reduces the size of the prefrontal cortex  and hippocampus. 

The hippocampus is essential for learning and memory, but it’s also connected to other parts of the brain responsible for controlling emotions. Because of that, it’s a susceptible area of the brain to be impacted by depression. 

The prefrontal cortex doesn’t actually fully develop until adulthood. It’s responsible for decision-making and planning. That makes it even more dangerous for kids and teens to struggle with depression. Even as an adult, a shrinking prefrontal cortex can make it difficult to focus on thinking ahead. That might lead you to make decisions about things that are out of character for you. 

Feelings of Fear

While more research needs to be done, it’s clear that depression also impacts the area of your brain called the amygdala. That’s the center of your brain responsible for your fear responses. There isn’t a definitive answer as to whether depression shrinks the amygdala or causes its grey matter to increase. 

Either way, it can lead to feelings of anxiety, guilt, hopelessness, and even sleep troubles. Unfortunately, all of these side effects can make your depression worse by causing you to feel helpless and even more “down” about life in general. 

Does the Brain Change Forever?

Learning about how depression affects your brain can be overwhelming and even a bit scary. Stop and take a breath. Worrying about the impact of depression will only lead to more hopeless, helpless thoughts, and might also trigger anxiety. 

The reality is that the effects of depression likely cause long-term changes. The more severe your depression, the more likely it is that your brain has already experienced those changes, so the condition itself can be difficult to treat. 

But don’t lose hope. 

The best thing you can do for yourself is to seek out professional help. Depression is often very manageable, and you don’t have to deal with it on your own. 

The best way to treat depression is to get to the root cause. Antidepressants can make a big difference in balancing brain chemicals and improving restoration efforts. But it’s also important to talk to someone about your symptoms and what you’re feeling. A therapist can help with that.

If you’re dealing with depression and you’ve started to see it impact your life in negative ways, don’t hesitate to contact me. Set up an appointment for depression therapy soon, and take charge of your mental well-being.