We know that depression affects you mentally. You feel like it takes too much energy to get out of bed, feel sadness for long periods of time, and find it hard to take care of yourself. 

However, did you know that depression does something to our brain physically as well? It is a chemical imbalance that affects the central control center of our nervous system. 

Here’s how depression affects the brain physically.

Shrinkage

There are people with depression who experience a decrease in the size of specific brain regions. It is hard to know which regions of the brain are affected and by how much. The amount of shrinkage depends on the severity of depression and the length of the depressive episodes.

The hippocampus, for example, can have noticeable changes from eight months to a year during a single depressive episode or multiple short ones.

Shrinkage of a section of the brain can affect its functions. For instance, if the prefrontal cortex and the amygdala work together to control emotional responses, brain shrinkage could reduce empathy in people with postpartum depression.

Inflammation

Brain inflammation can be linked with the amount of time a person has been depressed. According to one study, people depressed for more than 10 years had 30% more inflammation than those depressed for less than that. 

That means those with persistent depression have a significant amount of inflammation. Because brain inflammation can cause brain cells to die, this can lead to dysfunctions of:

  • Brain development
  • Learning
  • Mood
  • Memory

Lack of Brain Oxygen

Depression can affect oxygen in the brain due to breathing changes that depression causes. If the brain is highly sensitive to reduction in oxygen, it can lead to:

  • Inflammation
  • Brain cell injury
  • Brain cell death

Mental development, learning, memory, and mood can be affected by the lack of oxygen. Even short-term reduction can lead to being in a state of confusion. Luckily, hyperbaric oxygen chamber treatments bring more oxygen to the brain and have been effective for depression patients.

Other Brain Function Issues

Other effects of depression on the brain can include a reduced function of the hippocampus, leading to memory impairment. Depression can also lead to a reduction in the prefrontal cortex.

This prevents a person from getting things done as well as a short attention span. If the amygdala is affected, so is a regulation in mood and emotions. 

Changes could take at least eight months to develop. Memory, attention, mood, and emotional regulation can occur if depression lasts for a long time. 

What Can Be Done

It’s important to seek help for depression, especially if it’s chronic and severe. There is never any shame to ask for help from a professional. A therapist can introduce you to cognitive or group therapy to find support.

You can learn all about mindfulness practices to help you stay in the present moment. Antidepressants can also help manage the physical changes that occur from depression as well as when you experience a depressive episode.

While you may not be able to stop all stress, there are simple strategies you can try at home. You can exercise three to five days a week for 30 minutes each day. You can also write down in a journal your depressive episodes so that you do not lock up your feelings. Find support from your friends and family to talk you down from a depressive episode and make you feel good.

Remember to take your depression treatment one day at a time. Treat depression not only for the sake of healthy brain function, but for your overall wellbeing as well.