While sadness touches all of our lives at different times, the illness of
depression can have enormous depth and staying power… this illness cannot be lifted at will or wished or joked away.
Being depressed has nothing to do with personal weakness. Scientists’ developing knowledge of brain chemistry and findings from brain imaging studies reveal that changes in nerve pathways and brain chemicals called neurotransmitters can affect your moods and thoughts. These neurological changes may bubble up as symptoms of depression – including derailed sleep, suppressed appetite, agitation, exhaustion or apathy. A combination of genetic variations may heighten vulnerability to this disease.
Nerve pathways, chemistry, and genetics aren’t the whole story though;
traumatic or stressful life events, such as the death of a loved one, and psychological traits, such as a pessimistic outlook or a tendency toward isolation can contribute.
Research and recent breakthroughs have made this serious illness easier to treat. A variety of drugs and therapies can also be combined to boost the likelihood of a full remission.
Brain pathways that handle pain signals use some of the same chemical messengers (neurotransmitters) that are involved in the regulation of mood.
When these pathways start to malfunction, pain is intensified, along with sadness, hopelessness and anxiety.
Pain sensitivity and emotional storminess of fibromyalgia result from faulty brain pathways.
