The way you feel, act and think is a very important part of life, and depression affects all of them. This disorder sometimes affects the mood as well and some of the prominent functions of the disorder include depressed mood or feeling sad, loss of interest, changes in the appetite, increase of fatigue, feeling guilty, having difficulty in making decisions, and having suicidal feelings. These symptoms of depression can be due to many factors such as medical conditions, brain tumor, vitamin deficiency, and thyroid problems. In order to diagnose the disorder, the symptoms must stay for at least two weeks.

Factors That May Cause Depression

• Inherited traits

Depression is more common in people whose blood relatives have this disorder.

• Hormones

The change in the balance of the hormones can cause depression. This change in the hormones can be due to pregnancy or from thyroid problems and menopause.

• Biological causes

People suffering from depression have physical changes in their brains. Many people think these changes eventually cause depression, but it has not been proven.

• Brain chemicals

Naturally occurring, brain chemicals which are known as neurotransmitters play a role in depression. These chemicals are also known for maintaining the mood stability as well.

How Does Depression Affect the Brain?

Effects of depression on the brain are quite damaging. It affects these three main parts of the brain.

1. Hippocampus

This part of the brain is responsible for the long-term memory and recollection. Hippocampus is actually part of the limbic system of the brain and plays a very central role. Hippocampus also registers different types of fears and the memory of that fear makes you wary of those things later in life. It is smaller in people who have constant depression. This exposure to stress hormone also impairs the growth of nerve cells in that part of the brain.

2. Amygdala

This is another part of the brain which is associated with depression. Amygdala is responsible for playing the role of a facilitator during emotional situations of pleasure and fear. According to medical research, people suffering from depression has enlarged Amygdala that is more active than a normal Amygdala. This increase in the size of Amygdala is due to constant exposure to stressful situations. This extra activity of the Amygdala causes several problems which include disturbance in sleep and other abnormal activities. This imbalance activity of the hormones in the brain can cause other complications as well due to increasing size and activity.

3. Thalamus

This part of the brain is responsible for the receiving sensory information and then sending it to the appropriate part of the cerebral cortex, which is responsible for functions like movement, learning, thinking, speech and behavioral reactions. Problems in the thalamus can cause bipolar disorders which are responsible for linking sensory input to unpleasant and pleasant feelings.

Proven Effective Treatments for Depression

Medication

Some medications can also help you recover from the symptoms of depression. Mostly it is recommended to use the medication with therapy for quick results.

Some of the medications include tricyclic antidepressants, monoamine oxidase inhibitors, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, serotonin, and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors and norepinephrine and dopamine reuptake inhibitors.

Lifestyle changes

Lifestyle changes may seem simple but they are a powerful tool to cure depression. You can change your lifestyle while using other medications and therapy as well.

• Nutrition

Eating well is good for both physical and mental health. To minimize the mood swings and maintain the energy you need to take short and well-balanced meals throughout the day. Sugary foods can provide a quick boost and provides complex carbohydrates which are important for the body. Fatty acids are also important to keep you active and energized throughout the day. Omega-3s and omega-6s are found in nuts, fish, vegetables, fruits, and olive oil. The neurotransmitters in the brain which act as messengers are made of amino acids. They play an important role in your mental health. Include amino-acid rich foods in your daily routine. Amino acids are found in dairy products, meat, and some vegetables and fruits.

• Sound sleep

A sound sleep is very important for healthy living. It affects the mood as well and if you don't get enough sleep, your depression symptoms may become worse. Sleep deprivation triggers moodiness, fatigue, sadness, and irritability. Make sure you get a sound sleep every night. Try to sleep for seven to nine hours every night.

• Regular exercise

Regular exercise can help you fight depression. Regular exercise releases brain chemicals which include endorphins and serotonin. These chemicals are helpful for the growth and connections of new brain cells. You don't need heavy training; all you need is a half-hour daily walk or some aerobic activity for 30 to 60 minutes for good health.

• Psychotherapy

Psychotherapy plays an important role in the treatment of depression. This treatment is also known as talk therapy. The therapist helps to find out the reason for the depression and then find out the ways about how to recover from it. There are many types of therapies which are used to cure depression. Some of the therapies include individual therapy, family therapy, couples therapy, and group therapy.

Depression makes you bored and ill from all the things of life. It also affects three parts of the brain which are hippocampus, thalamus, and amygdala and lead to the side effects on the way of your thinking and interpreting different things. Don't worry about it because even the worse kind of depression is treatable using therapies, medications and few changes in the lifestyle. Watch this video and learn more about how does depression affect the brain.