“Like a broken arm, depression is a medical condition. If you think it is a choice, you have never had it.”

Depression is most likely the most misunderstood condition there is. In the past, depression was often viewed as a choice. I have been told people who are depressed are just “drug addicts who need a fix”. Anyone who has taken depression medication will understand how ludicrous this statement is, especially with the side effects of those medications.

In truth, depression is a medical condition where the brain is not producing the correct amounts of neurotransmitters needed for proper functioning. Depression affects the limbic system, which controls mood, sleep, energy levels and appetite. Brain scans of people with depression show damage to the Limbic system, which most likely accounts for their symptoms.

In short, Depression is a very specific form of brain damage. The good news is the Limbic system can improve over time if stress levels are reduced, as stress and anxiety fuel depression.

Depression is not a bad day, it is a medical condition that can be devastating.

Author
Recent Posts

Follow me

Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC

Owner at Nathan Driskell MA LPC

Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC is a Licensed Professional Counselor in Texas (License #306534) specializing in Internet addiction and high-functioning autism. With over 16 years in clinical practice, he treats children, adolescents, and adults through his private practice based in Texas. He is the author of three books — Internet Addiction: Kicking the Habit, Is Your Child Addicted to Electronics?, and So You Have Autism, Now What? — and writes the Spectrum & Screens newsletter on LinkedIn covering technology, autism, and mental health. Learn more at nathandriskell.com.

Follow me

Latest posts by Nathan Driskell, MA, LPC (see all)