What does Depression Re-wiring the brain mean? If you look up websites about depression, sometimes they say to seek help for your depression before it permenatly re-wires the brain. So what does it mean?
What does Depression Re-wiring the brain mean? If you look up websites about depression, sometimes they say to seek help for your depression before it permenatly re-wires the brain. So what does it mean?
Re-wiring the brain
I'm not familiar w/that term.
I know there's a chemical imbalance, but I gotta check that term out.
I'm thinking it's kinda like this, but don't quote me...
When one gets depression, there is a certain neurological pathway, a particular physical route of communication between specific brain cells that is activated in response to depression. The more an individual feels depressed, the more this brain cell pathway is used. Once used repetitively for a duration of time, the brain will prefer this depressed pathway rather than the healthy non-depressed pathway.
So, recent research shows that the depressed pathway can be altered by introducing a new thought process (for example, cognitive behavioral therapy) that will use a new route between different brain cells. This new pathway of brain cells will override the depressive pathway such that the depressive pathway will eventually stop working.
Think of it this way...
There's one railroad to get from A to B. Then a new shorter and more direct railroad is built from A to B. The new one is used much more often then the original one because travel is shorter. The original railroad gets rusted and soon will become out of commission.
I'm thinking it's kinda like this, but don't quote me...
When one gets depression, there is a certain neurological pathway, a particular physical route of communication between specific brain cells that is activated in response to depression. The more an individual feels depressed, the more this brain cell pathway is used. Once used repetitively for a duration of time, the brain will prefer this depressed pathway rather than the healthy non-depressed pathway.
So, recent research shows that the depressed pathway can be altered by introducing a new thought process (for example, cognitive behavioral therapy) that will use a new route between different brain cells. This new pathway of brain cells will override the depressive pathway such that the depressive pathway will eventually stop working.
Think of it this way...
There's one railroad to get from A to B. Then a new shorter and more direct railroad is built from A to B. The new one is used much more often then the original one because travel is shorter. The original railroad gets rusted and soon will become out of commission.
I hope this explains it.
Makes sense to me, when you put it that way!
Kinda like anything you use -- A LOT!! It pretty much become permanent.
The brain also has an amazing ability to make new pathways. From what I have read, chemicals don't move across the gap or the synapses between neurons in a depressed person's brain the way they do in a healthy person's brain. In my general opinion I don't think there is any depression that isn't reversable. It is just a matter of getting brain chemicals moving along again. But, then again, it is just my opinion.
The brain also has an amazing ability to make new pathways. From what I have read, chemicals don't move across the gap or the synapses between neurons in a depressed person's brain the way they do in a healthy person's brain. In my general opinion I don't think there is any depression that isn't reversable. It is just a matter of getting brain chemicals moving along again. But, then again, it is just my opinion.
Pet scans have shown that therapy can produce positive structural changes in a depressed person's brain. These changes start to happen in a relatively short period of time. Therapy, exercise, and antidepressants all increase neurotransmitter activity. I've met people who have overcome long term depression. I think the key is being aggressive with multiple treatments.
Re: Depression Re-wiring the Brain? 
