Depression or chemical imbalance?!
Question:
Does chemical imbalance cause depression or does depression cause chemical imbalance?
Answers:
Your brain processes emotions, thoughts, impressions, physical sensations by releasing chemicals. Saying that depression is caused by a chemical imbalance is an oxymoron; your whole body relies on it’s own internal chemistry to regulate everything: we are chemical! When you are happy your brain releases endorphins, which is a chemical that makes you feel good. When you are depressed your brain sends signals to you in the form of chemicals to tell you, you are unhappy.
Look at it this way. If your tooth aches because of a cavity and you take Advil or some other pain supressant, this chemical stops the signal of pain. But it won’t take care of the cavity. Keep taking pain killers everyday and you won’t feel a thing but that does not mean the cavity is going away.
If you are depressed that means you are not happy with something. By just taking medication you are stopping the signal, but you’re not taking care of the real cause.
Taking the medication helps you stop feeling depressed, but if you don't examine your situation then you’re not really dealing with whatever is causing that depression.
Other Answers:
Chemical imbalances can cause depression, not the other way around.
My Dr. said that I have a chemical imbalance that causes depression. The signs are, sadness, angry outbursts, eating disorder and suicidal thoughts. I talked to her and she diagnosed me with border line Bi-Polar. She perscribed Prozac and I feel GREAT!
Good question! I'd say it works both ways. If you are depressed for a long time you don't usually take good care of yourself and that leads to bad diet choices that can result in an imbalance. Chemical imbalances can cause depression too--because the body needs certain amounts of certain chemicals to keep running properly.
Chemical imbalance causes depression same as Anxiety, Schizophrenia, Mania, and many others.
Note: Prozac does not FIX any chemical imbalance - it compensates for it! Not much of a doctor that would do that to a patient!
I think the best answer to your question is 'both'. Strong and/or chronic emotional 'stressors' have a significant impact on the functioning of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis (HPA Axis). These changes lead to many biochemical changes in the body that have been associated with depression and other mood disorders.
Strong and/or chronic biochemical changes (nutrient imbalances from typical western diets, chemical toxicities, heavy metal toxicities, etc.) also damage/disrupt the normal functioning of the HPA Axis.
So, mix a little stress with our typically poor diets, add in some toxicities and the result is often labeled 'depression'.
It may be best to work with the patient to identify and modify any and all components that may be contributing to the depression. This would certainly be a more health promoting approach than to cover up the effects of the underlying condition with drugs. This especially makes sense when one considers that patients with depression (because of the underlying problems noted above) also have increased risks for heart disease and cancer. Prozac and other SSRIs do NOTHING for these associated health risks!
Note #2: SSRI drugs like Prozac have to be detoxified by the body. This neccesary physiological process can actually consume the nutrients already in short supply that are contributing to the depression. So, the drugs can actually aggravate the underlying problems while masking the symptoms labeled 'depression'.
Note #3: SSRI drugs now have a 'Black Box' warning from the FDA. They may cause suicides! Black Box warnings are the second most serious step the FDA can take against a dangerous drug (the most serious step is removal from the market as they recently did with Vioxx).
Hope you find all of this helpful. I can recommend an excellent book that helps you understand the causes of depression and how to address those causes by Sherry Rogers, M.D. The book is called: "Depression Cured At Last". It is available at Amazon.com or from the publisher at 1-800-846-6687.
Best wishes and good luck!
FIRST COMES THE CHEMICAL IMBALANCE IN THE BRAIN,
IF YOUR NOT AN ACTIVE PERSON ON A ROUTINE DAILY,
THEN YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH YOURSELF, SO YOU STAY TO YOURSELF. JOIN GROUPS, CHURCH READ THE BIBLE, HAVE A PARTY WITH YOUR FRIENDS AND GO PLACES, DO YOU HAVE A FRIEND
TO HANG WITH. GET GOING, GO DANCING BOWLING MIMI GOLFING,
DO IT WITH FRIENDS. SNAP OUT OF IT ! : >
chemical imbalance is just a single possibility that drug companies push to sell medication. Only a chemical test can determine whether or not depression is caused chemically. There are many other factors involved with depression. my advise is to see a Psychologist, not a Psychiatrist and definitely not a GP.
it's chemical imbalance that cause depression.
chemical imbalance causes depression. but it would be called clinical depression
Answers: