Chemical Imbalance

Hi Bill

Welcome to the forums!

It is true that depression can be caused by genetically low serotonin, although as you state above, it is rare (around 10% ?)

Before this is assumed however, it is key to ensure depression is not caused by insomnia, dietary factors (I was pretty depressed years ago before being diagnosed with Coeliac disease ), missing basic needs or something else that can be controlled without the need for drugs.

Roger

RogerE wrote:Hi Bill

Welcome to the forums!

It is true that depression can be caused by genetically low serotonin, although as you state above, it is rare (around 10% ?)

Before this is assumed however, it is key to ensure depression is not caused by insomnia, dietary factors (I was pretty depressed years ago before being diagnosed with Coeliac disease ), missing basic needs or something else that can be controlled without the need for drugs.

Roger

the depression learning path does not refer to any other reason for low seroronin levels than genetic -is this true any research here? cheers patrick

Hi Patrick

Are you asking whether you can have low serotonin levels for other than genetic reasons? If so, the answer is yes, of course.

Your serotonergic neurons (the cells that create serotonin) fire most rapidly when you are highly physically active - therefore physical activity increases serotonin levels.

However, it is much more complex than this - nutrition can have an impact (turkey for example contains high levels of the serotonin precursor L-trytophan), and I'm sure a complex interplay of many other factors.

And of course, serotonin is not the only neurotransmitter

Roger

Definately agree with physical activity boosting serotonin as I find that exercise does have a rather dramatic though short-lived effect on my mood.

The frustrating thing is that I have absolutely no reason to be feeling this as I do not ruminate to any great degree.

I saw my doctor last week and was prescribed Venlafaxine so I'll see how this works out over the coming weeks.

.... often times there is more behind the story. I speak from experience as one who has had several bouts with depression and I do stay on anti-depressant medication. But medication won't solve your life's problems and I assume you probably know that! Healthy outlooks are also important. I'm here at this web site to remind myself of that.

Best of luck to you. You will feel better, but you have to try more than medication

Alex

I have very recently been diagnosed with depression (last two weeks) even though think have been trying to deny that i am for the last nine months.

Am taking anti-depressants and they seem to be helping at the moment but i will agree with what has been said here, they are not the sole answer to overcoming depression, you need to get to the root of what is causing the depression/understand it more so that it does not keep coming back. i know that to beat my depression i have to change my thinking styles, have recently spoken to a counsellor and she helped me assess what was going on in my head.

Also i thought there was no reason for my depression, it had just come on all of a sudden but this is not the case, i'm now sure that it has been caused by years of me trying to hide my feelings and not grieving when lost numerous family members. But hopefully i can beat this and stop it ever coming back.

you need to get to the root of what is causing the depression/understand it more so that it does not keep coming back

This is such a common misunderstanding about depression I feel I must point it out.

This approach to treating depression tends to take the sufferer on a trip through the past which tends to exacerbate rumination and so deepens depression. It is an extremely dangerous thing to do with a depressed person.

That said, a lot of therapy and counselling still takes this approach to treating depression because it is based on old ideas.

For more on this, see:
The right counselling for depression

With the right approaches, depression can be lifted extremely quickly in many cases.

Encouraging depressed people to do more of the same (worrying and ruminating) is not helpful.

Roger

Thanks for pointing that out roger, i realise now what i wrote wasn't correct, as the learning path covered, sometimes the cause of depression is never found because there may not be a reason for it.

Is counselling that goes over the past really that bad for someone who is depressed as am about to start counselling.

Didnt realise it was soo dangerous, should i still go and see counsellor and tell them their job or should i explain to them more fully what i want from the sessions?

Donna, if you are about to start counselling you should go back and read the Learning Path again so you understand what sort of help is best and why

The best thing you can do for yourself is understand what is going on.

Is depression that goes over the past really that bad for depression? Yes. Therapists have been sued for using it with depressed people, and rightly.

You need the help of someone who is able to help you change the way you think about things, solve current problems, form a view of a compelling future, reframe the past, and be calmer, amongst other things, all outlined in the Learning Path.

RogerE wrote:Donna, if you are about to start counselling you should go back and read the Learning Path again so you understand what sort of help is best and why

The best thing you can do for yourself is understand what is going on.

Is depression that goes over the past really that bad for depression? Yes. Therapists have been sued for using it with depressed people, and rightly.

You need the help of someone who is able to help you change the way you think about things, solve current problems, form a view of a compelling future, reframe the past, and be calmer, amongst other things, all outlined in the Learning Path.

ok thanks!

Sorry Roger about my comments on tuesday, something upset me and i could not think clearly, didnt mean to be so abrupt but am a lot clearer in what i want today and understand what is good for me and what will be dangerous.