Question 1

What happens in the brain during depression?

Accepted Answer

When the brain is depressed, a person will likely experience an influx of the stress hormone cortisol. Research suggests that, over time, depression and the resulting stress can actually shrink parts of your brain.

It can also lead to inflammation in the brain, which is thought to be a cause of Alzheimer's disease. In addition, depression can change the structure of your brain resulting in greater chemical imbalances. If you recognize the symptoms of depression in yourself, it's important to seek help as soon as possible to prevent long-term issues. Many people find relief from depression with therapy or medication, or a combination of both.

Concerned you might be depressed?

Take our online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. It's free, quick, confidential, and clinically validated.

Question 2

Who is most likely to suffer from depression?

Accepted Answer

Anyone, no matter their age, gender, or life experiences, can suffer from depression. More than 17 million people in the United States reported having a depressive episode in the past year. In general, women are more often diagnosed with depression than men are, though this doesn't necessarily mean that women get depression more often than men do. Societal stigma often forces men to hide their feelings, which are seen as a sign of weakness.

Depression can be diagnosed in children, though it's more often diagnosed in teenagers and adults. As more research on depression is being done, doctors and psychologists are getting better at making accurate mental health diagnoses and raising awareness about these issues.

Take our free, online depression quiz

Concerned you might be depressed? Take our free online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. Takes less than 3 minutes to get your results.

Question 3

What are 4 major causes of depression?

Accepted Answer

Though depression is a complex disease, the four major causes of depression are thought to be:

Genetics and brain chemistry. Research suggests that genes may be responsible for about half of all cases of depression. This means that if you have a relative who was diagnosed with depression, you're more likely to be diagnosed as well.
Substance abuse. Misusing certain substances can have a long-term effect on your brain chemistry. Many addictive substances trigger the release of your brain's "happy chemicals," like dopamine and serotonin, and your brain becomes dependent on these substances to feel normal. For many people who quit drugs, the psychological addiction is more difficult to overcome than the physical one.
Childhood experiences. Children who experience stress, neglect, or conflict, or receive constant criticism from loved ones seem to be more likely to develop depression.
Life events. When a person who is already susceptible to depression experiences a negative life event like a breakup, a divorce, or losing a job, they may develop depression.

Take our free, online depression quiz

Concerned you might be depressed? Take our free online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. Takes less than 3 minutes to get your results.

Question 4

What is a simple definition of depression?

Accepted Answer

Depression is a mood disorder that involves a persistent feeling of sadness and loss of interest. Symptoms can vary from mild to severe, but usually include a negative mood or outlook, a loss of interest in favorite activities, changes in appetite and sleep, feeling worthless or guilty, and a lack of energy. For some people, their depression leads to persistent thoughts of death or suicide.

Luckily, depression is highly treatable with therapy, medication, or a combination of both. Medication can help to relieve some symptoms associated with unbalanced brain chemistry, while therapy can give the depressed person a safe place to talk about their feelings while teaching them skills related to managing their symptoms.

Take our free, online depression quiz

Concerned you might be depressed? Take our free online depression quiz to determine whether you are experiencing symptoms of depression. Takes less than 3 minutes to get your results.

What happens in the brain during depression?

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