Does the brain heal after depression?

The term "depression" refers to a mood disorder. It might be characterised as melancholy, grief, or rage that interferes with daily tasks. Also, it's very typical. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention information According to Trusted Source, 18.5% of American adults in any given 2-week period in 2019 experienced depressive symptoms.

Despite the similarities between depression and grief, sadness or grief experienced after a tragic incident or the loss of a loved one are not the same as depression. Grief normally does not involve self-hatred or a loss of self-esteem, although depression frequently does.

Positive feelings and joyful recollections of the deceased frequently go hand in hand with emotional suffering while someone is grieving. Sadness is a persistent feeling in major depressive disorder.

A depressive episode lasts at least two weeks and is characterised by a depressed mood (sad, irritated, or empty feelings) or a loss of enjoyment or interest in activities for the majority of each day. Other signs may include difficulty concentrating, feelings of overwhelming guilt or low self-worth, a lack of hope for the future, suicidal or death thoughts, disturbed sleep, changes in food, and feeling particularly exhausted or low on energy.

There's growing evidence that several parts of the brain shrink in people with depression. Specifically, these areas lose gray matter volume. That's tissue with a lot of brain cells. GMV loss seems to be higher in people who have regular or ongoing depression with serious symptoms.

Dendrites are cellular extensions found in the neurons, or nerve cells. This suggests that depression is not an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder. Instead, its impact on the brain may be reversible, and the brain can heal.