Reasons Why Professional Help Can Improve Your Mood
When combining psychotherapy and medication, the likelihood of recovery nearly doubles. For some, even a small amount of exercise can produce significant effects. For others, changes in sleep patterns can lead to miraculous transformations. It’s often difficult to know how one's brain will respond to different treatments until they are tried. One downside of these treatments is that effects may not be apparent for several weeks, leading many to discontinue if they don’t see immediate results.
Patience is crucial when undergoing treatment. Even if initial effects are not visible, improvements can emerge later. One thing that is certain is that even if you haven't felt better yet, medication is still positively affecting your brain.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to change maladaptive thoughts and behaviors. After treatment, the brain begins to better distinguish between emotional and non-emotional information. Key areas of the limbic system, such as the amygdala and hippocampus, show more appropriate discriminative activity.
Psychotherapy increases the brain’s pleasure response. During depression, individuals typically experience less pleasure and fulfillment from activities than before. Research shows that CBT increases hippocampal activity and decreases activity in the prefrontal cortex. Psychotherapy and medication attack depression from different angles, and while one may not work, the other might. Generally, combining psychotherapy and medication yields the best results.
Antidepressants work through various mechanisms depending on their type, but most influence serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine systems. The most common type, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), includes drugs like Lexapro, Prozac, Paxil, Celexa, and Zoloft. They keep serotonin in the synapse longer. Finding the right medication often involves trial and error, and it may require trying several options to find one that works without unwanted side effects.
Antidepressants restore proper communication between the prefrontal and limbic systems. Depression often distracts attention and impairs clear thinking. Antidepressants address this issue by increasing activity in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, which helps focus attention, while reducing activity in the amygdala, which can distract and hinder concentration.
Everything is interconnected. Gratitude improves sleep quality, which in turn reduces pain. Less pain leads to better mood, which enhances concentration and planning. Better decision-making reduces anxiety and increases enjoyment. Increased enjoyment leads to more things to be grateful for. Hugging can reduce amygdala activity, and gratitude can increase activity in the anterior cingulate cortex.
Since brain circuits are interconnected, problems cannot always be solved with simple methods. If you’re not in the mood to socialize, try going for a run. If you’re feeling down, remember that it might be a signal that your brain is stuck in a particular activity pattern. Start doing something, whatever it may be, to change that pattern.
