How your brain being depressed makes your body exhausted.
In: Biology
I am a mental health therapist – I know more about depression than the actual brain chemistry, but here is a simple explanation:
90% of individuals experiencing depression report fatigue as a symptom. There are a few secondary factors at play:
1. Depression can cause sleep problems – insomnia and hypersomnia. A lack of consistent sleeping patterns can lead to feelings of exhaustion.
2. Many individuals with depression take antidepressants. One common side effect is fatigue and drowsiness.
3. Many individuals with depression have changes in appetite. Some individuals eat too much, and others have difficulty eating. A lack of consistent diet and nutrients can lead to feelings of exhaustion.
4. High levels of stress can also lead to depression. Stress can cause inflammation in the body that can lead to fatigue. Stress also affects levels of serotonin and dopamine – hormones that help regulate mood and energy. When these are irregular it can cause fatigue. Usually, depression results from too low of levels of serotonin, but like I said I am not a psychiatrist or MD so I’m not qualified to give a formal explanation.
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