Is depression actually an overactive brain?

[quintessentone]

I held off on the Autistic kid til he was 13. 

I purposely wanted him to recognize the difference. 

Today he’s on just enough that it takes the edge off and makes focus easier. 

He has “spike days” and then I say “Go hit the trampoline”. 

Emotions can be like a roller coaster (he’s also a teen)— he works through those in counseling twice a week.

It must be a difficult road for you both but thank goodness you have each other to figure it out.

[ANNEE]

It must be a difficult road for you both but thank goodness you have each other to figure it out.

It’s been enlightening. 

We’ve been through: suicidal thoughts — self harm — gender questioning — narcissism — etc. 

I flat out did not allow aggressive behavior — autistic or not. 

He’s very funny with a strong personality. The future awaits.

[quintessentone]

It’s been enlightening. 

We’ve been through: suicidal thoughts — self harm — gender questioning — narcissism — etc. 

I flat out did not allow aggressive behavior — autistic or not. 

He’s very funny with a strong personality. The future awaits.

I would imagine depression would be a factor considering the difficulty of managing those challenges in life.

I also wonder how much of depression or which types of depression are actually justified reactions to those of us who face the horrific realities of current world events and feel helpless or powerless and/or the sad economic struggles of the majority of people who have to keep tightening their belts while their governments keep taking more and more of their hard earned money. 

Then there are those who have the vision of what humanity could become without the hate, war, greed, and corruption that always creeps in with world leaders and societal systems that don't work for the people.

[quintessentone]

I found this article presenting an interesting case for....

The Cells of the Depressed Brain Are Working Too Hard
 

The thrust of the article seems to broach teenage depression, but the study may have great bearing on how depressive disorders plague older patients.

There is some attention given regarding the technology they used (the 'Tesla 7 scanner.)

But the new APT measurements showed an unexpected result...

Perhaps this just demonstrates we're not done figuring depression out.

The remainder of the article is a worthy read....
please do....

This is an interesting study (at bottom link) explaining the bidirectional link between depression in teenagers linked with parental mental illness.

"There is a well-established, strong connection between parental mental illness—particularly depression and anxiety—and depression in teenagers. Research consistently shows that adolescents with parents experiencing mental health issues are at significantly higher risk for developing depression, anxiety, conduct problems, and other psychiatric disorders. 

• High Risk of Depression: Studies indicate that depressed teens are about five times more likely than non-depressed teens to have a depressed parent, and anxious teens are about three times more likely to have an anxious parent. 
  
• Biological, Psychological, and Social Factors: This link is driven by a combination of factors:
  • Genetic vulnerability: Children of parents with depression have more than three times the risk of developing depression or anxiety disorders themselves.
    
  • Impaired parenting: Severe or chronic parental depression can interfere with effective parenting, leading to withdrawal, intrusiveness, or poor emotional support, which increases stress and depressive symptoms in teens.
    
  • Economic and social strain: Parents with depression often face unemployment or financial hardship, which can limit educational opportunities and increase stress for adolescents—especially in high-pressure environments like those in some Asian cultures. 
    
• Long-Term and Severe Impact: The longer parental depression persists (e.g., over 5 years), the more pronounced the negative effects on adolescent mental health, including poorer subjective health status, higher stress levels, and increased depressive mood—particularly among boys. 
  
• Family Conflict and Harsh Parenting: Harsh parenting styles, often linked to parental distress, contribute to depression in teens through mechanisms like rumination—repetitive negative thinking about failures or parental criticism—which worsens emotional health. 
  
• Intergenerational Cycle: The relationship is bidirectional: parental mental health affects teens, and teen depression can, in turn, worsen parental mental health, creating a cycle that can escalate without intervention. "
  
  https://link.springer.com/article/10.118...24-18337-9
  

[Maxmars]

I have some reservations about some of the research... and how it speaks to the world about "everything mental."

We seem to want to categorize many of our stresses and responses in the manner of "disease..." but insist on discussing and interpreting it from a punishment and 'fault'' perspective...

Perhaps from a social dominance perspective... because it disrupts "normalcy" and creates stress in those around the sufferer.  Socially, since it agitates everyone around them, it seems like "society" is pleased to "punish" the 'source' of the problem... drugs/sedation, banishment, seclusion... all meant (at least by the result)to serve society's peace... not at all "the patient" who is treated as 'the source of stress' (which I find ironic.)

In the study you cite, I wondered how much inevitable bias is embraced by the local/regional cultures and social orders...  there is a distinct difference in living in the world in one place, as opposed to another.  But certainly the scientific community wouldn't succumb to so basic an error of exposition as to assume that a depressed patient living in Tulsa is not the same as a depressed patient living in Seoul.  

Since all society's are different, there are different thresholds for behavioral variances...  In one country, one society, not talking to others may seem 'a symptom' of depression, whereas in others... it can be an 'invisible symptom.'  

Making a giant compiled work ... all depression-related ... and we find that the metrics don't speak to the patients complaints... only to a socially-defined "symptom list."  We generally interpret it as a disease, not a condition... and so we render it invisible in the patient... good enough for 'society.'

I respect the work done... but not the 'social engineering' that prevails in the literature... which from my admittedly weak layman's perspective leads me to feel that the enterprise of "depression management" is most about the application of remedies to society's nuisances... not soothing a patient in distress.

However "science" does open eyes... so I am grateful that there are, have been, and will be totally normal "scientists and physicians" who also suffer depression and might contribute to making the "hurting" the object of medicine, rather than 'patient management.'

Sorry... I really shouldn't opine too much, since I am aware that I have no 'privilege' or social currency that allows me to profess knowledge... and I don't expect agreement as a measure of success in dialogue.

As a lawyer friend of mine used to say, paraphrased... "No one can tell me about suffering depression.... I know depression..."

[ANNEE]

I would imagine depression would be a factor considering the difficulty of managing those challenges in life.

I also wonder how much of depression or which types of depression are actually justified reactions to those of us who face the horrific realities of current world events and feel helpless or powerless and/or the sad economic struggles of the majority of people who have to keep tightening their belts while their governments keep taking more and more of their hard earned money. 

Then there are those who have the vision of what humanity could become without the hate, war, greed, and corruption that always creeps in with world leaders and societal systems that don't work for the people.

Right. Gotta make sure you’re both physically and mentally healthy first — within your own capabilities. 

Creating a human is extremely complex — as I say “dump in all the ingredients and stir” — not all are stirred the same. Individuals really are individuals. All babies are not born perfect. 

I think we’re finding out more and more about brain wiring. I’m an advocate for more brain scan studies. We are our brains — the brain tells us who we are — not our physical wrappings. 

There was a time when just surviving was humanities goal — but with practical-technical-medical advances it gives us time to think and question. Especially with a whole world now open to us via electronics. 

I think the wisdom of the Serenity prayer (with or without including God)  seems to be the foundation of a thinking world. 

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference".

It’s still beyond my comprehension how anyone couldn’t see from the beginning what a carnival barker Trump was (still is) and continue to support him.  But here we are. Where are all the checks and balances?

You can’t internalize all the angst — you have to keep it outside of your mind and body. That’s where the “tools”  come in. Counseling — meds if needed. But must always remember it is your responsibility to maintain. 

So - my kid - I tell him to focus on his natural talents. He has a presence — he’s 6’1” — he’s attractive — he’s very personable. Can’t tell ya how many sales clerks end up as friends on his FB. But he’s still a teen and not fully confident yet. 

. . . this is kind of rambling as I’m doing it in my phone.

[quintessentone]

Right. Gotta make sure you’re both physically and mentally healthy first — within your own capabilities. 

Creating a human is extremely complex — as I say “dump in all the ingredients and stir” — not all are stirred the same. Individuals really are individuals. All babies are not born perfect. 

I think we’re finding out more and more about brain wiring. I’m an advocate for more brain scan studies. We are our brains — the brain tells us who we are — not our physical wrappings. 

There was a time when just surviving was humanities goal — but with practical-technical-medical advances it gives us time to think and question. Especially with a whole world now open to us via electronics. 

I think the wisdom of the Serenity prayer (with or without including God)  sees to be the foundation of a thinking world. 

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, courage to change the things I can, and wisdom to know the difference".

It’s still beyond my comprehension how anyone couldn’t see from the beginning what a carnival barker Trump was (still is) and continue to support him.  But here we are. Where are all the checks and balances?

You can’t internalize all the angst — you have to keep it outside of your mind and body. That’s where the “tools”  come in. Counseling — meds if needed. But must always remember it is your responsibility to maintain. 

So - my kid - I tell him to focus on his natural talents. He has a presence — he’s 6’1” — he’s attractive — he’s very personable. Can’t tell ya how many sales clerks end up as friends on his FB. But he’s still a teen and not fully confident yet. 

. . . this is kind of rambling as I’m doing it in my phone.

That is some fine kind of rambling, just saying, and on your phone which is another challenge. lol

[ANNEE]

That is some fine kind of rambling, just saying, and on your phone which is another challenge. lol

LOL 

I can do more than one-liners.  It's just not usually worth it.

[Maxmars]

LOL 

I can do more than one-liners.  It's just not usually worth it.

Oh, but it can be so much worth it!

See?... I'm starting a dialogue... 

[ANNEE]

Oh, but it can be so much worth it!

See?... I'm starting a dialogue... 

Love it 

I promise to keep trying. 

I’ve been at this for nearly 20 years. 

20 years of insults and attacks — but I’m still here.