Hi friends,
Today let me try to answer a seemingly baffling scenario faced by many people. All is well in their lives, no problems with money, job, education, home or anything else, but the client is depressed. He remains sad, as if tormented by some worry or fear. He is anxious and dull, but not sure why. Even more interesting is that, even if you ask the client himself, he too is not sure why he is sad. He has a pessimistic outlook towards himself and future, which appears somewhat illogical to others, but not to him. So what is this condition? Why is our client feeling sad if there is no reason? Puzzling?
To find the answer, consider the scenario below.
We are all familiar with the fire alarm commonly installed at offices and public places, that sends out an alarm when a fire breaks out. Occasionally though, due to an internal defect, the alarm goes off spreading panic, even though there was no fire. Initially we panic, then we see that there is no fire - then we wonder why the alarm went off in that case, and then we conclude that the alarm is defective and needs repair. Something similar happens with the human body too!
In a variant of depression known as endogeneous depression or melancholic depression, a peculiar defect in the functioning of the brain is seen. The centers of the brain responsible for evoking the feelings of sadness are activated and continue to remain so, even though there is no cause in the environment (OR, the cause has been long removed). So just as the alarm goes without fire, so too sadness is evoked without obvious loss/death/ danger (cause for sadness).
So if that is the case, how can it be solved? Well the most logical thing to do is to turn off the sadness center that is unnecessarily activated. These centers in the human brain are controlled by chemicals known as neurotransmitters. Several medicines can alter the pattern of neurotransmitter release, leading to turning off of the centers. This is usually associated with prompt relief from the symptoms. So that is the answer to the question. Not so puzzling now, isn't it?
Hope you liked the discussion. Please let me know if you want me to discuss any specific issue by typing in the comments section below.
So until next time, STAY HAPPY!
Dr. Sathya Prakash, MD, Dip. CBT
Consultant Psychiatrist, Psychotherapist and Behavioural Sciences Expert
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