What does depression feel like?

How does depression affect the brain?

There are many causes of depression. Depression is a mental health issue, but that doesn’t mean the causes are all neurological. There are many cases of physical health issues leading to depression, such as hypothyroidism. It’s important to consider physical health issues if you are experiencing depression because treating the root cause will help you feel better quicker. 

For many people, however, depression is a mental health disorder that is caused by brain chemical imbalances, genetics, and past experiences affecting our thinking and decision-making. Let’s look at three ways depression affects the brain. 

Dopamine Deficiency

Depression is thought to be caused, at least in part, by a dopamine deficiency. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter that affects motivation, pleasure, and memory. When people are dopamine-deficient, as is the case with depression, they struggle with low mood, motivation, and brain fog.

Cortisol Levels

Cortisol is the stress hormone released when our brain thinks we are in danger. There are healthy amounts of cortisol in everyone, but unhealthy amounts of cortisol can lead to mental health issues. Although usually connected to anxiety, heightened cortisol levels are also linked to depression. 

When your brain is depressed, the hippocampus (a part of the brain) releases more cortisol. This cortisol can decrease the amount of gray matter in your brain and shrink important parts of your brain. 

What does all that mean to you? 

Well, over time, depression can result in:

• Decreased memory functioning
• Sleep disturbances
• Mood swings
• Brain fog and difficulty concentrating 
• Higher risk for other mental health disorders like anxiety or Bipolar Disorder

After all of this strain on the brain, depression will start to have serious consequences in the body. Some people may also start to feel lazy, which can affect their self-esteem and self-worth. Remember that depression is not laziness, and if you feel lazy there’s probably an underlying reason why. 

How does depression affect the body?

Depression is often felt in the body and the brain. In the body, it can look like:

• Weakened immune system: Depression is a form of chronic stress, and chronic stress weakens the immune system. 
• Risk of cardiovascular disease and heart attack: Depression can reduce the flow of blood to the heart and constrict blood vessels, all raising the risk of heart disease. 
• Constricted blood vessels and heightened blood pressure: Cortisol and adrenaline rise with depression, and can affect how effectively blood moves in your body. 
• Weight fluctuations: Depression can lead to overeating or undereating (due to no appetite or no energy to make food) and difficulty exercising due to fatigue and low energy. All of these things can cause unhealthy weight fluctuations. 
• Increased pain sensitivity: Although the link between depression and pain sensitivity is still being investigated, researchers believe people who are depressed tend to experience pain more acutely. This phenomenon, however, is more likely explained by an increase of anxiety. Anxiety and depression are commonly comorbid.
• Fatigue: Depression is known for taking energy and leaving you feeling exhausted and burnt out. If you feel tired for no reason, talk to a doctor or therapist about the risk of depression.  

These are just a few of the physical side effects of depression. If you experience these symptoms, talk to a therapist or doctor about depression. 

What people say depression feels like

You can read all of these facts and still not totally understand what depression feels like. Depression is a complex disorder and not easily described by facts and statistics; what it feels like can be difficult to describe. 

Fortunately, you are not alone in your fight with depression. Thousands of people have gone through depression and come out on the other side. 

Here’s what others say about how depression feels:

• Suffocating, like it’s hard to breathe
• Like everyone got the memo about how to exist except you
• Dissatisfaction about everything
• Being unable to picture a future 
• Physical pain that feels unavoidable 
• Heavy
• Lonely 
• Pushing people away even when you don’t want to
• Nothingness
• Like a fog has taken over your mind and you can’t think or see straight
• Feeling like you’ve lost yourself 
• Being unattached to feelings of joy, ambition, or hope
• Like everything is too hard and also never enough 
• Like every task in a chore
• Being unable to feel
• Guilt, worthlessness, and the feeling that you don’t belong

This is by no means a conclusive list. Depression feels different for everyone. If you think you have depression but haven’t sought treatment because it doesn’t feel “bad enough” or because you don’t feel depressed in the same way others do, give yourself some compassion. Depression is a unique experience, and everyone deserves to feel better. 

Can depression be treated?

Yes! Despite the pervasiveness of depression, it is also highly treatable. Around 80-90% of people feel better after depression treatment. Many people start to feel better on their own, although this can be a long and lonely journey. 

Depression treatment can include therapy for depression and medication for depression. A combined approach may include:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): CBT is a widely used therapy that focuses on identifying and altering negative thought patterns and behaviors. Through CBT, individuals learn to challenge and reframe unhelpful thoughts, leading to a positive shift in emotions and behaviors.
2. Interpersonal Therapy (IPT): IPT is a structured form of therapy that concentrates on improving relationships and communication skills. It helps individuals navigate interpersonal issues that might contribute to their depression, such as grief, conflicts, or life transitions.
3. Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT): MBCT combines elements of CBT with mindfulness practices. It teaches individuals to observe their thoughts and feelings without judgment, which can be particularly helpful in preventing relapses of depression.
4. Psychodynamic Therapy: Psychodynamic, or psychoanalytic therapy, is a form of therapy that delves into the influence of unconscious thoughts and past experiences on present behavior and emotions. By exploring these underlying factors, individuals can gain insight into their depression and work towards healing.
5. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): DBT is a type of therapy that focuses on managing intense emotions and developing coping strategies. It is particularly helpful for individuals dealing with depression and co-occurring issues, such as borderline personality disorder.
6. Supportive Therapy: This form of therapy provides a safe and nurturing environment for individuals to express their feelings and experiences. The therapist offers understanding, validation, and guidance, fostering a supportive space for healing.

A small proportion of people have “treatment-resistant depression”, which is depression that doesn’t respond to the normal treatments. Innovative research has started breaking down this barrier with unique and effective treatments, including EMDR, transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), and deep brain stimulation (DBS). Others have severe or crippling depression, which is best treated with a combination of medication and therapy. 

Medication is also a viable option for people struggling with depression. It can take a while to find the right type and dosage of medication, and medication should always be managed by a psychiatrist or medical doctor. 

Depression therapy at Lifebulb

Lifebulb Counseling & Therapy offers online depression therapy across the U.S. We accept most major insurances and have little to no wait times. Contact our team to be matched with a depression therapist near you, or browse our list of therapists yourself. 

Talk to us