Like anxiety, Americans have become so familiar with depression as a commonplace emotional ailment that it is easily overlooked or accepted as state of being (even pre-COVID-19). Clinical depression, though, is a term that describes a cluster of symptoms – cognitive (thinking-based), emotional (mood-based), and physical (body-based) – that undermine functioning and relationships. It can show up in many forms; subtle and insidious like ants eroding the foundation of a house over the course of many years, alarming and implosive like a bridge collapsing one pillar at a time, or anywhere in-between.
For decades we have studied, diagnosed, and treated depression from the outside. We assume it from someone’s pattern of behavior or the consequences it has on grades, absences from work, quality of relationships with other people, weight gain, sleep problems, etc. But, science is increasing clear that the damage that depression is having on the inside is equally troubling. Depression produces inflammation in every cell of our bodies, including our brains, which is why depression can show up in so many physical symptoms in multiple parts of our bodies, such as brain fog, gut issues, chronic pain, skin problems, etc. If depression is long-lasting, the inflammatory response will be long-lasting as well. Over time, the effects of this pro-inflammatory response dysregulates our immune system, meaning that it reduces its ability to turn on when it should (i.e., like a new virus entering our bodies) and turn off when it should (i.e., virus defeated, threat is over).
For this reason, depression is now falling under the umbrella of autoimmune conditions, similar to rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, Lyme’s, Alzheimer’s disease, and other chronic conditions. Fortunately, depression is more treatable than those conditions. Further, prevention of depression before it initiates those cascading autoimmune effects is highly advised. If interested in preventative or active counseling for depression, contact our clinical health psychologist.
Lauren Gashlin, PsyD
Clinical Health Psychologist