Despite all the studies, depression remains a very misunderstood condition. According to some experts, this isn’t a genetic ailment but something we get through various social factors.
People who have undergone traumatic experiences usually suffer from depression. However, this condition can also be caused by physical issues. For example, someone who has lost a leg or an arm is more likely to develop the symptoms.
In this article, we’ll focus on the connection between depression and gut health, in particular. Is depression caused just because we’re sick for a long time or is there something else? Perhaps gut issues change chemicals in our body? Read this article to find out!
Depression and Gut Bacteria
Although you can experience depression due to chronic stomach issues, the problem is usually a bit more complex than that. When your gut bacteria activates, it might alter chemistry in your brain causing this awful mental condition. You’ll quickly become moody and start experiencing other symptoms.
In these cases, balancing your gut biome is the best way to tackle the problem. However, that doesn’t mean that standard depression methodology won’t help you.
In other words, you can still contact an online psychotherapy clinic to help you out with your daily symptoms. Although this likely won’t lead to a permanent solution, it will help you keep the condition at bay until your stomach gets better.
The Role of Inflammation
There is limited data that gut bacteria can lead to a whole-body inflammation, which often leads to depression. So, these microorganisms probably don’t have a direct but secondary impact on our mental health.
Other data shows a relationship between gut flora imbalance and stress. If we’re under a lot of stress, not only will we have trouble addressing inflammatory processes, but we might also experience disruptions in other biological functions. As such, poor gut health can cause an attack on two fronts.
The Role of Serotonin
Serotonin is a vital chemical that has a diverse impact on our body. In most cases, scientists connect it to our positive (or negative) mood. While you might presume that this neurotransmitter is primarily created by the brain, the 90% of its total quantity is synthesized by our intestines.
Biggest Impact on Gut Bacteria
Given such a wholesome impact on gut bacteria on our mental and physical health, it is essential that we keep it in check. For the most part, we can do so by improving our daily routine.
- Diet
It isn’t surprising that diet has the biggest impact on human gut health. To stave off potential diseases, you must avoid processed food and everything high in sugar. This type of food stimulates harmful bacteria, leading to a major imbalance.
Ideally, you must introduce as many vegetables rich in fiber. The best examples are broccoli and kale. Cooking the right way is also important; try to cook as often as possible while avoiding roasting and frying.
While increasing organic food intake is the best way to go about things, you can also improve your gut balance through supplements. Various probiotics and prebiotics are crucial. Introduce omega 3, vitamin D, dietary fiber, B6, and various minerals to your life.
- Stress
Stress is bad for both depression and gut health. Work-related burnout and prolonged exposure to stress are especially damaging, as they affect microbial diversity in your stomach. At the same time, stress stimulates the increase of negative bacteria that further deteriorate your health.
Unfortunately, hectic modern life often comes with a lot of stress. Just going to work can be straining for some people. We also have to consider lack of time, lack of socialization, and performance pressure as additional negative factors.
Nevertheless, that doesn’t mean you can’t do anything to counter the issue. Exercising and getting a good night’s sleep is the best way to start your treatment. You could consider adding anti-inflammatory drugs to your daily life, as well. Just make sure they’re approved by your doctor.
- Lifestyle Choices
Aside from stress and diet, we have to think about negative lifestyle choices. Smoking, drugs, and drinking are the biggest culprits for deteriorating gut health. Sedentary life is problematic for young people, in particular, preventing them from having a worker’s life our grandfathers and grandmothers had.
If you think your depression is caused by a gut problem, the first order of business should be to stop drinking and smoking. Among others, this will also reduce inflammation in your stomach while leading to other improvements.
Potential Treatments for Gut-Related Depression
The best way to tackle the issue is by simply changing your habits. The good news is that there are so many positive things you can do for your stomach that will also improve your mood. However, if that doesn’t work, you should consider some of the standard psychological treatments.
- Mindfulness and CBT
Mindfulness is an approach that teaches us how to participate in every moment of our lives. In a way, it prevents us from having damaging, depressive thoughts that further worsen our situation.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, preaches that our emotional, thoughts, and behavior are all intertwined. However, while we can control our behavior and thoughts, there’s little we can do about the emotions. This is why it’s vital that you have a positive stance, so you can avoid emotional outbursts.
- Behavioral Management
Behavioral management goes hand-in-hand with CBT. It presumes all sorts of techniques that help us control our behavior, including meditation, physical movement, improving work-life balance, and so on. The point of behavioral management is to introduce as many positive practices into our lives as possible.
- Thought Management
Thought management is the last piece of the puzzle. The problem with our thoughts is that they often roam free, especially when we’re feeling bored. One of the ways to counter the issue is by keeping our mind engaged. Alternatively, we can develop techniques that prevent us from overthinking.
Conclusion
By introducing these practices, we’re able to control depression caused by gut health imbalance. As long as you focus on the positive activities and thoughts, while improving your habits, you should be able to tackle both issues in no time!